The veteran coach is optimistic that Fenwick can better its 11-12 record of 2015-16 because this team has increased offensive firepower.
The Falcons were second in the Greater Catholic League Coed Division with their 45.6-point defensive average last season. They were also last in scoring (43.2).
“I kept saying the last two years if we didn’t keep somebody under 35 points, we weren’t going to win,” Kreke said. “I think we can score above 40 this year. We are more athletic. I think we can be a little diverse in how we attack things offensively and defensively.”
Fenwick returns three of its top four scorers in senior point guard Paul Blodgett (9.7), 6-foot-4 senior forward Luke Bradshaw (7.5) and junior guard John Engelmeier (6.6).
Also in the top six for the Falcons are 6-4 sophomore guard C.J. Napier, 6-2 senior center Sammy DeBiasi and senior guard C.J. Hurley. The latter is a varsity newcomer, while Napier scored 18 points in a Division II sectional victory over Monroe last year.
Kreke pointed to Blodgett, Fenwick’s only full-time returning starter, and Engelmeier as the squad’s best long-range shooters.
“We don’t have the bodies to grind,” Kreke said. “We never seem to be tall, but it seems like we’re smaller than usual this year. But we’re more quick and athletic than we’ve been in the past few years. I think we can spread things around.”
Adding to the Falcons’ depth are senior forward John Creech, junior guards Zachary Lorei, David Luers and Nick Braun, 6-3 junior forward Jonathan Hoerlein, 6-3 junior center Joe Durham and sophomore guard Caleb Davis.
Kreke said defending champion Alter is the team to beat in the GCLC North Division.
“We’ve always prided ourselves on trying to win games with our man defense,” Kreke said. “The last two years, we just have not had anybody that could shoot the ball consistently. I’m hopeful that we can do that a little bit more this year.
“I would hope that when this season’s over, we’ll be over .500. But they’ve got a lot to prove to be above .500. We have to get better defensively or we’re not going to compete.”
Fenwick opens the season Saturday at Edgewood. The Falcons will travel to Vero Beach, Fla., for the Holiday Hoopla tournament during Christmas break, opening against Apopka (Fla.) at 4:30 p.m. on Dec. 28.
Fenwick Falcons
Coach: Pat Kreke, 28th season
2015-16 Record: 11-12 overall, 1-9 in the Greater Catholic League Coed North Division (fourth place)
2016-17 Schedule (start times 7:30 p.m. unless noted): Dec. 3 — at Edgewood; Dec. 6 — Glen Este; Dec. 9 — Badin; Dec. 16 — at McNicholas; Dec. 17 — at Lebanon, 7 p.m.; Dec. 28-30 — at Holiday Hoopla in Vero Beach, Fla.; Jan. 3 — at Twin Valley South; Jan. 6 — Chaminade Julienne; Jan. 10 — at Madeira; Jan. 13 — at Alter; Jan. 14 — at Waynesville; Jan. 17 — Monroe; Jan. 20 — Carroll; Jan. 25 — at Purcell Marian; Jan. 31 — Miamisburg; Feb. 3 — Roger Bacon; Feb. 4 — St. Xavier; Feb. 7 — at Chaminade Julienne; Feb. 10 — Alter; Feb. 17 — at Carroll
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