Cobras look to improve inside, overall this year

By: Shawn Singleton/Morning News | SCNow
Published: November 14, 2007

It hasn’t always been fun to be a Coker men’s basketball fan.

Last season was no different. The Cobras stumbled to an 8-21 record and went 5-7 in the friendly confines of Timberlake-Lawson Gymnasium.

There is a sense of excitement in the air, however, for the upcoming season.

Along with nine returning players, coach Dan Schmotzer has brought in six new faces that he said will help his team immensely down the stretch.

“Every coach at every level will tell you that this is the most exciting time of year,” said Schmotzer, who is entering his 21st season at Coker. “We have tremendous character on this team, and this is the most talented team we’ve had in five years.”

Coker will lean on its guards to lead the team to wins. Former Socastee standout Lukas Varga finished second in scoring last year for the Cobras with 12 points per game. Senior Ryan Fulwood averaged nearly nine points per game. Guards J.C. Hafner and Blake Terrell will also be counted on to provide scoring off the bench.

Despite the ability to put up points, however, Schmotzer said there are things he would like to see his team improve upon heading into Friday’s Zaxby’s Peach Belt-Conference Carolinas Clazzic at Francis Marion.

“There are things in practice that you aren’t able to see until you play a few games,” he said. “There’s always room for improvement.”

Known as the “Bomb Squad,” Coker led the Carolina-Virginia Athletic Conference, now Conference Carolinas, last season in 3-point shooting percentage (40 percent) and attempts (623).

But the Cobras went just 5-15 in conference play, and Schmotzer said it was due was to a lack of production inside.

“We can’t shoot as many 3s as we shot last year. You can’t play like that,” he said. “We have to be better scoring around the basket area and with our rebounding.”

Schmotzer has seen improvement from his two post players, Boycho Branzon and Sebastian Lacayo. The duo combined to average less than two points and two rebounds per game last season, and that kind of production must increase if the Cobras want to improve.

“We’ve got the two big men in Boycho Branzon and Sebastian Lacayo, who’ve gotten better heading into the season,” Schmotzer said. “If we do a better job around the basket, we will have a good season.”

Schmotzer said he hopes his team is at its full potential when it matters most — Conference Carolinas play.

“Your goal is to reach your peak at the end of the season, which is always conference play,” he said. “We have nine returnees to go along with six new players and they’ve gelled well, so I think we’ll be all right.”

Cobras look to improve inside, overall this year

Share This:

More from this channel:

Reader Comments

Deal of the Day

Weather

Latest News Video

Things to Do

Links We Like