Photo Provided PICTURED IS the 2020-21 Bridgeport basketball team. Front row, from left, are John Flanagan, Anugerah Van, Timmy Stanton, Cooper Dulesky, Riese O’Kernick, Dylan Gregorcic, Eric Williams, Adam Sommer and Chandler Rice. Second row, from left, are Alex Moore, Quinton Burlenski, Daniel Spurlock, head coach Donnie Cash, Colin Jackson, Ben Holskey and Lamar Kendricks.

BRIDGEPORT — After struggling through a 2-20 campaign last winter, veteran head coach Donnie Cash is excited about the 2020-21 season.

“I’m excited for the season to start (if we do start on time,” Cash said. “The coaching staff has really been challenging the players and the players have all responded in a positive manner. I know the players are ready to play, but we need to do this pandemic thing day-to-day like everyone else.

“I like this group. They are competing hard in practice every day and they get after each other,” he added. “The freshmen group has been a pleasant surprise overall, as well.”

Leading the list of returnees are a veteran cast of performers in three-year starters Dylan Gregorcic and Cooper Dulesky (6-0), along with two-year starters Adam Sommer (5-9) and Riese O’Kernick (6-0). Eric Williams (5-10) lettered as a junior. Rounding out the senior class is Timmy Stanton (5-9).

“We have six seniors this year and they have been great so far. We have battled through the COVID with the players and dealt with them getting tested and quarantined has slowed the progress a little bit,” he continued. “Our practices have been good and we’ve talked all preseason about changing the culture.”

Sophomore Colin Jackson (6-0) and freshman Quinton Burlenski (5-10) are also ticketed for varsity time.

“One thing we have to do is build some depth and we’ve got a couple of younger guys battling for spots,” he explained. “Our strength should be our team quickness. We are a lot quicker than we were last season.”

Another spot where Cash has been pleased with in practice has been the team’s overall shooting, especially from the outside.

“That has been a positive,” he noted. “We did a shooting club with 1,000 makes over the summer and the players really bought into it. We aren’t very tall with nobody over 6-foot so we’ll need to rely on the outside shooting and rebound better by boxing out.”

Another area that Cash would like to see improvement in is the Bulldogs defense.

“We need to do a lot better job on that end of the floor,” he stressed. “We gave up something like 68 points a game last year and we can’t let that happen again this year.”

A brief capsule of the players ticketed for varsity action follows:

“Dylan is a great shooter and a good all-around athlete,” Cash said. “He needs to be able to drive to the basket this season to help his outside game. He needs to help us out on the boards this season, as well.

“Cooper is being looked on to expand his game this season. He was there every day during the summer trying to make himself better,” Cash explained. “He is very coachable and understands his strengths. He will also have to help us with rebounding.

“Adam is a hard-nosed kid. He needs to be our coach on the court for us. He needs to be the floor general,” Cash noted. “He worked hard over the summer to improve his shot. He is also a good defender.

“Riese has improved his overall game so much with his skills from last year. He has a good outside shot and can also be a slasher to the basket,” the coach said. “He will be looked upon to do many things for us this season. He has put in the time and effort like the rest of the senior class.

“Eric earned some playing time last year and ended up lettering. He is battling for a starting spot this winter. He is always in the right position for us,” Cash pointed out.

“Timmy is a TEAM player,” Cash stressed. “He’s the type of kid that will do anything for the team. He is a great example for our younger players.

“Colin is a little banged up from football but we just waiting for him to get back,” Cash said of the Bulldogs starting quarterback. “We’re taking it slow with him but he has a good shot and can put the ball on the floor and go to the basket. He will supply depth for us and could give us a spark off the bench.

“Quinton is a gym rat. He loves the game of basketball,” Cash noted. “It will take some time for him to adjust to the varsity level, but I think he will be fine. He can score the ball, he has great court vision and his jump shot is getting better and better every day in practice. He has a bright future at Bridgeport.”

Expected to see JV action are juniors John Flanagan (5-7) and Jacob Gregory (6-0); sophomores Jason Aubrey (5-8), Daniel Spurlock (5-10) and Chandler Rice (5-8); and freshmen Lamar Kendricks (5-7), Ben Holesky (5-8), Alex Moore (5-8), Caysen Key (5-9), Kavone Allison (5-9) and Isaiah Lacey (5-9).

“We are hoping some of those players can emerge and develop a little more depth for us this winter,” Cash said. “The kids are going hard every day and the freshmen are adjusting each day. So far it’s been fun, but the real question will be how we can handle adversity.”

Jim “Catfish” Murad returns as Cash’s top assistant, while former West Liberty University All-American Eric Meininger joins the varsity staff. Jake Barritt and Bailey Sieber lead the JV staff.

Picking up diplomas in May were P.J. Sauvageot, Mikey Shaheen and Izaac Jozwiak.