HS East Trying To Hit "Magic" No. 7

It's all about the fundamentals. That's what Hills East basketball coach Pete Basel says could be the difference between another down year and a return to the postseason for the Thunderbirds. Basel believes League II as a whole is ripe for the picking, and feels his club has as good a chance as any to make some noise.

"Our goal is to get in the playoffs, we haven't been there in a couple years," Basel said. "The magic number is seven [league wins], we want to win as many as we can."

The Thunderbirds have started out 1-3 in non-league action, with league play set to begin Jan. 3 against Bay Shore. Free throws (49-percent last year) and turnovers; the fundamentals. That's what Basel says his team needs to improve on as the season rolls on.

Basel's team is a veteran bunch (eight seniors, seven juniors), though many are starting for the first time. Hills East has a bit of height and a bit of speed, just the right combination, Basel says. The goal is to work things inside through forwards Mike Chemtob (6'1") and 6'5" Ryan Nitti. Chemtob may be undersized, but he's strong, his coach says. Nitti is a bit of a work in progress, transitioning from his role as starting QB on the football team.

Rob Reiser gets the start at point guard, with Julius Jackson, a slasher alongside him. Nate Schwartz is the team's best perimeter shooter on a team not known for it. Because of this, the Thunderbirds expect to face a lot of zone defenses until they can show more consistency from the outside.

"We're trying to transition quicker before teams set up their defense," Basel said. "If we run the break, we run the break, if [the opponent] is playing man, we pull it out and run our man sets."

Jake Freeman and Isaiah Lewis will see action on the wing off the bench, and 6'5" Bobby Abrams provides size but like others on the team, is still a bit raw.

The team hopes to create some offense from the defense, by pressing a lot, and creating turnovers leading to quick scores. Basel feels his club is athletic enough on the wings to do just that.

If the team can clean up its fundamentals and start hitting a few from outside, Basel is optimistic the Thunderbirds can stay in the thick of the League II race.

"They're good kids, they work hard, it's not that we have to play a perfect game, but we have to play a real good game every night ... I definitely see us having a real good chance getting into the playoffs," he said.