DeAndre Carson, a two-time first-team all district performer as a freshman and sophomore, is the only Lehman returning starter that saw significant playing time last season. Lobos’ head coach Thomas Acker and his players are still confident they can finish with a winning season and a repeat trip to the playoffs this season. (Photo by Judy Cooper)
by WES FERGUSON
A year removed from their first playoff appearance in school history, the Lehman Lobos are rebuilding around junior sensation DeAndre Carson.
But even as head coach Thomas Acker grooms a new group of starters, he is raising the bar for the boys basketball program in 2011-12: He believes the team’s first winning season is within reach.
“We’ve never had a winning record overall,” Acker said. “Last year we were 7-5 in district but 14-19 overall. So we’d like to have a winning record and obviously go to the playoffs. I don’t think it’s too far-fetched.”
The Lobos will play their first district game Dec. 30 at home against Hays. In the meantime, Acker said every pre-district game, holiday tournament and practice will help him shape a young, inexperienced squad that lost key seniors from last year’s record-setting team.
Carson, a two-time first-team all-district performer as a freshman and sophomore, is the only returning starter with significant playing time. Senior post JaMael Windom also played some for last year’s squad.
“Everyone else is pretty green,” Acker said. “When we go through a scouting report, they don’t understand the information that’s coming, all of the little things.”
A few games into the season, Acker said he still hasn’t seen the progress he expects from his young players. “We’re a very mediocre team, and we’ve been fortunate in a couple of games to have just enough points to get a victory,” he said.
For the Lobos to replicate their success from a year ago, Carson must lead the way. Last year he averaged 13.5 points, four assists, four rebounds and 2.3 steals per game.
“He’s got a target on his back,” Acker said. “Everybody knows that he’s our guy. He’s going to have to be able to handle that and be able to contribute at a pretty good pace for us.”
Carson spent the offseason playing with a select team, and he said the tougher competition improved his game while teaching him to be more aggressive on the court. He’s also been working to improve his shot selection, he said.
“Last year I played kind of timid sometimes, but this year I think I’m more confident in myself and what I do,” Carson said. “I hope to go to the playoffs again because it was a good experience, and I want to be in that same experience again and maybe go further.”
Windom, at 6-foot-2, will be the team’s second scoring option. He’ll also be counted on for rebounding and defending around the basket, according to Acker.
“He’s definitely our best inside player, and he’s worked really, really hard,” Acker said. “He’s had a good fall, and we expect a lot out of him as a senior.”
