CUBS HOPE FAMILIARITY LEADS TO IMPROVEMENT

After a season to get used to coach Jeff Funston's system and style, Funston expects his second Bell City basketball team to improve upon last year's 5-18 record. "The players are a lot more used to me now and things are going a lot smoother," said Funston. "I think we're looking pretty good. We should be deeper than we were last year. We should be able to go about nine deep, which is a few more than last year."I know we lost some good players, but I think we can improve on our record a little bit. I think we've gotten better overall and everybody is working real hard."Bell City lost leading scorer Jared Eftink to graduation and another player who was being counted on, point guard Jeremy Walter, won't be able to play after undergoing open heart surgery a few months ago, although his overall health is doing well. "Jeremy won't be able to play, but he'll still be around for moral support," Funston said.

The Cubs return a pair of starters from last season in 5-foot-11 senior Nate Walter and 5-11 junior Gabe Scherer. Both averaged about 10 points per game a year ago.

Two other returning varsity players are 5-11 senior Matt Richardson and 6-foot sophomore Jason Rampley.

Others Funston will be counting on are 6-4 senior Aaron Clark and 6-4 junior John Talley, who are the squad's tallest players; 5-9 juniors Daniel Abner and Brian Phillips; and promising 6-foot freshman Eric Henry, who has a good chance to crack the starting lineup. Assessing his squad's strengths and weaknesses, Funston said, "We won't have a whole lot of size, but they're scrappy. They'll get in there and fight. We'll be pretty quick and defensively I think we'll be very sound."Bell City opens the season this week in the Oran Tournament, which annually gives area teams a good indication of where they stand."It's always a good tournament to open the season with," said Funston. "We'll be facing some strong competition."