Roth eager to watch team gel

Perryville coach Joel Roth set a goal for his Pirates to win 15 games last season after posting a 10-win season the previous year and an 11-win season in 2004-05.

The Pirates reached it, going 16-10.

But this year Perryville loses experience, graduating its top three scorers and returning only two players who have started games at the varsity level.

"I think we are going to struggle a little early on offensively," Roth said. "I think defensively we can be just as good as last year's team, but it's going to take us a while to find our rhythm on offense and find our go-to guys and things like that."

Yet Roth still thinks his team can win 15 games.

He will look to both 6-foot-1 senior guard Jon Hecht and 6-3 junior forward Brent Roth -- both started some last year -- to step up and account for much of the offensive production that was lost. He thinks both with average double figures in scoring.

Roth also thinks 6-0 senior guard Steve Richardson will pick up some of the scoring as he has developed a lot and has been working on his shooting. He added that he also likes what he has seen at practice from junior guard Ben Prevallet.

The other aspect of the team Roth likes is its size.

"This is the biggest team I've ever had since I've been here," Roth said. "I could potentially start a lineup with all five kids over 6 foot and two 6-5 kids on the floor."

Those two 6-foot-5 junior newcomers are Wade Leible and Tyson Brown.

"I hope one of those two develops and turns into a scoring-through-post-up threat," Roth said. "Tyson's pretty much a pure center. He's a little bit thicker and has a bigger body. He's a true post player. Wade could actually play a 4 or a 5. He takes it to the basket a little bit and his perimeter shooting is improving."

Hecht will likely be moved to point guard this year because the lineup could potentially have so many big players, Roth added.

Defensively, Roth said his team lacks quickness, so the Pirates likely will play a half-court defense and grind it out on offense, pounding it into the post.

"We're shooting for those 15 wins again," Roth said. "I don't think it will go up just because of who we lost and how many of them. We lost an awful lot of leadership from last year."