Getting To Work (Video)

Eastside High School's basketball coaching staff believes the pieces are in place for a big season, and they're hoping a recent tweak in offensive strategy and training can lead them to a championship. 

"The expectations that the kids have, the expectations that we have as a coaching staff are high," Head Coach Tom Chamness said. 

The Eagles won't tip off their season until late this fall, but they're already focusing on "skills and drills" as part of their September practice sessions, as they begin to focus their attention to the 2012 campaign.  

Eastside won 17 games last year, finishing third in a loaded region before losing in the first round of the playoffs to York High School. 

"We feel like we play in the toughest region in the Upstate in AAA," Chamness said. "We felt like we did battle last year. Obviously would have liked to have finished a little bit better, but when you consider that two of the teams in our region played for the upper state championship, that's kind of a testament to how tough it is." 

The door to the region championship may be cracked open enough for Eastside barge in, with the Eagles returning three starters, and playing in a region where last year's heavyweight, Wade Hampton, has been depleted by graduation.

Eastside has implemented a "jump" program geared toward conditioning its players to increase their explosiveness and vertical leaps, and also installed a different variety of motion offense to match the skill set of this year's squad, a philosophical adjustment suggested by Assistant Coach Matt Moore. 

Whereas last year's team operated on a "five out" motion scheme, this year's squad, which features more depth and experience in the post, will turn more to a "four out, one in" motion look that will continuously keep a forward or center close to the basket. 

Davaris Mcgowens, a 6-foot-5, two-sport athlete (football, basketball), is joined in the front court by 6-foot-5 Luke Jones and 6-foot-6 Wesley Johnson. While the goal is maintain depth in the front court, Chamness said he does have some sets that call for all three big men to be on the court at the same time. It's a luxury that's not usually enjoyed at EHS. 

"I've been here - this is my 10th year - we've never had a kid, really over 6-foot-3," Chamness said. 

After making his players scrimmage, do drills and run the court on Wednesday, he marched them to the weight room to take part in the new conditioning program implemented by Assistant Coach Mark Burnitz. There, the players take part on core exercises and weight training intended to improve their explosion to the basket and ability to get vertical. 

"We've had pretty good results," Burnitz said.