Pointer basketball head coach Josh Aros, in his eighth season at the helm, changed his team’s style of play and it has paid dividends with CIF playoffs beginning next week.
His team, despite a pair of serious injuries, has posted a 16-8 record and sits at 4-2 in Central League play with its last pair of league games at home this week against cellar dweller Crawford (0-7) and first place Canyon Hills (5-1) on Feb. 9.
CIF playoff pairings will be announced on Feb. 10 and Aros, with his squad currently sitting in the fifth position in Div. III rankings, meaning the Pointers should host at least one playoff battle, “Which would be cool,” he said.
“We’re not very big this year,” Aros noted (his tallest players are 6 feet 3 inches). “So we use our speed, try to push the ball, and get shots in transition. If that doesn’t work we go into a couple of sets but our goal is to defend well, get a good rebound, and push to try and get some layups in transition.”
That strategy has produced a scoring average of 61 points per game with junior Grant Stewart’s 17.0 points per game leading the team. Nick Freeman (14.0) and Nick Woodworth (9.6) follow.
Defensively, Freeman is pulling down 8.9 rebounds per game followed by Stewart (4.6) and Na’Sean Hardy (4.3). Assists leader is Trevor Dorris (4.6 per game) with Stewart (3.3) and Freeman (3.3) close behind. Stewart has the most steals (2.5 per game) just more than Dorris (2.2) and Hardy (2.0).
A critical loss for the Pointers came during a home game against Coronado when 6 feet 2 inches tall sophomore Hardy went down with what was originally believed to be a severe sprain but was later diagnosed at a hospital as a broken leg.
“Na’Sean started every game and played really big minutes and has done a lot of good things for us,” Aros said. “He rebounds and defends well and scores at a good rate so it’s been tough but we have a couple of kids stepping up, filling his shoes, and starting to get good minutes and find their way to contribute.”
Another promising player was lost to injury before the season began but Aros is pleased with the progress of his team.
“I think the kids are playing well,” he said. “We came in with a lot of new faces and they’ve gelled and worked hard this season. They play hard and play for each other.”
FREE THROWS
Aros, a PLHS teacher, is a new father and is sometimes seen supervising at after-school events on campus doing “Daddy Duty” with his infant son strapped to his chest and a radio in his pocket.
There was concern whether the two home games scheduled this week could be played as planned on the Pointer court when several leaks from recent rains developed in the roof above the surface.
