Though only two players return from last season’s team that went 1-11 in the Minnesota College Athletic Conference’s Northern Division and 2-23 overall, Rainy River Community College men’s basketball coach Jack Cook is seeking to do better in 2012-13.
“We are looking forward to a group that will be a strong defensive team and expect to finish much higher in our division,” said Cook, who enters his second season as head coach.
He said defense is an area the team needs to improve upon for this season.
In contrast to the end of last season when RRCC had only six players remaining on its roster, Cook said he had to make cuts this year when more than 20 came out for the team.
The Voyageurs last season had the third- and fourth-leading scorers in the Northern Division.
Sheldon Esdelle-Blackburn, who isn’t returning after using up his sophomore year of eligibility, scored 454 points over 25 games for an average of 18.2 points per game.
Sophomore forward William Sparkman, who is from Boynton Beach, Fla., and one of RRCC’s two returning starters, was right behind Esdelle-Blackburn with 442 points (17.7 ppg) last season.
Also returning is forward Spencer Collins, who is from Cypress, Texas, and averaged 8 ppg in 2011-12.
The Voyageurs’ only other player who will be in his sophomore year of eligibility is guard Jeff Romeus of Coconut Creek, Fla., a transfer from Allen County Community College in Kansas.
Though both of the Voyageurs’ leading rebounders from last season — Esdelle-Blackburn and Shawn Filipiak, a 2011 Falls High School graduate who transferred to St. Scholastica — have left the team after averaging 7.4 rpg, Cook said “we have better size this year, especially at the high post.”
Joshua Pierre, a freshman post player from Coral Springs, Fla., is on the team’s list of top incoming players along with freshman forwards Dorian O’Neal of Lake Worth, Fla., and Deaunte Hammer of Coon Rapids.
While Cook is concerned the most about injuries, he said he is looking forward this season to “having good numbers to pick from.”
“We have a true post player and some good shooting guards,” he said. “We also should have stronger defense this year.”
Cook said the teams to watch out for include Central Lakes, which is in the Northern Division for this season and ranked No. 5 nationally in the NJCAA Division III preseason poll.
“Vermilion is always tough. Fond du Lac is strong this year. Northland also,” Cook said. “I think the whole conference, North and South, will be better this year, so we will have our work cut out for us to be successful.”
Cook said the team’s goals this season include a strong finish in the conference and qualifying for the state tournament.
RRCC opens the season Friday at the Mesabi Range Tourney in Virginia.
The Voyageurs’ first home game is Nov. 30 against Ridgewater.
