Maples a work in progress under Everson
Chris Everson knew the task he was taking on wouldn鈥檛 be easy.
Everson was brought on as a late hire to take over as head coach of Mapletown鈥檚 boys basketball team and though he鈥檚 had a lot of ground to make up he鈥檚 confident the Maples will turn their fortunes around despite an 0-4 start.
鈥淚 did step in late. I鈥檝e only had a month,鈥� Everson said. 鈥淚 don鈥檛 love the losses but the kids are great. We鈥檙e both adjusting. I鈥檓 trying to put my system in and that鈥檚 hard to do in a short period of time but they鈥檙e working at it.鈥�
A couple seniors have taken the reins, according to Everson, who is assisted by Nick Atkins.
鈥淎.J. Vanata is for sure one of our leaders,鈥� Everson said. 鈥淗e鈥檚 our point guard, gets us in stuff. And Braden McIntire also, he鈥檚 our starting two guard but he was out with an injury tonight and that hurt us.鈥�
The Maples fell at Avella last Friday night, 73-39. Westley Burchianti scored 17 of his game-high 29 points in the first quarter when the Eagles flew out to a 32-9 lead on their way to the non-section win.
Bryce Wright made four 3-pointers in scoring 18 points for Avella (4-2) which used an effective press to help it take control.
鈥淲e didn鈥檛 take care of the basketball,鈥� Everson said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 just making the right decisions when the ball is being pressured, that鈥檚 what it comes down to and that鈥檚 what got us tonight.鈥�
The Eagles came up with 11 steals, including five by Burchianti with three that led directly to layups.
鈥淎bsolute baller,鈥� Everson said of Burchianti. 鈥淚 love his moving shots, that鈥檚 hard to guard, and then he has that long and lanky body. He鈥檚 the man.
鈥淲e knew we were coming in short handed but you鈥檝e got to play the game, you can鈥檛 make excuses.鈥�
Jeremiah Mick led the Maples with 15 points and twin brother Josh Mick followed eight points. Lucas Stevenson added six points with a 3-pointer.
Rob BurchiantiMapletown鈥檚 Jeremiah Mick takes a jump shot during last Friday night鈥檚 game at Avella. Mick scored a team-high 15 points but the Maples lost.
Vanata, McIntire and the Mick twins are all senior starters.
鈥淲e鈥檝e got seven seniors and a lot of them provide leadership at different times and that鈥檚 nice to kind of bounce things off them,鈥� said Everson, who played at Philip Barbour High School in West Virginia.
鈥淚 went to the Navy after that and I played for a ship team but then I got hurt so I became an assistant coach and tried to help out that way. After that I coached youth basketball for years but this is my first go-around as a high school coach. I鈥檓 learning every day just like the kids are. It鈥檚 been a good experience so far.鈥�
Everson stressed to his players after the Avella game to not dwell on the losses.
鈥淚 told them we don鈥檛 have time to whine about it or put our heads down,鈥� Everson said. 鈥淲e鈥檝e got to get back on the steer and try to ride it again. We鈥檝e got to work hard tomorrow, work hard the next day. That鈥檚 the way to get better, just focus on one day at a time.鈥�