THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1996, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Sunday, January 7, 1996 TAG: 9601050203
SECTION: CAROLINA COAST PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY JEFF ZEIGLER
LENGTH: Medium: 67 lines
A 1-7 START to a season may not be all that great, but in the case of the Camden County boys basketball program, it may very well be deceiving.
The Bruins, who beat Mattamuskeet to open the season and then lost seven straight games, have been losing mainly to larger 2A schools and even to 4A Northeastern.
Mark Harnly, first-year head coach, has inherited a small and inexperienced team.
He's had a tough time setting a full-time starting lineup.
``I'm still trying to find a good mix,'' Harnly said. ``Chemistry has been a problem. I've only got two players with varsity experience.''
Varsity experience is also new to Harnly, himself a Camden graduate. Last year he was the head JV coach at Richlands High School.
Six players have been in and out of the starting lineup.
Leading the team is Nick Williams, who has played at both guard positions, but mostly at the point.
Levar Bryant has started every game at power forward. Derek Stiles, 6-foot-1, is the center.
Nigel Gregory and Keenon Walker have started at forward, and Tom Ott has started at guard.
No one in the lineup is over 6-foot-2. Height has been a problem so far.
``We've been getting killed on the offensive glass every game,'' Harnly said. ``You get out-rebounded on that end of the floor, and you're in trouble.''
Experience has also been a problem. Only 14 points of offense are back from last year's team.
Camden also had had trouble shooting at both the free throw line and from the floor.
The team is averaging below 50 percent from the line and around 30 percent from the floor.
But with all this against them, the Bruins still have been able to stay in most games. Defense has been a strong point.
``We've looked really good on defense, holding teams in the 50s and 60s,'' Harnly said. ``If we start hitting some shots, we should be on the winning side of some of those games. We're getting good shots. You'd have to think they're going to start falling.''
Camden's defensive ability showed in a loss to Perquimans County in a recent tournament.
The Pirates won 43-37, but the Bruins held tight with the usually potent Perquimans offense.
``With the exception of the Northeastern game and the first Currituck game, we've been in every game and had a chance to win every game,'' Harnly said. ``We've got a very quick team.''
Harnly has set a goal for the Bruins to reach the 1A state playoffs.
It is not unrealistic, as five of the seven teams from the Albemarle Conference will reach the postseason.
The Bruins should at least be a spoiler somewhere along the line.
The conference season already is under way, and Camden has a key matchup Tuesday with Perquimans.
``We're going to sneak up and surprise some people later in the year,'' Harnly said. by CNB