Basketball preview: CFCA Eagles are ready to fly | Observer Preps

Pacing the sidelines at Windermere Prep’s gym, CFCA basketball coach Jonathan McClintock hawks with his arms crossed.

It’s a preseason game against Evans the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, and although it doesn’t count in the record book, it gives him a feel of this year’s team.

As sneakers squeak across the glossy wooden floor, there’s one thing that settles into the collective mind of the team — a motivation to make up for the way last season ended with a loss in the Class 2A state semifinals. 

“It was good to break through, but I don’t know if we are completely satisfied with the game that we played in Lakeland,” McClintock said. “I think it gave our returning seniors a taste of what that was like and hopefully a hunger to do that again.”

That Miami Christian team went on to beat Impact Christian Academy to win the state championship, so there is consolation knowing you lost to the eventual champs.

Silver linings are fine and all, but for McClintock and his Eagles, it’s not enough. The 2017-18 season was the most successful year in the history of the program. The Eagles started 10-1 before reeling off a 27-4 (6-0 district) record — the second consecutive 20-win season in McClintock’s three years as coach — and making a run all the way to the state semis.

“You reap benefits from it; you can refer to it,” McClintock said. “It’s a goal, and if you don’t have a vision for where you’re going, you usually don’t have much of a plan for getting there. The boys did get a taste of something special, and I think they would like that taste again, so it’s motivating.”

It’s not only a motivation for his players — five of eight are returning this year — but it also serves as a lesson for McClintock.

“It was good to break through, but I don’t know if we are completely satisfied with the game that we played in Lakeland. I think it gave our returning seniors a taste of what that was like and hopefully a hunger to do that again.”

— Jonathan McClintock

“I learned some things that I want to stress this year,” he said. “We’re really trying to get to a situation where all of the guys who are on the floor can make plays for themselves and others.”

A key cog from the Eagles’ machine that will be sorely missed is Dante Treacy — whose senior leadership helped guide the Eagles into completely new territory.

The team captain and point guard, Treacy was an offensive threat and maintained a double-digit scoring average throughout his years at CFCA. He racked up 15.1 points per game his senior year, graduated as CFCA’s all-time leading scorer (1,808 points) and was named the 2018 Florida Association of Basketball Coaches 2A Player of the Year. Following graduation, he joined the basketball team at Robert Morris University.

“He really led us through the process of building the thing from scratch,” McClintock said. “We lose the state player of the year, so that’s difficult. He was also at a critical position. The point guard is the captain of the group, and he did a great job of distributing the ball and getting everyone involved.”

Filling the void left by Treacy will be a tough challenge, but with McClintock returning most of last year’s team, there is still talent returning.

Taking over at the point guard is senior Bryce Street, who spent a lot of last year better learning the position behind Treacy.

“Great shooter and a young man with tremendous poise,” McClintock said. “He’s handling the lion’s share of the ball-handling responsibilities this year.”

Out on the wings, guards Jordan Preaster and Anterrius Washington will bring an attacking presence — although the Eagles will be without Preaster until mid- to late December because of a broken foot .

Preaster is one of the top talents on McClintock’s team;  the senior averaged 17.8 points per game and 8.4 rebounds per game last season. He also will be on his way to play basketball at Bethune-Cookman next year.

“That’s been adverse for us, and so we are having to figure things out without him for a while, but he will ultimately be back and — we pray — at full strength,” McClintock said.

His absence means Washington will be tasked with helping to pick up any slack. At 6-foot-5, Washington is the best defender on the team, and he’ll be getting the toughest assignments each game, McClintock said.

Along with guys such as Jajuan Preaster, Zach Reinhart and Anthony Campman, McClintock has the depth and talent to make another strong run through the regular season and postseason — but now with a bit of a target on their backs.

“We’re getting everyone’s full attention I think, no matter who we play,” McClintock said. “That means every game is very, very competitive and you can’t have days where your focus is lacking or effort is lacking.”

BASKETBALL BREAKDOWN

CFCA

Eagles boys team

Head coach: Jonathan McClintock

2017-18 record: 27-4 (6-0 in district)

Key returners: Jordan Preaster, Anterrius Washington, Bryce Street

Key losses: Dante Treacy

Quick hit: Following an appearance in the semifinals of the 2A state semis, the Eagles look to make improvements this year despite losing the 2A player of the year in Dante Treacy (15.1 ppg). Preaster, out until December, is the Eagles’ returning scoring leader (17.8 ppg) and a backboard cleaning machine with 8.4 rebounds per game. 

FOUNDATION ACADEMY

Lions boys team

Head coach: Dejon Everson

2017-18 record: 12-16 (1-3 in district)

Key returners: Jonathan Richardson

Key losses: Lance Volan, Greg Henderson, Rayshawn Plummer

Quick hit: The Lions are going into the 2018-19 without their top two scorers following the graduation of Lance Volan (10 ppg) and Greg Henderson (9.5 ppg), while top rebounder Rayshawn Plummer (163 rpg) was also lost to graduation. Despite heavy losses, the Lions will have senior co-captain Jonathan Richardson (5.3 ppg, 3.8 rpg) on the court, along with fellow senior co-captain Joseph Clayton.

Lions girls team

Head coach: Deborah Pennick

2017-18 record: 0-12 (0-3 in district)

Quick hit: It was a tough year for the Lady Lions as they went through the 2017-2018 season without a win — finishing last in the Class 3A, District 3 standings. As of now, there’s not a lot to be excited for, but the hope for coach Deborah Pennick is that her girls can wrestle away a win or two during the upcoming season.

LEGACY CHARTER

Eagles boys team

Head coach: Caio Santos

2017-18 record: 17-8 (0-4 in district)

Key returners: Nathaniel Rodriguez, Elijah Post

Key losses: Dylan Clinger, Ty Ballant

Quick hit: Despite no longer having scoring leader Dylan Clinger (15.3 ppg), the Eagles will have their best overall player Nathaniel Rodriguez returning for his final year. Rodriguez had a solid year last season, during which he picked up a team second-best in scoring (15 ppg) to go along with his 4.8 rebounds per game.

Eagles girls team

Head coach: Blessing Freeman

2017-18 record: 10-10 (3-1 in district)

Key returners: Tya Freeman

Key losses: Layla Carter

Quick hit: Last season, the Eagles managed to finish at .500 and sneak into the Class 3A state playoffs, thanks in large part to then junior Tya Freeman’s 18.4 points per game. This season, Freeman and the Eagles are back with a vengeance as they look to make a splash in 3A, District 3 play — where they will take on the perennial power of Orlando Christian Prep, who last year finished runner-up at states.

OCOEE

Knights boys team

Head coach: John Siers

2017-18 record: 7-19 (0-5 in district)

Key returners: Sadeem Blake, Alston Andrews

Quick hit: The Knights look to right the ship after a tough season during which they lost nearly almost 20 games but still made the Class 8A playoffs. Siers’ side will rely on the scoring prowess of PG/SG Sadeem Blake and the long 6-foot-9 Alston Andrews at the C/F position. 

Knights girls team

Head coach: Gina Solano

2017-18 record: 7-18 (3-5 in district)

Key returners: Camille Pringle, Ishanni Watt

Key losses: Alisha Absolu

Quick hit: It’s tough to contend when you’re in the same district as teams such as Lake Howell (29-3, 10-0) and East Ridge (19-8, 7-3), so it’s no surprise the Knights had difficulties last year. This season, the Knights will look to fight past the adversity and get back to the winning ways they had back during the 2016-17 season when they finished with a record of 17-5.

WEST ORANGE

Warriors boys team

Head coach: Eric Jones

2017-18 record: 17-14 (5-2 in district)

Key returners: 

Key losses: KJ Simon, Elijah Jackson

Quick hit: Don’t let the Warriors’ 17-14 record fool you for a second, because it’s superficial. Last year, the Warriors made a deep run in the state playoffs, making it all the way to the state semis, where they fell to Oak Ridge. Unfortunately for the Warriors, they will be without leading scorer and assist man KJ Simon (16.7 ppg, 4.7apg) and rebound machine Elijah Jackson (8.4 rpg). Luckily, senior forward Darrell Harding (9.9 ppg, 6.8 rpg) will be back for his final season of basketball, while shooting guard Jamarcus Clark (9.1 ppg) will bolster the Warriors’ offense.

Warriors girls team

Head coach: Shrell Chamberlain

2017-18 record: 26-5 (5-2 in district)

Key returners: Morgan Beacham, Kennedi Rodgers, Christina Kline, Sarah Placide

Quick hit: Despite an early bow out of the Class 9A state playoffs, the Warriors still had an impressive 26-win season thanks to a starting lineup that returns its biggest weapons. The Warriors’ three highest scorers — Morgan Beacham (14.9 ppg), Kennedi Rodgers (13.2 ppg) and Christina Kline (10.7 ppg) — all return to set into place a high-scoring offense that can take on any team.