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Dragons Taking Their Lumps

Brian Gjurgevich/Highlands Today

Lake Placid's Avery Young drives to the hoop on Tuesday during the Green Dragons' home loss to Sebring. LP has taken its lumps against bigger schools early on this season, but coach David Veley hopes the experience will pay off for his young team during district play.

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By CHRIS HOFFMAN

Highlands Today

Published: December 12, 2008

LAKE PLACID - "Rebuilding" is the most convenient label to give a Lake Placid boys basketball starting lineup that boasts a senior, three sophomores and a freshman, but first-year coach David Veley doesn't agree with the label.

In fact, he isn't convinced his team should think of themselves as inferior to any team in the district or beyond.

"This team is very young and inexperienced, but they're playing with a lot of heart and sometimes that's all the edge you need," Coach Veley said. "We've got some lofty goals, like winning the district title, but I think this team not only has the talent, but the work ethic to be there at the end."

Gone is all-around team leader and offensive centerpiece from last season, Conlin Veley, who ran the point for the Dragons and was a top-notch sharpshooter and slasher.

"He was a solid force for this team and it's always hard to replace someone that did so much," Coach Veley said. "But the team moves on and we've got some talent on this team that is going to turn some heads this season and for seasons to come."

Sophomore guard/forward Andre Wilson has emerged as a scoring threat, especially after he ignited the Green Dragons' comeback earlier this season against Avon Park, which saw LP nearly steal a win despite being down by as many as 18 points. Wilson also led LP in scoring against a pressure-heavy Sebring defense in the Dragons' latest tough loss.

Wilson has scored in double figures in nearly every game this season and is adept at hitting the mid-range jumper or driving to the basket to create scoring opportunities for the Green Dragons.

"Andre is quickly becoming our safety net for our offense," Veley said. "When a team is denying the pass to the middle, he's been able to knock down some shots that forces the defense to react to him, which is good at easing the pressure on our big men."

Senior Avery Young returned to the basketball court after a two-year layoff from the sport and has given a spark off the bench with his soft hands around the basket and an aggressive style of play.

"I just want to come out and do whatever the team needs me to do," Young said. "If they need me to score, then I'll score or if they need me to step up on defense, then I'll do that too. I understand my role within this team."

Already providing an impact is freshman forward Deondre Chisolm, who has become a legitimate scoring threat with his non-stop motion on the court that he uses to get to the basket.

"Deondre, along with the other young guys, are new to the system and I thought we'd go through our growing pains," LP senior center Travalier Sholtz said. 'But he's way ahead of schedule and has really set the tone for the younger guys with his work ethic."

Coach Veley has been impressed with the freshman's accelerated maturation process in the four games to open the season, but cautions everyone that he's still just a freshman with a lot of learning left to do.

"I don't want to put any undo pressure on Deondre," Coach Veley said. "He's a really gifted athlete and he's earned the right to his starting spot, but he's got so much growing on and off the court to do. He still makes freshman mistakes and is still learning his way around the offense, but I love what I've seen from him so far."

Joining Chisolm are sophomores Kirk Veley and Devontre Flemming, who add solid ball handling, while Veley's has shown that a beautiful jump shot runs in the family.

Veley scored 10 points in the second quarter against Class 5A powerhouse Martin County earlier this season, which proved that he has the ability to create his own shot not to mention delivering a laser pass into the heart of the defense for an easy layup.

"I'm constantly working on improve my shot and I made a point to work on ball handling over the summer," Kirk Veley said. "This team has a wealth of talent on it. All we have to do is keep competing and pushing ourselves and I really believe we'll be hoisting a district trophy at the end of the year."

Flemming has been running the point and has done well against the more experienced guards, but needs to work on setting the tempo and learning to run a team and become a floor general.

To provide some much-needed leadership, three-sport athlete Travalier Sholtz, a 6-foot-3, 290-pound center, has taken on the task of getting the young players acclimated to the offense and to the rigors of the high school game.

"These kids are just developing as players and it's my job to keep them on the right track," Sholtz said. "We're going through a down part right now, but we're not down as a team. The constant that Coach Veley looks for is that we improve with every game we play."

The Dragons have faced tough competition against bigger schools in the opening weeks of the season, and though they've taken their lumps, coach Veley thinks the adversity they're working through will make them stronger in district play.

"Hopefully, they see the intensity level (bigger schools) play with because we need to play at that level, too," Veley said. "We can, we just have to come ready to play and be physical. That's the difference."

LP is back in action on Saturday at the Vanguard School. The Dragons return home on Monday, when they'll host Sonrise Christian. Both tips are set for 7:30 p.m.

Chris Hoffman can be reached at 863-386-5837 or choffman@highlandstoday.com

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