Boys Basketball: With a true offseason, St. Charles East poised for a rebound this winter

ST. CHARLES – Without a true offseason to prepare last season, the St. Charles East boys basketball team perhaps took a step back from its usual prominence in the win-loss column.

The Saints are determined to fight for that back this time around and remind the DuKane Conference their 3-11 record last season won’t be their new normal.

“I feel like I know this year’s [team] a lot better than last year’s team because we last year didn’t have an offseason,” St. Charles East coach Pat Woods. “This year, we kind of had the whole process. I feel like we’re in such a better place than we were before. You realize how valuable the offseason is when it gets taken away from you, so just for the fact I feel like we know our system better and we know each other better than we did last year is something we’re really thankful for.”

The Saints tip off their season against East Aurora Monday night as part of the St. Charles East Thanksgiving tournament.

Senior guard AJ Gaca and senior forwards Rahul Gor and Trent Warren are just part of the nucleus the Saints are looking forward to lead this season. Gor, who shot 45% from the three-point arc as a junior, and Gaca played the most varsity minutes last season.

“We’re going to be counting on [Gor’s three-point ability] obviously, and I think he’s added a couple other things to his game as well. He’s gotten in better shape, too, so looking forward to that,” Woods said. “Warren is the other one kind of opposite side of him. Gor is 6-6, Trent is 6-4, so we have a little length there that can shoot from the outside as well get in the inside.”

“Then, you throw AJ’s motor in with the bunch and Mike Weaver, I think that corps of guys will lead us going forward. I’m actually really impressed with our juniors, to be honest,” Woods continued.

Those juniors include guard Jack Borri, who is expected to be in the starting rotation, and others like Eddie Herrera.

“[Borri] is a really good shooter,” Woods said. “He’s just a basketball kind of kid. He can shoot the ball well and he’s got a high basketball IQ. He can take it to the basket; he can handle the ball, so he’s going to do a lot for us.”

Herrera has “got a great motor.”

“Really plays hard, has got nice touch around the basket,” Woods said. “He’ll definitely be a contributor for us, but we’ve got a lot of kids that can play. I don’t know if we’ve got anyone that’s dominant, but I think we just have a lot of kids across the board – juniors and seniors – that can just play.”

“With the [high tempo] speed we like to play at, the more people we can put in, the better,” Woods continued. “So, just try to wear teams down in the pace. I think we should have some success being able to do that.”

St. Charles North

St. Charles North senior forward Ethan Marlowe has already established himself as a gifted scorer, but taking the next step as a more complete player required a bit of self-reflection.

“This off-season I’ve focused on being better defensively,” Marlowe said. “I’m going to have to take a step forward on the defensive end and lead through the paint, so I’ve made a focus to be better guarding on the perimeter and on the block.”

Marlowe, a 6-foot-8 multi-year starter, though kept up his skills on the offensive end.

“I’ve worked a lot on my mid post game and perimeter skills, I’m going to be operating in those spots a lot in our new offense so I’ve made an emphasis on expanding my game in those areas,” Marlowe said.

His senior season brings forward some lofty goals, including aspirations of being named DuKane Conference Player of the Year and an outright conference team title.

Oh, and defeat the Saints twice in the regular season.

“Two years ago, we split it with East, but I know that we have the talent and depth to win it outright in the DuKane this year,” Marlowe said.

Max and Jude Love will be major complementary pieces alongside him in fulfilling that quest.

“Max Love has made huge strides in his game this past year. He’s really been working and becoming a very consistent shot maker. He’s a guy, where when he’s got a clean look, there’s no doubt in my mind it’s going in,” Marlowe said.

“Ned Hayes is also going to open some eyes this year with his offensive skill set, he is going to be our x-factor,” Marlowe continued.