When the Briarwood Academy Buccaneers tip-off their 2004-2005 basketball season in two weeks, a new face will be on the sidelines.
Former Nathaniel Greene Patriot coach Greg Keck is the new person in the basketball program at Briarwood Academy.
He brings 15 years of coaching experience to the Buccaneer basketball court as head coach.
Coach Keck spent the last five years as head coach at Siloam's Nathaniel Greene Academy. Prior to those years, Coach Keck coached 10 years at St. Michael's School in Savannah.
"I am looking forward to coaching and teaching the students at Briarwood," Coach Keck said. "Our main goal as a team is simple ... win region and go far in the state playoffs."
He said he's confident in his team.
"It will be a challenge to achieve these goals, but through teamwork and dedication from our players, this Buccaneer team can achieve anything," he said.
And he's already learned a few things about his team after just a couple of practices.
"For this team to be successful this year, we are going to have to rely on ball movement and boxing-out," Coach Keck said, "because we have no height. We do not have any tall players, but we have quick and agile guys that can maneuver the ball really well down-court."
The Buccaneer roster includes 13 players that feature four seniors, one junior, four sophomores and four freshmen.
The four seniors that will be leaders for the Buccaneers are Al Dudley, Burt Goolsby, Zack Henderson and Kelsey Jones. The lone junior is Blake Stitcher.
The four sophomores are Seth Williford, Joseph Batrous, David Russell and Davis Griffin.
The freshmen class for the Bucs includes Dave Joesbury, Hughlon Mays, Carl Chapman and Ethan DeMore.
"Al Dudley and Burt Goolsby are returning starters for us that will lead us both offensively and defensively," Coach Keck said. "Also, Joseph Batrous will be a leader for us who has experience."
Coach Keck said Zack Henderson and Seth Williford will add strength and quickness to the Bucs.
"So far in practice, we have played good at times and then sloppy at times. But, I feel very confident we will gel in time for the start of the season," Coach Keck said.
The Buccaneers finished last season with a 12-11 overall record and a 11-5 region mark. They were ousted in the first round of the state playoffs by Brookwood.
The Bucs will tip-off their new season on November 30 in the Garden City Classic tournament at Augusta Prep. This tourney continues on Dec. 3 and Dec. 4.
The Bucs' first home game is Friday, Dec. 10 at 4:30 p.m. against Augusta Prep.
