By Chris Parker
Dadeville boys basketball won 18 games last year, which was the most for the program since winning 30 games and finishing state runner-up in 2011.
The Bearcats will look to improve that total with a pair of seniors in Luke Bushey and Caden Farmer returning to lead the team.
“Luke Bushey and Caden Farmer are our senior leaders on and off of the floor,” said Dadeville head coach Curtis Collins. “They both bring professionalism on a daily basis as well as skill on the court. They have played for me for seven years and have never had a losing season. They know what it takes to win.”
Bushey is one of the top players in Class 1. He earned all-state honors last season putting up 19.5 points per game to go with 5.1 rebounds 3 assists and 1.7 steals per game. He shot 55% from the field and 40% from three.
Junior Aidan Jarman earned second-team all-conference honors as a sophomore averaging 13.7 points, 5.1 rebounds, 3.1 assists and 2.4 steals per game. He shot 51% from the field and 41% from three-point range with 48 made three-pointers.
“Aidan Jarman is our returning second-leading scorer and playmaker,” Collins said. “He had a big sophomore year and is much better coming into his second season as a starter. He has always been a part of winning teams and has a wide variety of skills with the basketball.”
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Senior Eli Abramovitz, juniors Payton Farmer and Brayden Garver and sophomore Kaleb Getman also return.
Collins on Abramovitz: “Eli Abramovitz is a big-time addition to our varsity team this season. He provides a lot of length and leaping ability around the rim. Teams will be surprised by what he brings to our group.”
Collins on Farmer: “Payton Farmer is one of our elite defenders and glue guys. He has a knack for taking charges and getting in the passing lane.”
Collins on Garver: “Brayden Garver is our leader of the second unit who provides energy and defense.”
Collins on Getman: “Kaleb Getman will be given a lot more opportunities to show his skills on the floor in his second season and provides us with another shooting threat.”
Peyton Garver, Josh King and Chayse Coose will look to make a varsity impact this year as well.
This group learned a lot of lessons from last season that Collins hopes pay off in the form of more wins and championships.
“Our biggest strength will be the experience from the achievements as well as the shortcomings from last season,” Collins said. “We played in four championship games and were consistently ranked well among other teams, but ultimately fell short in our district championship. We now have the lessons we learned from that experience to lean on, as well as the bulk of our team returning.”
Dadeville opens the regular season on Nov. 18 at home against Sheldon.
“Our identity has always been our defensive ability,” Collins said. “When we are at our best we are playing as a unit on the defensive side of the ball and forcing other teams out of their comfort zone.”
