Even though the season looked grim entering its final week and their record wouldn’t grant them a bid to the state tournament, the Indian River boys’ basketball team finished up strong, rounding out February with wins over Laurel and Delmar. The victories brought the Indians to 10-12 on the season and 7-6 in the conference – something first-year coach Marvin Phillips said left him rather pleased.

“As I had said before,” Phillips noted, “it was a new year for all of us. We had fresh faces and I was stepping on for the first time. The guys really came together this year, though, and made it easier for me.”

Phillips walked onto the court of his alma mater this year after establishing successful basketball programs at Seaford Middle and High Schools during the past eight years. The Indians split games against Seaford this year, winning by a four-point margin in mid-December and coming up just short last month.

For the first time this year, Indian River competed in the National High School Coaches Association (NHSCA) Basketball Festival at the Wicomico Youth and Civic Center in Salisbury, Md., granting the team more out-of-conference competition and the opportunity to showcase their talent.

The Indian River team comprised some impressive athletes this year and they will have to fill the shoes of two talented seniors following this year’s graduation.

Senior center Jake Mitchell made his debut on Indian River’s hardwood this year after transferring from Sussex Tech, where he played his first three years. Team captain Tyree Oliver rounded out his fourth and final basketball season with the Indians. Mitchell reached a defined goal this season, scoring more than 1,000 career points and totaling 330 this year alone. Oliver finished the season with 204 points. The two players were the only ones on the roster who played in all 22 games on this year’s schedule.

Juniors Keion Sturgis and Deshawn Godwin each played in 21 games. Sturgis was second on the team in points this season, netting 233, while Godwin contributed 155. Jack Cole and Montre Andrews will also be returning next winter season as seniors. Andrews picked up 198 points this year, while Cole provided 85 of his own. Some young faces came on the court this year, too, as freshmen Patriel Bratton and D’Andre Santiago proved that the youngest guys out there could make a difference.

As for Phillips, he’s looking forward to what the off-season will allow in preparation – something he didn’t have the chance to truly benefit from this past year.

“I didn’t get the opportunity to work closely with the guys this past summer,” he said. “I already have the system in place now, and I’m looking forward to seeing the guys right before the season starts. There may be some things they forget in the next few months, but all I’ll have to do is show them once, and it will start coming back to them.”

Coming in late last season nipped the time he had to spend with the athletes before the schedule began.

“I had stressed the importance of grades to the guys,” Phillips said, “and they realized it. Hopefully, we’ll see some new faces, too, that couldn’t play, due to their grades. I’ll have more chances to talk to them this year. We’ll be looking for another good season. I’ve got a year under my belt now. These boys know me and know how I respond. They know what I like and don’t like.”

There has even been talk that Phillips may be offering his coaching style and knowledge on the sidelines of the football field this fall, too, but that notion is only in the preliminary stages.

As for basketball, Phillips said he is eager to get back to business next season with returning players.

“They’re definitely going to develop over the summer,” he said. “We’re going to look to some of them to take over the leadership roles that our seniors had. Sturgis is a strong, dedicated player. He only missed one practice all year, and he was out there at the end of the season, even after we knew we weren’t in the tournament. That’s the drive we need on the court. Jack [Cole] really stepped it up midway through the season, and I’m looking forward to seeing what he brings next year, too.”