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WELLSBURG--The last time the Brooke boys' basketball team finished better than .500 was the 2014 season. That is, until, last season.
In Year 2 of Adam Shinsky taking over the program, the Bruins flourished, finishing 14-9 before falling to eventual state champion Morgantown in the sectional tournament.
If the Bruins want to continue that upward trend, then they will need to do so replacing a host of talent lost to graduation, including two first-team OVAC performers in Alex Isinghood and Cole Sperlazza.
The good news is the Bruins have a talented, and successful, incoming freshman class but Shinsky is having none of the "next year" talk. He thinks this year's team can win as well.
"People around here are talking about next year, we can be so good. But we have a ton of juniors this year and this year is a crucial year for our program," Shinsky said. "This is our third year now and we got that first winning season in a long time and I don't want to go back. I want to keep the winning seasons coming and building that momentum. I think we'll be talented next year, but we're also talented now."
Inexperience is the name of the game and will be early for these Bruins, especially given the one returning player, junior Braylan Sperringer, ill be out at least until game four recovering from a minor injury.
Brooke did receive a bit of a boost when a talented brother tandem moved into Wellsburg and transferred from Wheeling Central in the Toepfer brothers--Leyton and Peyton.
Leyton started for the Maroon Knights and earned first-team all-OVAC honors while Peyton had a couple key moments early in the season.
Their roles are certainly to expand this season in the Bruins lineup.
"They moved to Wellsburg and have just been real hard working kids," Shinsky said. "They are gym rats and have brought a physicality to the program.
"They are definitely two guys capable of scoring big points for us."
As said, Sperringer is the lone returnee with major experience and once he's healthy and cleared to play, will become a fixture for the Green and Gold.
"He played tremendous minutes for us last season and won us a couple games," Shinsky said. "He's a hard-nosed kid that's always in the right spot. He's a strong kid and a good rebounder and defender."
Leyton Toeffer will take over PG duties for Brooke, with his brother's versatility placing Peyton anywhere from the 2-through-5 spots.
Shinsky also touted a trio of three solid wing players in Nick Cipoletti, Owen Petrella and Chuck Fuscardo, one of five seniors on the roster.
"Fuscardo is one of the more underrated shooters. He has a good shot and good range. He was a little banged up last year."
Shinsky noted Fuscardo put in the offseason work, shed about 40 pounds and is taking his senior season seriously.
A junior and senior combination are making the jump from junior varsity to varsity and will be counted on to provide Brooke an inside presence. That will be senior Blake Shorts and junior Nate Kimble, both of the 6-foot-4 variety.
Another senior, Landon Morris, will be counted on for rebounding and scoring.
Aside from point guard, no position is set in stone and Shinsky is looking forward to seeing how this team progresses.
While the incoming freshmen are a talented group, Shinsky is looking to maximize their court time together this season by taking advantage of West Virginia's six quaraters a night rule, and playing a full freshman schedule as well as competing on the junior varsity level.
"They'll get 15-16 freshmen games in and some junior varsity as well," Shinsky said. "The freshman schedule is good for them," Shinsky said. "That's how you improve is game experience. They will get 30-some games in. We do that in the summer too. We'll play over a full season in the summer.
"Two years ago, we played 48 (summer) games and last year, 36."
The program will need to continue to up its game with the likes of Morgantown and Wheeling Park lurking in the section.
Both teams advanced to Charleston last season, with the Patriots losing in the quarterfinal round as the sixth seed.