High school basketball: Putnam City boys growing up

“We're comfortable with each other, but we want to be the best we can, and we're not playing to our potential yet,” said Bush, one of the quickest guards in the state. “As a team, we need to play better defense all the time.”

The Pirates lack size, so the interior play of center Orlando Goldsmith will be key, along with Bernard Gainey and RichMarr Smith, both of whom are under 6-foot-3.

“I have to be physical and play with muscle,” Goldsmith said. “I've got to pull boards, get loose balls and those things that the team needs.”

DIFFERENT LOOK AT DEL CITY

The season has started rough for Del City after opening as the coaches' preseason No. 1 in Class 5A.

But an early loss to Moore hasn't diminished expectations for the Eagles.

Guard Brett Cannon is back to full health from the broken wrist that kept him out of the state tournament, and former Putnam City guard Stephen Edwards moved in, giving the Eagles a dangerous backcourt combo.

Cannon says the team will have a different look, too.

“We've had a lot of additions to the team,” said Cannon, a junior. “We've had guys who moved in from California, some football players come out, like Corey Lawrence.

“We're a completely different team.”

LATE START FOR DOUGLASS

In the last few seasons, the majority of the Douglass basketball team was in the gym long before football season ended, but this year was very different for first-year coach Anthony Andrews.