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Adam York (foreground) and Brent Pleiman are two big reasons for expectation at Russia this winter...while veteran coach, Paul Bremigan (bottom) is at the top of his career, according to many area colleagues.
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Ask any five area coaches their pick of any team in west-central Ohio with the best chance of making it to the state tournament in Columbus come March and three out of five will pick the Russia Raiders. We know...because we asked, including Russia head coach, Paul Bremigan, who not surprisingly downplayed the hype and hyperbole of those who concede such lofty accomplishment.
"First of all, it's a long season and a lot of things can happen," says Bremigan. "That's what we tell the kids...it's a long season and you have to take one day, one practice and one game at a time."
If Bremigan sounds sage in his objections, he should know. He led another, similarly talented Russia group to the Final Four in 2002, losing to Delphos St. John in the finals.
"You have to play well, but you have to be lucky, too. Things have to fall right for you, beginning with the Piqua sectional. All it takes is one hot team and you not playing well on the wrong night."
But while Bremigan is the voice of experience, many equally experienced coaches in the area are more than willing to concede that the Raiders are a better bet starting the 2005 campaign than they were just three short years ago.
"They're loaded, top to bottom," says a rival coach from the Shelby County League. "They're the biggest team in the league with York (Adam) and Plieman (Brent) and their guards can handle the ball and score against pressure. Plus, they're deep enough to play seven or eight and get productive minutes off the bench."
"Paul's not the kind of guy to talk about it, but he knows what he has," says another. "They're going to be tough night for anyone, plus they play a non-conference schedule out of the MAC that pretty well prepares them for the kind of physical play you face in the tournament."
The strongest endorsement you'll get from Bremigan is a wry smile and a prepared, yet sincere, statement of what high school basketball means to everyone in the tiny Sheby County community...beginning with his players.
"The kids know our tradition because they start early here, preparing to play on Friday and Saturday nights. The community really looks forward to packing the gym and supporting them, and we've had so many good players in my 26 years here. A lot come back and volunteer their services...to scout or anything that would help the program. Basketball (and baseball) have a special connection with the community."
When rivals talk about the Raiders having the full compliment in 2005, they understandably start with Russia's size up front...and with their depth off the bench. Seniors Brent Plieman (6' 7") and Adam York (6' 6") form a tandem that can score, defend and rebound...and have three years of experience.
"It's nice to have those two," says assistant Brad Francis, "but we have a player off the bench that's 6' 9" (Tyler Brandewie) and a couple others that go 6' 6".
In all, Russia has five players in the program who stand 6' 6" or bigger.
But their backcourt has just as many admirers, for its ability to run, score and defend with traditional Raider pressure on the opposition's guards.
"I love Cody Anthony for his hustle and overall game," says one non-league coach. "And Colin Puthoff is a very good shut-down defender."
Still, Bremigan points to those issues of improvement that stand between potential and titles.
"We have to play physical against the kinds of teams you see in the tournament...like Lockland last year in the district finals," he says. "That's why we play so many teams from the MAC in our non-league schedule because it's a physical league. And, the kids have to be prepared for our round-robin conference schedule that means you play everyone twice. It's very tough to beat someone twice in a home and home situation...especially in the Shelby County League where we have such great rivalries."
Caution from Bremigan notwithstanding, most coaches would chance the pitfalls of the long season if they could play with the hand he's holding.
"I don't know if they'll get to Columbus," says another colleague. "But you know they're going to play hard for Paul and they'll improve with every game. They'll be good...and it couldn't happen to a better guy than Paul Bremigan."
The FanFile
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