GILROY – In his first year at the helm, Gilroy High boys
basketball coach Jeremy Dirks led the Mustangs to a 15-13 record
and a spot in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
However, a premature first-round exit has he and his team
motivated this season to take the program to the next level and
recapture a Tri County Athletic League title for the first time
since the 2005-06 campaign.
GILROY – In his first year at the helm, Gilroy High boys basketball coach Jeremy Dirks led the Mustangs to a 15-13 record and a spot in the Central Coast Section playoffs.
However, a premature second-round exit has he and his team motivated this season to take the program to the next level and recapture a Tri County Athletic League title for the first time since the 2005-06 campaign.
Fortunately for Dirks, the Mustangs return a core group of seniors that have not only been teammates in high school, but their ties reach much further back.
“They all started games at some point last season,” Dirks said. “They have played together since the seventh and eighth grade. They are really great kids.”
Three of the six who played last season finished the year in the top-5 in team scoring, including Greg Hamik, Max Fishler and Dolapo Opere.
In addition to the five, the Mustangs also welcome senior Andrel Gaines from the junior varsity squad, who will get plenty of playing time at point guard this season, Dirks said.
Anchoring the experienced quintet is second-team All-TCAL selection, Hamik. The 6-foot-2 guard started every game (28) as a junior a year ago, Dirks said, and was second on the team in scoring with eight points per game.
“I feel really comfortable with these guys,” Hamik said. “I’m excited for this season. The chemistry is good.”
Hamik provides a strong threat from beyond the arc for the Mustangs, who will look to get much of their scoring from outside the key. Hamik poured in a team-high 36 3-pointers a season ago.
“I just can’t say enough of my seniors,” Dirks said. “We are very disciplined and defensive oriented, but I’m hoping we can get out and run. We are going to be a fast-paced team.”
At 6-foot-5, Hartman is the tallest player on the Mustangs roster. He pulled down at least six rebounds in six games last season and will carry the bulk of the load inside and on the boards for a team that will focus most of its energy on out-hustling opponents up and down the floor.
“We are undersized, definitely,” Dirks said. “We are going to push the tempo as much as we can. Everyone is bigger than us so we are going to use our strength which is our speed.”
Using that speed is where the Mustangs are going to do much of their damage against the bigger guys taking the floor for their TCAL counterparts Palma, Salinas and Alisal, who finished first through third, respectively, in the league last season and who all return players at 6-foot-4 or taller.
“We really have to get out and push it on the break,” Hartman said.
The TCAL will be competitive once again, but the Mustangs, who finished with a 5-7 league record last year, which included wins against Palma, Alisal and San Benito, have their sights set on a league title.
“We have had consistent seasons each year but this year is looking pretty good,” said senior guard Michael Aldridge. “We want to compete and be above .500 and do what we can do.”
Also returning to bolster the Mustangs lineup on the defensive end of the floor is 6-foot senior Opere, who was selected to last year’s TCAL all-defensive team.
