Prep Basketball Preview: Eldorado | Eagles ready to take next step

Josh Bradley has been patient in his time as head boys' basketball coach at Eldorado.

With this being the third year in his tenure, Bradley said the time for his team to step up is now and there is no more room for playing the waiting game.

"Last year we went 17-13 and we were one of the top teams in the Black Diamond Conference. There is no reason now, why we shouldn't win 20 games and win the conference. We host the (IHSA Class 2A) Regional this year, so it will be nice of these young guys to take the next step and win a regional on their home floor."

Eldorado will attempt to do so with an intact starting lineup from a season ago. Gone is 6-foot-7 center Clay Boulds and Adam Ninness, who came off the bench.

Back for Bradley and the Eagles are interior players Adam Partridge (senior), Jacob Traxler (junior) and Braden Attebury (junior), along with guards John Meredith (junior) and Kale Oglesby (junior).

Max Kasiar (senior) and Ray May (junior) have been playing supportive roles off the bench for Eldorado, but Bradley is excited about the experience he has coming back.

"The one thing that we preached all summer was that it was time to take the next step up. Being a sophomore or being young is no longer an excuse when you played a whole year of varsity basketball."

That experience appears to be paying off - at least in the early going - as Eldorado went 5-0 last week at the Vienna Classic, averaging 65 points per game and and winning by 23.5 points per game.

Partridge finished as the tournament's MVP, the first time an Eldorado player has received the honor as he averaged 14 points and 10 rebounds per game. In the same tournament, Attebury averaged 14 points and seven rebounds per game, while Traxler averaged nine points and 10 rebounds a contest and Meredith averaged 13 points and four assists a game.

The strength of Eldorado - much like last year - will be its inside game and while Bradley has harped about outside shooting, which he said is getting better, the maturation process is one that he knows will be the most important.

"Attebury was a guy last year we thought was going to be a solid junior varsity player and then finds himself a spot on the varsity team and by the end of the year was one of the more consistent, if not our best scorer. His maturity has come a long way and Traxler towards the end of last year found his stride. I really expect a lot of things from those two this year."

As he embarks on his third season, Bradley isn't sure if the job is getting any easier, but he said the process is.

"The things we talk about, the kids' basketball IQ seems to be getting better and they have a good understanding of what we are talking about and how we need to get things done," he said. "As far as that goes it is getting a little easier."

Michael Dann covers prep and college sports for the Harrisburg Daily Register and Eldorado Daily Journal. Follow him on Twitter: @spydieshooter.

Eldorado Schedule + Roster

<p><strong>Eldorado Schedule</strong></p>

<p>Nov. 21         vs. Century*             79-61 W<br />Nov. 22        vs. Galatia*                 71-27 W<br />Nov. 23         vs. Cobden*                 71-39 W<br />Nov. 25         vs. Carrier Mills*             43-41 W<br />Nov. 26         vs. Vienna*                 68-38 W<br />Dec. 2         GALLATIN COUNTY         7:30 PM<br />Dec. 6         WEST FRANKFORT         7:45 PM<br />Dec. 9         FAIRFIELD                 7:45 PM<br />Dec. 16         at Johnston City             7:45 PM<br />Dec. 17         HAMILTON CO.             7:45 PM<br />Dec. 20         CARRIER MILLS             7:30 PM<br />Dec. 26-28         ELDORADO HOLIDAY TOURN     TBA<br />Jan. 6         at Carmi-White Co.         7:45 PM<br />Jan. 7        at Mt. Carmel             7:45 PM<br />Jan. 13         EDWARDS CO.             7:15 PM<br />Jan. 14         at NCOE                     7:45 PM<br />Jan. 16-21         WF MID-WINTER CLASSIC     TBA<br />Jan. 27         at Hamilton Co.             7:45 PM<br />Feb. 3         at Fairfield                 7:45 PM<br />Feb. 7         CARMI-WHITE CO.         7:45 PM<br />Feb. 10         JOHNSTON CITY             7:45 PM<br />Feb. 14         at Massac Co.             6:15 PM<br />Feb. 17     at Edwards Co.             7:45 PM<br /><br />*At Vienna Classic</p>

<p><strong>Eldorado Roster</strong><br />No.    Name                    Class    Hgt.    Pos.<br />01    Garrett Canimore        Jr.    5-9    G<br />03    John Meredith        Jr.    6-3    F<br />04    Damien Mattingly        Sr.    5-8    G<br />05    Isiah Barton            Sr.    5-8    G<br />10    Connor Watt            Jr.    5-10    G<br />13    Gus Scott                So.    6-2    F<br />14    Kale Oglesby            Jr.    5-10    G<br />23    Ray May                Jr.    6-3    F<br />31    Ben Byrd                So.    5-10    G<br />32    Ethan Partridge        Sr.    6-5    F<br />33    Jacob Traxler            Sr.    6-5    C<br />34    Jace Jenkins            So.    5-9    G<br />41    Braden Attebury        Jr.    6-4    F</p>