Red team readies for life as 8th grade team

The biggest challenge confronting Austintown Red Middle School coach Jake Corbett isn’t fielding a formidable team.

It’s getting his 13-member roster ready for the next level of play and in this case, that means being ready for 8th grade competition the following year.

“For many of our players, this is the first time that they are competing on an organized team. There’s a huge gap between seventh and eighth grade play. So it is my job to teach them the game, the many basketball situations and most especially, the game’s fundamentals.

“I want them to be ready when they head to the next level of play,” Corbett said.

Currently in his 11th season as coach of the 7th grade unit, Corbett’s Red squad is off to a 5-3 mark with wins over Youngstown Christian, Howland, P.Ross Berry and both Boardman Center and Boardman Glenwood.

“We like to run when we have the ball, and right now the players are adjusting to the speed of the game. We’ve steadily improved since our first game so it’s pretty safe to say that I am pleased with our development at the midway point of the season.

“A couple of weeks ago, I might not have made that statement,” he noted.

Corbett runs a three-guard, two-forward offense and relies on point guard Jake Bullen and shooting guards Nick Pence and Tommy James to run the offense.

Forwards Michael Evanko and Brian Rivera are counted on inside as their game has evolved over the course of the season.

The depth of the Red squad is a big plus with guards Garren Gibson, Dom Ignazio, Aaron Jenkins and Brian Rivera, and forwards Michael Evanko, Cody Luknis and J.D. Vaught (who can also play guard) all ready for action when called upon by Corbett.