From Carmichael Patch

By Victor Calderon

After a season last year in which the Jesuit basketball team made the section finals and the Northern California playoffs, the question is how do you top that?

The answer: hope to come out on top in those games after the Marauders fell to Sheldon in sections and at Oakland in Nor Cals.

“We have a lot of guys returning so they understand our system,” said Jesuit coach Greg Harcos. “Offensively, we’re sharing the ball but our defense needs to get better… I think we’re going to have a chance to be there again this season.”

Leading the way for the Marauders are senior guards Akachi Okugo, Bryce Pressley and Parker Uu.

“As a team we’re looking good but we’ve got room for improvement,” said Pressley, the son of former Villanova star and Sacramento Kings player Harold Pressley.

The Marauders defeated Dublin 82-74 on Saturday in the Nor Cal Shootout at Newark Memorial High School. They open the 38th annual Father Barry Christmas Classic Tournament tonight against Bishop Manogue of Reno at 6:45 p.m.

Besides Bishop Manogue, which reached the 4A Nevada state title game last season, the tournament field includes Texas power Strake Jesuit of Houston, led by Duke signee Rasheed Sulaimon, and two-time Sac-Joaquin Section D-I champion Sheldon, featuring a talented junior class that includes three-year varsity players D’Erryl Williams and Dakarai Allen, The Sacramento Bee reported.

Jesuit could get an early rematch against Sheldon in the Fr. Barry final before league play begins in January when the two teams meet Jan. 13 and Feb. 3.

“This tournament is a good first step to get to state because there are some deep teams,” Okugo said. “If we face Sheldon this time, we’ll give them a game and then keep getting better every game this season.”

The Marauders lost key seniors to graduation, including Alex DiManno (now playing at Santa Barbara City College), Gary Melvin (attending California State University, Sacramento) and Rhys Hoskins (playing baseball at Sac State).

“Gary and Rhys did the dirty work… and got a lot of rebounds and Alex was a solid guard/defender,” Harcos said. “So we will see who will take over for them this year.”

Senior guards Brian Glodowski and Kurt Parker and junior guard Thomas Sperbeck, who was the starting quarterback for the Marauders football team, will get more minutes as will senior forward JT Frank and junior forward Isiah King.

Jesuit will be tall in the middle with 6′8″ sophomore Brady Anderson and 6′6″ Lake Lutes, another football player.

“The younger guys are doing well… and Kurt and Brian have stepped up,” Uu said.

For the Marauders, how far they go may well depend on mixing experience and new talents.

“Our teammates know they have bigger roles,” Pressley said.