ALBANY— When the Green Tech boys’ basketball team captured the 2021-22 Section II Class AA boys’ basketball championship, the Eagles did so riding the accomplishments of a team featuring six seniors. Nearly two-thirds of the way through this season’s schedule prior to the playoffs, the Eagles were trying to discover their identity.
Green Tech coach DJ Jones felt he had something no area team possessed, a trio of dominating post players in 6-foot-8 senior center Henry Perkins, 6-6 sophomore forward Olivan Owens and 6-6 sophomore forward U’Mier Graham.
“In the first few games, I started all three of them,” Jones said. “But we realized that was going to be tough. Ollie and U’Mier had to work for that starting spot. U’Mier easily could be a starter, but I loved the energy he brought in off the bench replacing Henry or Ollie. He is dangerous on the perimeter and in the paint. He is a great asset for us. They all are.”
“In the beginning of the season, we knew what we could be but we didn’t know how to put it into a game. It was really in-game experience that got things down pat to how it looks now,” Owens said.
What it looks like now is a well-balanced team surrounding the play of the post trio in conjunction with the play provided by guards Haisi Mayben, Ramere Brown and Jasai King. By beating a trio of teams in sectionals with extended winning streaks in Bethlehem (57-47), Ballston Spa (59-58) and Christian Brothers Academy (72-36), Green Tech (16-7) next heads to Syracuse on Saturday for a Class AA state quarterfinal contest against Section III champion Liverpool (20-3) at SRC Arena. The Eagles, winners of 10 straight contests, played at Liverpool Jan. 22 and posted a 59-53 win.
“These guys are so hungry. We have started clicking at the right time,” Jones said. “Even with the dominating game we had with CBA, watching the film we still noticed areas where we can…
Read the full article here