2006-07 Season Preview: Crown Point Bulldogs  Boys Basketball
	A USA-365.com Special Report by Mark Smith (11-25-2006)

Head Varsity coach:  Coach Clint Swan (1st year)  138-72 (10 years at Frankfort/Andrean)
Varsity Assistant:  Brian Elston;  Junior Varsity:  Andy Sargent
Freshman coach:  Dan McMinn  8th grade coach:  Brian McLanahan 7th grade coach:  Jack Pettit/Dave Hanaway
Bulldogs Recent Records:	2006: 9-13 2005: 13-9 2004: 6-16 2003: 11-11 2002: 15-6 2001: 15-7 2000: 7-14 1999: 17-5  DAC Co-champions 1998: 16-8  Sectional and Regional champions 1997: 15-7

2006-2007 Bulldogs Varsity Roster

(XX) CJ Mantel (soph) 5-10, 152 guard
(XX) Michael Lipton (soph) 6-0, 165
(12) Billy Cox (junior) 5-10, 170  guard
(15) Stephen Albecht (junior) 6-2, 170  guard
(21) Ben Derks (junior) 5-10, 150 guard
(24) Kyle Hanaway (junior) 6-1, 183 guard
(30) Derek Garletts (junior) 6-4, 193  guard/forward
(33) Jacob Burkholder (junior) 6-7, 217  center
(35) Andrew Krumwied (senior) 6-5, 245 center
(40) Mitch Robinson (junior) 6-4, 180 forward
(42) Kurt Wermers (junior) 6-5, 270 center
(44) Aleks Alavanja (junior) 6-6, 190 -  forward
(55) Zach Cecich (junior) 6-2, 220 - center-forward

2005-2006  CROWN POINT  (9-13, 4-10 DAC)
Offense:  54.8,   Defense: 58.54 DAC games in CAPS

Dec.  2  (W)  62-61 at LaPorte
Dec.  6  (W) 58-50 at Morton  
Dec.  9  (L) 75-77 Lake Central (OT)
Dec. 13  (L) 25-61 Valparaiso (22-3)   
Dec. 16  (L) 43-47 at Michigan City    
Dec. 20  (W) 62-53 Griffith  
Dec. 27  (W) 49-39  Gavit  
Dec. 30  (L) 62-71 at Merrillville    
Jan.  3  (W) 54-42 at Portage  
Jan.  6  (W) 51-48 Chesterton  
Jan. 13  (L) 44-53 at Lake Central  
Jan. 20  (L) 56-66 Michigan City  
Jan. 21  (L) 38-66 at East Chicago  
Jan. 27  (L) 46-71 at Valparaiso (22-3)  
Jan. 28  (L) 59-62 Boone Grove  
Feb.  3  (L) 60-62 Merrillville   
Feb.  9  (W) 72-67 LaPorte  
Feb. 17  (L) 51-52 Portage  
Feb. 18  (W) at Lowell  
Feb. 24  (L) 36-58 at Chesterton
 
Chesterton (4A) Sectional
Feb. 28  (W) 56-51 Portage
Mar.   3  (L) 69-81 at Chesterton

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Crown Point varsity coach Clint Swan was asked to preview and profile the 2006-07 Bulldogs varsity boys basketball team.  Here's what he had to say, as compiled by Mark Smith of the Lake County Star .

(12)  Billy Cox  (5-10, 170 - junior guard)

"He's a junior who played on the JV last year.  He's a guy fighting for playing time.  He brings a tenacity on the defensive end that we really like.  He's really good with the basketball.  In the first few days, he's shown an ability to score.  His effort and intensity carry him a long way."

(15) Stephen Albrecht  (6-2, 170 - junior guard)

"Stephen can't sneak up on anybody this year.  He had a nice year last year, so everybody knows about his abilities.  They know what he's good at now.  His work in the off-season will pay big dividends this year.  His work should help us at the offensive end and at the defensive end.  He has the tools to be a good defender.  And he has big goals for himself and for this team this year.  He's more of a '2' or '3' for us.  He can shoot the ball and our ability to put him in position to score will be a big challenge for us."

(21) Ben Derks  (5-10, 150 - junior guard)

"Benny has shown the ability to do a lot of things.  He's gotten better at a lot of things, including going to his left.  He can handle the ball and he's shown an ability to guard the basketball as well.  He's shown some things we weren't sure he had.  Ben's a '1' and a '2'.

(On using your off-hand)  "Most guys you want to go to their left are guys who can.  They just don't have the confidence to do it.  Guys who don't use their off-hand just don't want to.  Once you show them how much better they can be, they can do it."

(24) Kyle Hanaway  (6-1, 183 - junior guard)

"Kyle's been playing the point and he's shown a real willingness to push the ball.  He's also athletic enough to do some things that a lot of other guys can't do.  His challenge will be his new role this year.  Full-time varsity point guard is something he'll have to adjust to.  I think he's done a fabulous job so far.  A lot of it is mental.  The mind-set to do it for four quarters.  The emotional makeup.  Kyle has that.

(33) Jacob Burkholder  (6-7, 217 -  junior center)

"Jake is still battling back injuries.  He's nowhere near game speed.  We're hoping he can get to a point right now where he can go full speed.  I know he's frustrated.  He's done a good job on his rehab and I'll be glad to finally see him be able to do things that I know he's wanted to do very badly."

(35) Andrew Krumwied  (6-5, 245 - senior center)

"The thing we like most about Andrew is his aggressiveness.  He's always making the extra play.  He's an aggressive rebounder and he's a strong personality.  We'll be looking to him for leadership."

(40) Mitch Robinson  (6-4, 180 - junior forward)

"Mitch has probably had the most progressive off-season of anybody.  He got a lot better from the day I got the job (April) until now.  He's probably improved the most.  He's made himself into a good player on the low blocks."


(30) Derek Garletts  (6-4, 193  - junior guard/forward)

"He's an inside-outside.  He can play down inside and he can shoot the ball.  That in itself makes him valuable.  He'll be fighting for playing time.  He's still got a ways to go defensively.  Hopefully we can turn the corner on him.  That would get him more time."

(44) Aleks Alavanja  (6-6, 190 -  junior forward)

"Aleks is someone who is very important for us.  If he can play with the confidence and the aggressiveness that we know he has, it could be the difference between us being pretty good and really good.  He's got to take the initiative.  It's really up to him as to whether or not he has a good year because he has the tools."

(55) Zach Cecich  (6-2, 220 - junior center-forward)

"Zach is someone I've looked forward to coaching.  He's had a tremendous year in football and he brings a presence inside.  Even though he's only 6-2, 6-3 at the most, he has the ability to score inside.  I'm very glad to have him with us."

(42) Kurt Wermers  (6-5, 270 junior center)

"Kurt's been out of the game for awhile.  He's far more athletic than people may realize.  He has some speed and coupled with his strength, it really makes him a force down low.  He's been out of the game awhile and there's a learning curve to him with a new coach and just now coming back to the game.  I think he understands it could be awhile before he gets back into the swing of things.  But he's a very good athlete."

Clint Swan  (varsity head coach)

"It's a double-edge sword.  We have a lot of youth and we have a lot of experience, too.  I think sometimes these guys have to understand just how things are at the varsity level.  They are still learning that, but the learning curve is not as drastic as it has been in the past because they've played all these Duneland teams.  Playing the athletic, physical teams is nothing new to them.

"You have to become more of a complete team.  You want to have a philosophy and a way you want to play, but you also have to be able to beat the fast-breaking teams and the half court teams.  There is a dichotomy in this league that is not like everywhere else.

"I really enjoyed Frankfort.  I became a better coach there and I met some wonderful people.  One of my guys (Brandon Crone- Frankfort-Butler) beat IU last night.  I got to see it.  It was great to see.  I really enjoyed it down there.  But it's weird.  I'm not a native of the region (Rensselaer), but I'm home here.  I'm really glad to be back."

"I really think we can win here.  I wouldn't have taken the job if I didn't.  I love these guys.  We have some good kids. There's not one I don't trust."

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Revised: November 25, 2006 .