Early start to basketball season for Raiders

Photo by Cheryl Wertman – Leading Barker into the upcoming season are these Raider returnees including, in front, Dan Ober and Nick Brandt and in back are Preston Harris, Cole Hanssen and Andrew Callaghan.

The area high school basketball season will get off to an early start as Barker visits Burgard in a non league boys game at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The Raiders are led by the veteran senior quintet of Preston Harris, Andrew Callaghan, Cole Hanssen, Nick Brandt and Dan Ober. Brandt earned Niagara-Orleans All-League Honorable Mention last season.

“We’re hoping to do a little better than last year,” said Coach Michael Brooks whose Raiders are looking to rebound from an 0-12 N-O season. “We want to make it as hard as possible for the other team to score by playing tough defense and contesting every shot. And offensively we’re looking to play inside out.”

Barker’s graduation losses included Malik Smith, Evan Ecker and Austin Sullivan.

The Raiders have three more non league games scheduled before owning the N-O campaign at Akron on December 7.

Schedule
November: 20 – at Burgard, 6 p.m.; 27 – at Alexander, 7 p.m.; 30 – Holley, 6:30 p.m.
December: 4 – at Elba, 6:30 p.m.; 7 – at Akron, 6:30 p.m.; 11 – Kendall, 6:30 p.m.; 14 – Medina, 7 p.m.; 18 – Notre Dame, 6:30 p.m.
January: 3 – Wilson, 7 p.m.; 9 – Byron-Bergen, 6:30 p.m.; 11 – at Albion, 7 p.m.; 15 – Newfane, 7 p.m.; 18 – at Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.; 23 – at Oakfield-Alabama, 7 p.m.; 25 – at Medina, 6:30 p.m.; 29 – Akron, 7 p.m.
February: 1 – at Wilson, 6 p.m.; 8 – Albion, 7 p.m.; 12 – at Newfane, 6:45 p.m.; 14 – Roy-Hart, 7 p.m.