By Chris Stevens, Editor
Goldey-Beacom men’s basketball coach T.J. Dekmar is a bit shorthanded to begin the 2023-24 season as a few players were missing at a recent practice with various injuries and illnesses, but the 11 players that did practice were working at a high level.
That’s something Dekmar hopes will help the Lightning through an arduous Central Athletic Collegiate Conference schedule this season. GBC finished 10-18 overall and 7-10 in CACC Southern Division play in 2022-23.
“We want our practices to be harder than any game we play in,” Dekmar explained at the end of Tuesday afternoon’s 2 ½ hour session. “I want to put our guys in situations where they’re at a disadvantage, so they have to fly around and figure it out. When it’s gametime, they can take a deep breath and relax because they’ve already seen everything.”
“It helps us get into game shape,” said senior captain Damani Thomas. “One or two possessions, that’s not a game situation. Sometimes you’re out there 10-12 possessions straight, no breaks or timeouts, so this helps us get better at making decisions on our own.”
Thomas is one of several returning players expected to guide the Lightning this season, including senior guard Nazim Derry who returns to the program after a year at Division I New Hampshire. Derry averaged 20 points per game for GBC during the ’21-’22 season, and is looking forward to getting back to business at the Jones Center.
“The harder we practice and the more intensity we have, the games become second nature,” he says. “If you practice hard, it carries over into games.”
Also returning for GBC are sophomore forward Zayon Marsh (10 double-doubles in 2023), junior guard Ayshion Centeno and a couple of Delaware guys – former Tatnall standout Omari Banks and Appoquinimink graduate Kamal Yellowdy.
Captains Thomas and Derry are ready to win now, as their immediate goal for the program is a conference championship.
“Once you get into that [CACC tournament], anything can happen, Thomas said. “Our expectations our to win our conference and make the [NCAA] tournament.”
“We want to win a conference championship,” Derry said. “That’s what we play for.”
For T.J. Dekmar’s part, he’s looking for gradual improvement that will lead his team to their ultimate goal.
“I want us to have a better practice tomorrow than we did today and have a great scrimmage Thursday,” he said. “The goals are always to win a conference championship, but we have to have a one day at a time approach.”
The Lightning begin their season Friday Nov. 10 against Roberts Wesleyan in Amherst, NY, then open the season at home Tuesday Nov. 14 against Lock Haven of the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference.
