The Tyrone Boys Basketball Team has its home opener against rival Bellwood Blue Devils this Friday, December 5.

“We are very excited,” senior point guard Shane Geis said. “All of us have worked so hard in the offseason and we are ready to finally prove ourselves.”

Geis will have to make his mark this year with the Golden Eagles. He has big shoes to fill after last year’s 1,000+ career point guard and team leader Brandon Gripp finished his final season at Tyrone.

The truth is, nobody really knows what to expect from the basketball team this year.

The Golden Eagles boast six seniors this year, all of whom have been playing together since 7th grade. If nothing else, their team chemistry alone should give them an edge on opposing teams.

However, the only current players that have had any significant varsity experience are senior Tristan Lingafelt and junior Anthony Politza. And while they did excel in their positions last year,  it takes five people to make a basketball team.

That being said, there is more than meets the eye with this squad.

Tyrone’s JV team last year had only one loss. And while this is no longer JV, that is no small feat. Those same Tyrone JV players from last year will take over the varsity court this year.

Senior guards Pooky Soellner, Blake Brooks, and Shane Geis actually bring a lot to the table.

Brooks is a very consistent outside shooter.

Soellner is something of a jack-of-all-trades, capable of rebounding, passing, and scoring on a high level.

Geis is perhaps one of the most tenacious defenders Tyrone has had in quite a long time.

And don’t forget about senior big man Preston Mitchell, whose size alone grabs him multiple boards per game.

Returning starters Lingafelt and Politza are expected to perform again this year.

Politza is a dynamic post player who can also play some tough defense when the going gets tough.

Lingafelt is an explosive scorer, notorious for making defenders look silly when he blows by them on the drive.

Tonight’s opponent, the Bellwood Blue Devils, are led by junior lights-out-shooter Nathan Davis.

Davis is reminiscent of his older brother Noah, who led the Blue Devils just a few years ago. Both are tough competitors and natural basketball players.

Bellwood’s game-plan sounds like this: Nate this, Nate that, Nate this Nate that.

Nathan Davis will most definitely lead the Blue Devils in points, rebounds, assists, steals, blocks — you name it.

Other than Davis, the Blue Devils have a few big men who will give the Golden Eagles some trouble on the boards.

But if Tyrone can contain Davis, the Blue Devils will be in big trouble. The problem is, the dude is no shmuck. Davis can and will score from just about anywhere on the court if given a little room. And he’s been doing it for a while. Davis led the team last year as a sophomore..

Tensions tonight should be high as both rivals hope to start out their seasons with a bang. Don’t be surprised if this one gets a little messy.   After all, it is the Backyard Brawl.