Central Enters Year 2 Of Sanderson

By Jeremy McDonald

jeremymcdonald73@gmail.com

INDEPENDENCE, Ore.– Dean Sanderson knows that the expectations at Central High School are high.

They want to be successful and expect to be such as Sanderson embarks on his second year as Panther Head Coach.

“Central expects to be successful and they have had a long-history of being successful and we want to be the program that turns the tide and helps us have a winning team,” he said.

The benefit of this year, as Central enters their third day at work of the season, they return the majority of their 4-11 squad entering this season. Returning experience in Varsity minutes and experiencing Sanderson’s system.

“It was good, it gave the guys a lot of confidence and it gave me a lot of good confidence. It showed what we’re capable of doing and what I’m capable of doing and what we’re ready for this year,” Chase Nelson said. “What (Sanderson) is doing with us, it’s great for us. He’s building an offense around what we’re able to do and what we’re going to do, he’s doing a great job coaching us up and he’ll be a good coach for us.”

Central went 4-11 in the Spring as the Panthers kick off the season December 1 when they host Benson at 7pm (Picture By Jeremy McDonald)

Nelson was the Panthers lone first-team selection from the Spring as a then-sophomore as the now-junior will be one of the dudes Sanderson will turn to this season. Alongside guys like Gabe Cirio, Adrien Barba and Brayden Foreman to carry the momentum from earlier this calendar year to the new season.

A new season that starts December 1 when they host Benson at 7pm.

“We’re a better than we were a year ago at this point and that’s a good place no matter what team you’re coaching. A lot of returning kids, we got a first team All-League returning as a junior (in Nelson) and we’ll see if he’s ready to take another step-in production and leadership to help us become as good of a team as we could be,” Sanderson said.

“It’s nice to return to a place in which they know what to expect from me and we can raise the bar of our expectations of their effort, their execution and the results on the floor,” Sanderson said of entering year 2. “It’s an exciting time. They’re great kids who are working hard.”

Photos By Jeremy McDonald