E.C. Central Cardinals

Last year: 14-8, lost in sectional semifinal to West Side.

Inside the Cardinals

Leading returning scorer: Michael Harris, 20.2 ppg.

Leading returning rebounder: Harris, 6.1 rpg.

Go-to player: Michael Harris, Sr., G. Both SIU-Edwardsville and Detroit-Mercy have offered the Cards' scoring machine, but Butler, Ball State and Loyola are very high on Harris, who worked extremely hard in the weight room to get stronger and finish around the hoop. His varying tempo with ball in hand and multitude of shots put a lot of pressure on defenders.

He's got next: Jerrick Ware, Jr., G. He scored 22 against Bowman late last season, then put up 1,000 shots a week during the summer to improve his perimeter touch. "He was our hardest worker in the offseason," coach Abe Brown said. "He wants to be a great player."

Circled on the calendar: Dec. 12, at Munster. The Mustangs ended E.C.'s sectional run, and this has developed into one of the Region's top rivalries.

The Times' breakdown

A good team got even better with the addition of two transfers -- Donte Brown, who returns to E.C. from Lew Wallace, and Kharri Rancifer (Fishers). The Cards could have the area's best backcourt tandem with Harris and Ware. But E.C. should be much improved on the boards with 6-foot-4 Lonzyo Holcomb, 6-5 Keenan Williams and 6-3 Henry Davis. "I really think we'll get more rebounds this year, we've got some kids who can go get the ball," Brown said. Having nine seniors on the 15-man roster is good and bad. The number of kept varsity players exhibit the talent and depth of the program. Playing time, however, could be a delicate balancing act. "There's no way I can keep everyone happy," Brown said. "But I have a lot of guys I can call on and if they get the job done they'll play. It's just going to be difficult to satisfy everyone." A very tough schedule will prepare the Cards for one of the area's toughest sectionals.

-- Steve Hanlon

Why do you love basketball?

"When I step on the court it gets me away from the rest of my life, the problems and stress that can be there from time to time. It was the same way when I was a player. There's a comfort zone when the game's being played." -- Abe Brown

Roster

Probable starters

Name Ht. Yr. Pos.

Michael Harris 6-2 Sr. G

Jerrick Ware 5-10 Jr. G

Lonzyo Holcomb 6-4 Sr. F

Hollis Fullilove 6-1 Sr. G/F

Anthony Williams 6-0 Jr. G/F

In reserve

Name Ht. Yr. Pos.

Henry Davis 6-3 Sr. F

Derrick Jackson 6-2 Sr. F

Darrius Parker 6-2 Sr. F

Keenan Williams 6-5 Sr. C

Daviness Brown 6-0 Sr. G

D'vantai Wright 6-0 Sr. G

Donte Brown 6-2 Jr. G/F

Jaylin Airington 5-9 Jr. G

Walter Harris 5-9 Jr. G

Kharri Rancifer 6-2 Jr. F

Head coach: Abe Brown, 34-12 in third year at school and overall.

Assistant coaches: Anton Williams, Chris Woods, Dave Johnson, Antwon Brown.