RIVERSIDE BROOKFIELD BULLDOGS
AT A GLANCE
Conference Metro Suburban
Home court 160 Ridgewood Rd., Riverside
2008-09 record 24-3
Coach Tom McCloskey (14th year)
Top returners
Ryan Jackson sr. G
Sean McGonagill sr. G
Billy VandeMerkt sr. G
Terrence Reed sr. C
Promising newcomers
Watoris Slater jr. F
Alex Dziagwa jr. C
KEY MATCHES
Nov. 25-28 at Bill VandeMerkt Tournament RB’s Thanksgiving tournament features a tough field to open the season
Dec. 5 vs. Lyons Township Local rivalry brings added excitement to this matchup
Feb. 14 vs. Deerfield @ Loyola University The Bulldogs face off against 6-foot-7 Wisconsin-bound Duje Dukan
By Marc Zarefsky
The Riverside Brookfield boys basketball team has an experienced backcourt in seniors Ryan Jackson, Sean McGonagill and Billy VandeMerkt, a trio that will be the face of the Bulldogs this season. Fortunately for RB, its a trio Coach Tom McCloskey thinks is one of the best around.
“We feel we have as good a backcourt as anyone in the State of Illinois,” McCloskey said. “Our guard play is very solid.”
McGonagill was the Metro Suburban Conference Player of the Year last year as a junior after averaging 16.4 points per game, and has committed to play basketball at Brown University next year.
“Sean McGonagill was really an outstanding player last year, but he’s taken it up a couple levels,” McCloskey said. “Sean’s such a complete player. He really excels in all areas of the game.”
Teaming with McGonagill in the backcourt is Ryan Jackson, who is a lethal scoring threat, and Billy VandeMerkt, who McCloskey sees as a defensive stopper and an excellent passer.
What has McCloskey particularly excited about this season’s team is the balance of experience and incoming talent, a combination the coach hopes will lead the Bulldogs to their ninth straight conference title.
Terrence Reed, who stands 6-foot-5, and Alex Dziagwa, at 6-foot-7, will give RB height and strength in the post, something the team struggled against last year.
“A couple of times during the season we face big men, and we struggled on the boards (in 2008),” McCloskey said. “That’s an area where we have to get it done.
“Terrence and Alex we’re hoping really give us that inside presence if we face a big man. Terrence has improved a lot and Alex is probably the most improved player in the program.”
McCloskey is also encouraged by the athleticism shown during practice by junior Watoris Slater.
One junior the RB coach was excited about was forward Nate Hanley, who he saw as being a good shooting threat for the Bulldogs. Hanley broke his leg recently, though, and it is unclear when he will be able to play. McCloskey is hoping he can get the junior back by the last month of the season, but at this point he just doesn’t know.
That hope might be attainable if the Bulldogs accomplish one of their preseason goals: advance to a sectional game.
“We always have a goal of winning the conference and we always have a goal of winning a holiday tournament,” McCloskey said. “This year our goal is to be playing in our sectional and not watching it.”
