The 'Dog Days of Winter

By Jared Field

7 November 2006

greatlakeshoops.com

Burton-- Bentley is back on the map and not a moment too soon.  The much-maligned city of Burton has never, at least in my lifetime, been known for basketball.  But, the Bulldogs of Bentley and their head coach, Jeremy Trent, are looking to change all that.

Coming off an 18-5 campaign, the Bentley boys seek retribution after bowing out in a heartbreaking one-point loss to New Haven in the district championship game last season.

But, hope springs eternal at Bentley; or at least it does this year.

Coach Trent has an impressive crop of talent coming back this season and some newcomers to compliment them.

But, don't take my word for it.

"This years expectations are huge; this is going to be a very talented team," Trent boasts. "We have possibly the best big man in our league in Patrick Ellison, two of the top guards in the league in Harold Ellison and Aaron Mangham to go along with Matt Monreal, one of the top shooters in the league."

Trent's team has had the benefit of competing against tough competition this summer, and Trent hopes the experience will pay off in-season.

One thing is certain: The Bulldogs' core is the most athletic in the GAC.

The Ellison brothers and Aaron Mangham are will be among the top players at their respective positions in the conference this year.  Junior Patrick Ellison (pictured right), on the other hand, has the potential to be an all-state player in class C.

He possesses a unique combination of length and agility to go along with the dexterity of a forward who can finish around the basket with either hand.  At nearly 6'5'', with a good deal of bounce, Ellison is going to give opposing frontlines fits this season.  Patrick will utilize every inch of his 6'6'' wingspan to protect the glass.  With some work, fans of the GAC could be looking at another Marcus Coleman--or even better.

His brother, senior Harold Ellison (lower left), is a football bruiser turned heady point guard.  At 6'0'', he possesses the size and the strength to back down opposing guards and to create his own shot.  With Harold running the point, the Bulldogs have the advantage of having what amounts to a player-coach.

6'0'' junior Aaron Mangham is a highly-skilled combo guard who must have borrowed some of his athleticism from the Ellison brothers.  Mangham is a strong ball-handler and a much-improved shooter.

Speaking of borrowing, I don't know where 5'11'' sharpshooter, Matt Monreal, got his jay.  Defenders will have to respect the senior's three-ball all the way to NBA range.  If Monreal can be a consistent threat, he will solidify the Bulldogs inside/outside game.

Supplementing the Bulldogs' core is an excited group of role players who take a lot of pride in stopping the ball. 

Perhaps Bentley's most pronounced match-up problem for the opposition, won't even be in a

 uniform.  Coach Trent is one of the top young coaches in the state of Michigan, having learned under Flint C-A's Rory Mattar as both player and assistant coach.  Joey Jerisk, a freshman gamer, and Jemaine Wyatt, an athletic wing, will both see major minutes coming off the bench.

"I see a lot of coach Mattar in my style of coaching," Trent said. "I have tried to run our program exactly the way he does his. Coach Mattar is so competitive and it rubs off on his players and coaches. The practices at Carman are so intense and it carries over to the games; that is what we are trying to do at Bentley.  If we play hard everyday, and play together, there is no telling how far we can go."

“The future is bright at Bentley.”

The future officially begins next week when the Bulldogs hit the hardwood for tryouts. 

*Jeremy Trent Bio:

--Graduated from Swartz Creek high school in 1992

--Won the Dragons' only Big Nine championship and two district titles

--All-Big Nine as a Senior, averaged 24 points per game

--Played one season at Mott Community College, averaged 12 points per game

--Played one season at Alma College, averaged 16 points per game

--Was an assistant at Swartz Creek and Carman-Ainsworth under Rory Mattar

--2005-2006 GLH Mid Michigan Coach of the Year