First year Cooperstown boys basketball coach Dave Bertram has been teaching more than jump shots and pick and rolls as his team prepares for its season-opener Friday against Ft. Plain in the first round of Milford's Anton Remy Basketball Tournament.

"Our whole concept in practice has been togetherness and accepting your role on the team," said Bertram, who coached the junior varsity the past two seasons, compiling a 39-1 record. "We're pretty deep, and it doesn't matter who we put in we shouldn't really miss a beat."

The Redskins, 16-6 a year ago, are particularly deep at the guard position.

Senior Jeremy Holmes will be the shooting guard and needs about 350 points to join the 1,000 point club for his career.

Holmes will likely need to average just better than the 13 points-a-game he did last season to hit that plateau.

"Jeremy is a very good shooter and gives us a three-point threat," said Bertram, who takes over the coaching reins from Mike Cring. "This is his third full year on the varsity so we'll look to hime for leadership too."

Junior Shane Connolly also returns for his third varsity season. Connolly led the team a year ago with 17 points-game and also has an outside shot at 1,000 points this season, needing over 400. In last year's Remy Tournament, Connolly had a career game in the championship against Ft. Plain, scoring 35 points, including 19 in the first quarter, and canned six three-point shots to lead Cooperstown to the title game victory.

"Shane will play the point and run the show and even though he can score, his job is also to get the other player's involved," said Bertram, who played Division One basketball at Niagara University and previously coached the Edmeston boys varsity in 1995 and '96.

Senior Nick Laskovski is probably the best passer on the team, and will give Cooperstown three guards in its starting line-up. Bertram said Tyler Harris and Will Dennis will likely round out the starting unit, with 6'7" 280 pound center Billy Hribar, Andy Dickan and Todd Ashley all seeing plenty of playing time as well off the bench.

"When Billy's in there he will give us a solid inside presence and create an inside-outside game for us," Bertram said.

The Redskins will play an up tempo style of game this season, including a trapping defense and a fast break offense, Bertram added.

"We'd like a chaotic pace to the game," he said. "We have a lot of quick guards, so that style makes sense for this team."

Newcomers to the team likely to see playing time are Reid Snyder, Dan Holmes and Ben Ayers.

After the Remy Tournament, Cooperstown will open up Center State Conference play Monday at Morrisville before hosting Hamilton Tuesday in their home-opener.

"We scrimmaged Bishop Ludden and RFA and did real well, which we were happy about," Bertram said. "I think the kids are excited to get the season going."

Cooperstown boys basketball schedule: Nov. 29 and 30: Milford's Anton Remy Tournament; Dec. 2: at Morrisville; Dec. 3: HAMILTON; Dec. 12: WESTMORELAND; Dec. 16: WATERVILLE; Dec. 19: at Sauquoit; Dec. 21: Mt. MARKHAM; Dec. 27 and 28: Cooperstown Holiday Tournament; Jan. 4: at Canastota; Jan. 7: at Sherburne; Jan. 10: MORRISVILLE; Jan. 14: at Hamilton; Jan. 21: at Westmoreland; Jan. 24: at Waterville; Jan. 31: SAUQUOIT; Feb. 4: at Mt. Markham; Feb. 7: CANASTOTA; Feb. 10: SHERBURNE.