Dolphins take court tonight
Second year coach has four returning starters
BY JASON THOMPSON Gulf Breeze News jason@gulfbreezenews.com

File Photo Brian Shreve is one of four returning starters for the Dolphins.

Coach David McGreal is giving his kids a 'word of the day' to get his players ready for the upcoming season.

Words like drive, discipline, heart, desire, dedication and fight are a few examples. He's hoping the players will take those words and turn them into more of another word - wins.

McGreal is entering his second year as the Dolphins' head coach. He inherited a team that year with only returning starter and finished the season at 6-18.

"Our goal this year is nothing less than 100 percent improvement - which is 12 wins," said McGreal, whose Dolphins take on Central in the first night of the Preseason Santa Rosa Shootout in Milton. The game starts at 5 p.m. Gulf Breeze will then face Navarre at 6:30 p.m. Saturday.

McGreal says the team benefitted from playing AAU competition this summer.

One weekend over the summer, McGreal's players took part in a team camp in Milton, where they beat Crestview, Chipley, Tate and Walton and another group of players won the Fort Walton Beach Shootout.

"That when it really showed that we can play with certain teams," McGreal said. "That was the climax of the summer."

McGreal has eight returning players and four returning starters, led by seniors Brian Shreve (10 points per game) and Matt Patrick (9.6). Senior Alec Cann led the team in rebounds, while David Hibberts was the team's defensive stopper.

"He's the heart and soul of the defense," McGreal said.

Seniors Matt Catellier and Garrett Carr will vie for time at the point guard spot, while Marcus Smith and Zach Andrews will see time at a wing (either the '2' or the '3').

Senior Dustin Clements and junior Colin Kupris will play down low. McGreal said Clements "really improved over the summer," while Kupris "is the hardest worker I have in practice."

As of press time, McGreal hadn't filled in the final two spots from players coming out after football.

The Dolphins will be competing in a crowded district this season, including Washington, who picked up a couple of players from now defunct Woodham and PHS graduated only one senior.