Tracy Press

The Tracy High boys varsity basketball team didn't win a game at a recent tournament, but the players are improving.

The Tracy High boys basketball team returned Saturday from the annual trip to the Harlan Carter Tournament in Redding without a win, but the Bulldogs didn’t leave without their pride and some new learning tools.

"We’re at a point where some of our young guys are slowly finding their way" at the varsity level, said Tracy coach Paul Demsher, whose team returns only two starters from 2006-2007, both at guard. "It’ll take us some time, which may not result in wins, unfortunately."

In a 66-53 loss to Shasta — Demsher’s alma mater — on Friday, senior shooting guard Nate Brown scored a team-high 23 points, including five 3-pointers, and was 4-for-6 from the free-throw line. Junior guard Preston Mattos scored 11, including three 3s, and senior point guard Khrys Lawson added nine.

That was after Brown scored 25, including six 3s, in a 67-60 loss to Foothill on Thursday. Forward Ryan Jakes put in 14 points, and Lawson shot a perfect 10-for-10 from the free-throw line en route to 16 points.

On Saturday, the Bulldogs lost 60-45 to Placer, where Brown scored 16 for a fine total of 64 through the three games. Lawson added 13.

Demsher said the main thing is to find offense from his post players, who despite their inexperience are showing strides on defense. Tracy will visit Merced for a game at Golden Valley on Monday.

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written by Decades Old Tracy Basketball Fan , December 03, 2007

Why is it ALWAYS an excuse when it comes to basketball loses here in Tracy? That fact of the matter is that Coach Paul Demsher needs to hang up his Basketball Coaching whistle and stick to Coaching Tennis. He is still stuck on the "Old Fashion" style of coaching when the kids these days are MORE athletic, taller and faster.

Most these kids play AAU Traveling Basketball, are great basketball players, yet Demsher does not AGREE with kids playing AAU ball nor does he like it. West High has 7 players this year that played AAU ball over the summer and 5 of them START. You can SEE the difference in the style of coaching, and game they play, between the two schools (West's starters only played in the 1st and 3rd periods, while Tracy's played the WHOLE game, and West still won by 11). Open your eyes Demsher, there is a "New Breed of Basketball Player" on the loose.

The REAL fact of the matter here is that Coach (if you can call him that) Demsher needs to retire from coaching Basketball. Mr. Stroop, are you out there listening?????