2/26/2009 2:30:00 AM NORTH MONTGOMERY BOYS BASKETBALL: Chargers remain positive
The Paper file photo
North Montgomery senior Kyle Kingma is averaging nearly three points per game.
What: North Montgomery boys basketball
Who: North Montgomery at Greencastle
Place: Greencastle HS
When: 7:30 p.m. Today
By Bob Cox bcox@thepaper24-7.com
LINDEN - It seems all season long the North Montgomery boys basketball team has had to meet many challenges.
However, this Friday's 7:30 p.m. game at Greencastle might be the most challenging of all.
For the first time in four seasons, senior D.J. Byrd will not be in uniform when Class 3A No. 11 North Montgomery (14-5) takes the floor.
Byrd had minor surgery on his knee this morning after suffering an injury in Tuesday's home game against Class 4A Carmel.
But even without Byrd, who could possibly return in one week, the attitude at North Montgomery is positive and the players are looking at this game as another opportunity to get ready for the upcoming Indiana High School Athletic Association Crawfordsville Sectional.
Senior Clay Pierce said the Chargers will obviously miss Byrd's 24 points and nearly nine rebounds per game, but believes there is still plenty of talent to compete against the Tiger Cubs.
"It is a great loss not having D.J," Pierce said. "This team will bounce back because we have a group of guys who can shoot and play defense. We are just going to let it fly."
North Montgomery coach Scott Radeker said the challenge of playing without Byrd can become a positive for the team.
"I told the guys that you can grow through adversity," Radeker said. "We have a lot of players around D.J. or we would not have won 14 games this season. I have a lot of confidence in these guys."
Radeker said playing without Byrd will be big loss, but he thinks his players will be fine without their leading scorer and rebounder.
"I think our kids will be ready for the challenge, Radeker said. "I told them it was a great opportunity to show people that we have guys who can play."
Sophomore Andrew Airey will start for Byrd. The 6-3 forward hit all three three-point shots Tuesday against Carmel.
Airey, the younger brother of senior starting guard Kal Airey, said he is excited to get his first varsity start but realized it is bittersweet to be replacing Byrd in the line-up.
"It is a great opportunity for me. But there is no way I can replace D.J.", Airey said. "Without D.J. we all have to take our game to another level and I believe we are capable of doing just that. I am excited to get this chance."
Radeker said he knows Airey can do the job.
"I have a lot of confidence in Andrew," Radeker said. "He is a good shooter and rebounder. Every day he is one of our best practice players."
Greencastle went winless in January, but since that time has won five of its last eight games and is on a three-game win streak.
"Greencastle will be another challenge for our team," Radeker said. "I believe we have enough players on this team to still win. We actually did a lot of good things against Carmel after D.J. went out and I fully expect us to do just fine."
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