By Jon Malavolti
C & G Sports Writer

SHELBY TOWNSHIP —Step by step, Utica Eisenhower’s boys basketball team is rediscovering the path to success.

The Eagles have had to replace several key contributors from the team that won the Macomb Area Conference Red Division title last season, stumbling out to a 0-3 start this season against some tough non-division competition while the new players adjusted.

The meshing process took a big step Jan. 4, as Ike topped Plymouth Canton 66-46 to pick up its first victory of the season. More importantly, the 20-point win re-established the confidence the Eagles had last year, and it’s what they’ll need this year as MAC Red play gets under way.

“It gave us that confidence that we wanted to move on in the season,” senior forward Joe Wirth said. “Being the MAC Red champs, we’ve got a bull’s-eye on ourselves, so we’ve got to have that confidence to compete.”

“It’s always good to get our engines rolling,” senior center Corey Petros added.

Petros said the squad really began feeling good after its third loss — a 53-51 overtime decision Dec. 22 at home against Flint Carmen-Ainsworth, a team highly regarded in the state.

“We thought we had the one against Flint,” Petros said. “We played really well. We played with confidence and got our confidence back, and then we came out real hard and played Eisenhower defense against Canton, and finished them off to get our first win. It felt good.”

While last year’s veteran-laden squad was confident from the get-go — fresh off a district-title winning campaign the season before — the Eagles’ swagger needed some time to develop this season. Coach Brandon Lemley was certain it would happen sooner or later because of the team’s focus and hunger.

“The kids bought into the fact that we were playing good competition — we were going to keep getting better,” Lemley said. “We’ve got things going where we want to go. We’re a long way away, but I think our upside this year, by the end of the year, is a lot bigger than maybe last year.”

“We’re starting to get it. We’re starting to see kids get a little swagger.”

The starting frontcourt duo of Petros and Wirth is leading the charge for Lemley.

The coach said Petros, who has signed to play basketball for Oakland University next season, will be under plenty of pressure on and off the court.

“Corey has so much on him,” Lemley said. “Everyone’s triple-teaming him, quadruple-teaming him, fouling him — it’s tough. It’s a war for him every night”

Wirth, who has signed to play football for Central Michigan University, has recently emerged as the guy who can take some heat off Petros now that’s he’s fully recovered from playing football in the fall for Ike.

“Joe is becoming dominant,” Lemley said. “Against Carmen-Ainsworth and against Canton, he was dominate. He was a big force. I think he had to get out of football season — it’s tough when kids come out of football.”

Several other players will be counted on, as well, if the Eagles are to defend their title. Lemley listed senior point guard Andrew Henk, senior forward Dylan Valko, senior guard Tony Zerafa, junior forward Brandon Bartneck and freshman Joey Zerafa as key contributors.

“I think we’re all on the same page now with what we need to do to be successful,” Lemley said. “I like our competitive toughness and our defensive mindset.”

And while Ike hopes to repeat its regular-season success, it is also hoping to return to regionals when the postseason comes around.

“We definitely want to win the MAC Red,” Henk said. “Once we win that, we want to win districts. Last year, we got knocked out in the first round, and that was really upsetting.”

Atherton honored
Former Ike player Robby Atherton’s No. 12 jersey will be officially retired in the school’s gym when the Eagles host Clinton Township Chippewa Valley at 7 p.m. Jan. 22.

Atherton, who led Ike to a Class A state quarterfinals appearance his senior season in 2005, died in 2008.

“He was a great kid, and he was everything I needed out of a leader,” Lemley said. “Everyone knew Robby. It’s just a reminder that he played with heart.”

The Robby Atherton Memorial Foundation has planned a bowling fundraiser after the game at Shelby Lanes.

For more details about the event and foundation, visit http://raorg.browserkings.com.

You can reach Sports Writer Jon Malavolti at jmalavolti@candgnews.com or at (586) 498-1040.