Don't sleep on the Troy Athens boys basketball team this season. The Red Hawks might be 2-5, but they will hold their own in the OAA White this year and will jump up and bite any teams that take them lightly. This was evidenced by a pair of big time upsets pulled by the Athens hoops crew recently, the first coming against Clarkston a few weeks ago and against Flint Carman-Ainsworth on the road Friday night.

The Big Red's new coaching staff has obviously been an energizing factor in these two unlikely victories. When Athens took out Clarkston on a game-winning shot by Aaron Fox back in December, it was the first time the Red Hawks ever beat the Wolves on the hardwood.

Up front leading the way for the Red Hawks is senior power forward Jake Duzey, a walking double-double. Duzey, headed to Iowa on a football scholarship next fall, had 16 points, 16 boards and six blocks in the Carman-Ainsworth game. Fox is a reliable shooter and gritty defender. Recent addition George Zachery seems to have quickly developed into a more than viable scoring option, dropping 13 points on Friday. Tyler Channell is a heady leader and will knock down the open shot if you let him. Christian Conley is a big guy who can go inside and out and will probably be the team's second leading-scorer by the end of the year. Caleb McIntosh is a good rebounder and able-bodied 3-point shooter.  

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