'Toppers Look to Continue Unselfish Ways in 2017-18
by STEVE WILMOTH
TriCitiesSports.com
November 17, 2017
If there’s one word to describe the Science Hill Hilltopper basketball program under coach Ken Cutlip, it’s ‘unselfish.’
That philosophy has been good for over 400 career wins.
As the ‘Toppers head into Cutlip’s 14th season in Johnson City, his 2017-18 squad should be no different
“I’ve been fortunate to have good kids in the program, unselfish kids,” said Cutlip. “That’s been the staple of what we do. They put the team before themselves and I think we have another team willing to do that.”
That often means sacrificing minutes for the good of the team, allowing Cutlip to use his well-stocked cupboard to produce a frenetic baseline-to-baseline pace aimed at withering the opposition.
“For us to be successful, we’ll have to play a ton of kids and use our depth,” continued Cutlip. “Same formula we’ll use for sure.”
This year’s Hilltoppers are lacking on experience and length, more staples of Cutlip’s program.
“You find an aspect of the game, we need to improve on it,” added Cultip. “That’s just where we are.
“We are really lacking on experience. I think we have less experience than we’ve had in a long, long time. We are really small, but quick. The question is will the speed be effective as we’ve had because we don’t have length.”
To compensate, Cutlip has somewhat tweaked his defensive approach.
“We’ve changed a few things defensively and there’s a learning curve,” explained Cutlip, “but we think it makes us better.”
While the starting line-up under Cutlip is never set, three seniors – David Bryant, Tate Wheeler and Junior Danso - should be amongst the first five when Science Hill plays both Johnson County and Gate City Friday night in Mountain City.
The 6-4 Wheeler came on strong late in his sophomore year and will have to carry a significant portion of the load this season.
“Tate plays a whole lot bigger than he is,” said Cutlip. “He does all kinds of things for us. He’s able to score around the basket and from the perimeter. Defensively, he blocks shots and does a great job on the boards.”
Bryant (6-0), who recently inked a baseball scholarship with Radford, is Science Hill’s most accurate long-range shooter.
“David is the best shooter in the program,” added Cutlip. “He had some really explosive games last year and we’ll need that again from him.”
Danso (6-1) is coming off a fabulous junior soccer campaign last spring.
“For us to have a pretty good year, Junior is going to have to step up and have a good year,” Cutlip said. “He’s athletic, he can put the ball in the whole and he’s really quick.”
Junior Jerriah Love (5-8) could play point or wing.
“Jerriah has a scorer’s mentality from either position,” noted Cutlip. “In a lot of ways, he’s the heart and soul of this group, our inspirational leader.”
Other candidates or eventual starters include Drew Morris (5-11, Jr.), Will Stevens (5-9, Jr.) and Jake Matherne (6-5, So.).
“I would imagine down the road, Morrison would be a starter and Jake gives us some size,” noted Cutlip.
Other candidates for spots off the bench are athletic Jordan McCloyd (5-10, So.) and defensive stalwart Shane Austin (5-11, Jr.).
“Finding the right mixture will be the key and finding the right groups to play together where they become better than their individual talents,” said Cutlip. “That’s something we really haven’t had to do in the past.”
2017-18 Science Hill Hilltoppers
10 – Marquis Griffin, 5-7, SO, PG
12 – Junior Danso, 6-1, SR, W
14 – Jerriah Love, 5-8, JR, PG/W
21 – Jordan McCloyd, 5-10, SO, W
22 – David Bryant, 6-0, SR, W
23 – Tate Wheeler, 6-4, SR, W/P
24 – Will Stevens, 5-9, JR, PG/W
30 – Shane Austin, 5-11, JR, W
32 – Kendle Cutlip, 6-3, JR, W/P
33 – Jake Matherne, 6-5, SO, P
34 – Andrew Miller, 5-11, JR, W
40 – Hunter Phillips, 6-3, SO, W/P
41 – Kendle Williams, 5-9, SR, W
44 – Drew Morrison, 5-11, JR, W/P
2017-18 Science Hill Hilltoppers Schedule
November
17 – Hall of Champions at Johnson County, TBA
18 – Powell, 1:30 p.m.
18 – Jefferson County, 7:30 p.m.
Dalton (GA) Thanksgiving Tournament
20 – Adairsville, 5:30 p.m.
21 – TBD
22 – TBD
December
1 – Dobyns-Bennett, 8:00 p.m.
5 – at Tennessee High, 8:00 p.m.
8 – Knox Webb, 8:30 p.m.
9 – CAK, 7:00 p.m.
12 – Unicoi County, 8:00 p.m.
26-30 – Arby’s Classic
January
2 – at Unicoi County, 8:00 p.m.
4 – at Daniel Boone, 8:00 p.m.
5 – Volunteer, 8:00 p.m.
9 – David Crockett, 8:00 p.m.
11 – at Elizabethton, 8:00 p.m.
16 – at Cherokee, 8:00 p.m.
19 – at Dobyns-Bennett, 8:00 p.m.
23 – Tennessee High, 8:00 p.m.
26 – Daniel Boone, 8:00 p.m.
30 – at Volunteer, 8:00 p.m.
February
2 – Science Hill at David Crockett, 8:00 p.m.
6 – Elizabethton, 8:00 p.m.
9 – Cherokee, 8:00 p.m.
13-17 – District 1-AAA Tournament at David Crockett
24 – Region 1-AAA Quarterfinals
27-March 1 – Region 1-AAA Tournament at Jefferson County