Fordson head coach Osama Abulhassan (second from left) will count heavily on veterans Ali Berry (left) and Hassan Nizam during the 2011-12 season.
By Daniel Gretzner
Basketball is ready to go in the greater Dearborn area as the three local public high schools continue to practice for early scheduled regular season games.
Fordson and Dearborn boys’ basketball teams opened the new hoops season this week. The Tractors were to host Allen Park on Tuesday of this week while Dearborn’s varsity traveled to Livonia Churchill the same day. Edsel Ford will start off playing on Dec. 13 at Allen Park Inter-City Baptist. All varsity games are set for a 7 p.m. tipoff.
Dearborn will play at home on Friday versus Southgate Anderson. Head coach Gary Barkoff hopes to field a team that will compete for the Western Wayne Athletic Association title. Only time will tell if the Pioneers can dethrone last year’s champion, Romulus.
Fordson is looking to have a successful year on the hardwood as head coach Osama Abulhassan prepares his squad for action.
“We should improve quite a bit from last season when we played below .500 ball,” Abulhassan said. “I’m counting on a pair of senior playmakers to lead the way.”
The two players he is talking about are Ali Berry, a 6-foot-4-inch center and Hassan Nizam, a point guard. Both players bring experience to Fordson and will be counted on as starters.
Berry is a post player with enough athletic ability to out-rebound opponents and score points inside. Nizam is the floor leader and can hit the basket from 3-point range, Abulhassan said.
A Dearborn vs. Edsel Ford contest is set for Dec. 16 in the Pioneers’ gym. That cage tilt will be the starting point of what team of hoopsters will take a competitive edge during the now underway 2011-12 local prep boys’ basketball season.