Brush’s Damari Dammons prepares to shoot a free throw against Richmond Heights on Jan. 23, 2024. (Paul DiCicco – The News-Herald)
Last season’s 58-54 defeat to Uniontown Lake in the first round of the postseason left a sour taste in Brush’s mouth.
The Arcs have refocused during the summer, tackling Midwest Live and the Locked In Summer League at Warrensville Heights. This year’s team has a different feel than last year.
Brush was senior-laden a season ago, but lacked the experience it had in years prior. The Arcs have tackled that going into this season, led by senior Damari Dammons.
He averaged 11 points and six rebounds a season ago, including a go-ahead deep 3-pointer against Warrensville Heights. He’s excited for the role of being the senior leader this season.
“It definitely helps me to grow as a leader playing all these high-quality teams,” Dammons said. “Over the past years, I’ve looked up to the players like Elmore James, Marlon Barnes, the seniors last year. It’s teaching me how to be a better leader and working with our younger players this summer. A lot of our guys are getting used to playing varsity for the first time at speed so helping them adjust has been my main goal.”
One of the biggest differences Dammons noticed from last season was an excess of senior leadership but not a commanding senior voice.
He knows that being both a vocal leader and leading by example is a tough balancing act but has used both last season and the summer to prepare for the upcoming season.
Brush will be young once the season begins with many juniors and sophomores handling big roles. Dammons has been taking extra time to help them adjust to those challenges so they are prepared for the start of the season.
“I took away from them having learned how to lead from their actions,” Dammons said. “Right now, with the summer league rosters, we only have two seniors. So I have to step up and be a leader. Everyone is looking at me to be the leader of the program, and I am ready for that responsibility.”
Last season was the first time since 2016-17 that Brush didn’t advance to the district round, and it snapped a two-year streak in which it advanced to the district final. Dammons and the Arcs are determined to ensure a new trend doesn’t start.
Brush is one of the teams from the former Division I that will be in D-III as a part of the OHSAA division expansion. But they know that the road to state is just as treacherous.
With teams like Garfield Heights, Lutheran West, Akron SVSM and Louisville also in the division, Damons knows the summer period has been crucial to prepare for challenging games come the postseason.
“That gives me a lot of motivation going into the season,” Dammons said. “I want to do something that Brush hasn’t done in a long time. That plays a big part, along with knowing that all the hard work we’ve been putting in is going to pay off.”