The Cardinals battled against Steinert Jan. 17, 2012, winning 54-53. Left, Lawrence’s Manny Alicia considers his play options. (Photos by Suzette J. Lucas.)

By Rich Fisher

Out of the ashes of a 6-17 record, has risen a phoenix.

Or in this case, a Cardinal.

The Lawrence High boys’ basketball team, coming off a season in which it won just six games, has used a late surge from last season to spark a strong start this year. The Cardinals were 7-3 entering their Jan. 17 game at Steinert.

“We started off awful last season then won a few games at the end,” said Lawrence senior center Bobby Brackett, who is ticketed to play for Bloomfield College next year. “We played Trenton tough in the Mercer County Tournament after losing by 35 earlier in the year, so that’s one example of how we know we improved throughout the season.

“With 11 returning guys, none of us wanted to have a repeat of last season. We’re just one year older but it’s paying off a lot right now. We wanted to build off the end of last season and do even better.”

Sophomore guard Semei Mitchell began last year on JV, but moved in as sixth man at the end of last year.

“We told ourselves we would not have a season like last year,” Mitchell said. “So we have been pushing and we have been doing good so far.”

The Cardinals have had a nice mixture of role players, starting with Brackett and senior point guard Chris Tate. The two have played varsity together for three years and have an innate sense of what each one is thinking.

Brackett has been one of Mercer County’s top players this season, scoring just under 20 points per game while grabbing a lot of rebounds. Tate is often the one getting him the ball.

“Chris Tate controls the game for us,” Brackett said. “He has the ability to score, but he’s at his best when he’s controlling the game and making great passes.”

Another guy whose contributions don’t show up in the boxscore is Mitchell, who Brackett calls “the best on-ball defender I’ve ever played with.”

“He won’t go out there and score 20,” Brackett said. “But he will play outstanding defense for us and help win games.”

“Defense I take to heart,” Mitchell said. “I hate to let my opponent get anything easy. I have to make sure that I make it extremely hard for them and you just have to move your feet. That’s what I feel is the key to being a good defender.”

Also playing their roles impressively are a pair of 6-foot-4 senior forwards in Bert McCallum and Jimmy Glover. With Brackett, they give Lawrence an imposing front line.

“Bert has the ability to score 20 on any given night,” Brackett said. “Even though that hasn’t happened, he plays great defense down low and gets rebounds.

“Jimmy is the best blocker on the team. He blocks everything he can. We have many guys who know their roles and contribute to the team in different ways.”

Those players include 6-5 forward Luke Buschman and junior guard Russell Austin, along with Greg Korngut, Merced Jones, Matt Hinson, Manny Alicea and Jordan Glover.

Working together has been part of the whole turn-around.

“The key to our start is that that we’re playing together as a team and playing harder altogether,” Brackett said. “Last year we were not a team at all. And it showed because we had six wins the whole year.”

“We’ve talked about us playing as a big family,” Mitchell said. “We’re all brothers on and off the court. Also, we have been talking on the court and listening to everything our coach (Pat Tarrant) says.”

Another key, as it often is with high school players, is what transpired in the off-season. Brackett played AAU ball with the Game 7 Sharks, and many of the other players participated in the Ewing Summer League.

“I think that was really important,” Brackett said. “This fall we got together a lot and played some pick-up basketball. Between all that, I think it brought us together as a team.”

Brackett has been the key, however, as he is playing free and easy after already making his college decision.

“I’m very happy I signed early with Bloomfield,” he said. “It definitely takes a lot of pressure off of me. Instead of trying to impress colleges, I’m playing to win games with the team.

“My goals this season are to win as many games as possible and go far in the postseason. Not go score a bunch of points and lose. So I feel great about my decision.”

And the Cardinals feel great about the early part of their season.

Which is a lot different than last year.