Spartans Prepared To Defend
By JAMIE PIERCE Times Leader Sports Correspondent
Sunday, December 12, 1999 Page: 1C
After winning the conference’s Division I title last season, Wyoming Valley
West has high hopes for the 1999-2000 campaign.
The Spartans return three key players this season, and coach John Rosick
said there’s enough talent to fill holes left by the departure of last year’s
seniors.
“We lost some good seniors last year, but we have more than enough to make
up for it,” Rosick said. “It is going to be a tough year though, because we
have the bull’s-eye on our back. Everybody is going to be shooting for us.”
The Spartans’ offense centers on its man in the middle, 6-foot-7-inch Phil
Bonczewski. The senior, who has signed with Division I Monmouth University,
led the Wyoming Valley Conference Division I in scoring last season with 18
points a game.
Brian Mattes, a 6-6 sophomore, also will be a force around the basket. As a
freshman last season he averaged 10 points and was second on the team in
rebounding.
Matt Hopple is the third returning starter. The 6-1 senior averaged 11
points and will spend most of the season playing small forward.
“With our three returning starters we have an excellent nucleus to work
around,” Rosick said. “The new guys bring some good shooting and all
together we have a nice mix of everything we need.”
Greg Pieczynski, a 5-11 junior, will be the point guard and do most of the
ball handling. Either 6-foot junior P.J. Piskorik or 5-10 senior Doug Parulis,
a transfer from Bishop O’Reilly, will round out the starting lineup.
“This whole group worked very hard in the offseason,” Rosick said. “I
don’t think the pressure will affect us, we are really looking forward to the
challenge.”
Rosick is most concerned about Division I rival Hazleton Area, which
returns a strong lineup, and the Division II crossover games with Crestwood
and Wyoming Area.
In Division II, the favorite is not so clear. Nanticoke Area and Crestwood
look like the teams to beat, but Wyoming Area and Hanover Area also could
contend for the title.
The Division III team to beat looks like Meyers, which has its entire
starting lineup back. Seton Catholic also returns a strong group, and both
Mohawks coach Joe Caffrey and Eagles coach Joe Long agree that the division
championship always runs through GAR.
Here is a look at each team from all three divisions, in order of last
season’s finish:
Division I
Coach: John Rosick
Norristown in first round of state playoffs.
State classification: 4A
Key players: Phil Bonczewski, 6-7, senior; Brian Mattes, 6-6, sophomore;
Matt Hopple, 6-1, senior; Greg Pieczynski, 5-11, junior; Doug Parulis, 5-10,
senior; P.J. Piskorik, 6-0, junior.
Strength: Size and experience
Weakness: Foul shooting
Outlook: The Spartans were Wyoming Valley Conference Division I champions
and the top 4A team from District 2 last season. They are expecting the same,
if not more, this season. With Bonczewski, the preseason favorite for WVC most
valuable player, back for his final season, Valley West is the team to beat.
Coach: John Quinn
playoffs.
State classification: 4A
Key players: Mike Lucchino, 5-10, junior; Paul Sargent, 6-0, senior; Paul
Vecerkauskas, 6-3, senior; Bryan Hooks, 6-1, senior.
Strength: Quickness and ball handling
Weakness: Lack of height, experience and depth
Outlook: After graduating four accomplished seniors, the Crusaders know
they will have their work cut out for themselves. Quinn expects a gradual
improvement from his young group as the season unfolds.
Coach: Bruce Leib
State classification: 4A
Key players: Jonathan Veet, 6-2, senior; Don Patrick, 6-4, senior; Chris
Leib, 5-10, junior; Bobby Broyan, 6-0, junior; Eric Yanlonsky, 6-0, junior.
Strength: Experience and competitive drive
Weakness: Quickness
Outlook: The Cougars return an excellent group from last season and don’t
sit far behind Valley West in Division I. Veet and Broyan should be the team’s
go-to guys. They averaged 12.6 and 12 points a game last season. With its key
elements in place and experience, the Hazleton basketball tradition should
shine once again.
Coach: Tom Tigue
State classification: 3A
Key players: Phil Castellino, 6-1, senior; Steve Pisano, 6-4, senior; J.J.
Wivell, 6-4, senior; Pat Roman, 6-3, senior; Bob Shook, 6-3, senior.
Strength: Size and experience
Weakness: Quickness and depth
Outlook: With a group of mostly seniors ready to improve, the Patriots
could cause problems for the favorites in Division I. WVC coaches agree that
Pittston will be a difficult place to play. Castellino is the team’s returning
leading scorer, at 10.6 ppg.
Coach: Bill Callahan
State classification: 3A
Key players: Al West, 6-1, junior; Vaughn Welch, 6-0, senior; Jerry
Waltman, 6-5, senior; Jim Pfromm, 6-2, junior.
Strength: Unselfish and good backcourt
Weakness: Lack of varsity experience
Outlook: The Bulldogs’ first goal is to continue to improve. They hope to
be competitive within the division and use the experience they gain throughout
the season to make it back to the district playoffs. West and Pfromm should
take care of most of the scoring.
Coach: Tony Konieski
State classification: 3A
Key players: Jeff Papi, 6-3, senior; Mike Gruen, 6-3, sophomore; Mike
Starzec, 6-3, sophomore; Pat Mulhern, 6-0, freshman; Bart Blankers, 6-8,
senior.
Strength: Cohesiveness and size
Weakness: Inexperience
Outlook: With a freshman and two sophomores in the starting lineup, the
Tigers need game experience before they can put it together. Konieski said his
players have great work habits and will improve with time.
Division II
Coach: Ken Bartuska
first round of state playoffs
State classification: 3A
Key players: Luke Malishchak, 5-10, senior; Todd Bargella, 6-6, senior;
Matt Titus, 6-4, senior; Jeff Bevan, 6-0, senior; Matt Jablonski, 6-2, senior.
Strength: Experience, maturity and athleticism
Weakness: Scoring
Outlook: The Trojans expect to come along slowly this season with some
players banged up from football and an injury to Jablonski. Bartuska likes his
team and said the Trojans should reach their peak just when they need to,
around playoff time.
Coach: Mark Atherton
second round of state playoffs
State classification: 3A
Key players: John Weyrauch, 6-0, senior; Joe Dorzinsky, 6-3, junior; Dan
Lemke, 6-1, senior; Scott Gabriel, 5-10, senior; Gerald O’Hara, 5-10, guard.
Strength: Experience and quickness
Weakness: Size
Outlook: After finishing one game behind Nanticoke Area last season, the
Comets have high hopes with three returning starters. Weyrauch returns after
leading the team in scoring at 13.6 points per game. Although they are a bit
small, Crestwood proved last season that hustle and quickness could make up
for the lack of size. They should do the same this season.
Coach: C.J. Bufalino
State classification: 3A
Key players: Steve Buzinski, 6-3, junior; Matt Bowen, 5-11, senior; Joe
Falzone, 6-2, junior; Brian Walcott, 5-11, junior; Dave Tracey, 5-8, senior.
Strength: Scoring and ball handling
Weakness: Size and depth
Outlook: After a slow start last season, the Warriors went 5-3 in the
second half. They topped that with an outstanding summer. Bowen led the team
in scoring last season with 11.2 points per game, and he is expected to
improve on that number this season. The Warriors have what it takes to win
Division II and should be right in the mix all season.
Coach: Joe Ryan
State classification: 3A
Key players: David Plisko, 6-1, senior; Josh Oravic, 6-3, senior; Jeff
Holda, 5-9, senior; Ryan Milford, 6-2, junior; Jason Papadoplos, 6-0, senior;
Ryan Gildea, 6-3, senior.
Strength: Experience and work ethic
Weakness: Depth and strength
Outlook: The Hawkeyes will be led once again by Plisko, who led Division II
in scoring last season at 20 points per game. Oravic also is a dangerous
scoring threat after averaging 15.4 points last season. Without a true threat
from the post, the Hawkeyes might have trouble with the league’s bigger teams,
but hard work and dedication could make up for a lot.
Coach: Pat McCue
State classification: 3A
Key players: Matt Jackson, 6-2, senior; Matt Wycallis, 6-1, senior; Jay
Carroll, 6-2, junior; Chuck Suppon, 6-6, sophomore.
Strength: Conditioning and strength
Weakness: Scoring
Outlook: After a long football playoff run, the Mountaineer basketball team
finally got back many of its key players. With lost time to make up for, McCue
will be forced to do most of his coaching early in the season within game
situations. Dallas should continue to improve throughout the season.
Coach: Jim Spencer
State classification: 3A
Key players: Matt Loftus, 5-9, senior; Russ Mosier, 6-2, senior; Brian
Noler, 5-11, senior; Noah Pickett, 6-2, senior; Tom Castrigano, 5-9, senior;
Matt Dunn, 6-5, junior.
Strength: Athletic ability
Weakness: Inexperience and a new system
Outlook: The Black Knights have a simple goal to start the season – improve
each day. Under the new regime of Spencer, who replaced longtime coach Rodger
Bearde, Lehman has accomplished this goal so far this year. Castrigano and
Dunn return as the team’s leading scorers. Look for the Black Knights to
become more competitive as the season progresses.
Division III
Coach: Paul Brown
in second round of state playoffs
State classification: 2A
Key players: Isiah Walker, 6-0, senior; Frank Hershberger, 5-10, senior;
Tom Dohman, 6-2, sophomore; Bill Brown, 6-6, senior; Kevin Brown, 6-6,
sophomore.
Strength: Attitude and work ethic
Weakness: Inexperience
Outlook: The Grenadiers lost about 41 points per game from last season with
the departure of three strong seniors. This season, GAR will look to a new
group to pick up the slack. Third-year starter Walker will be the floor
general while the scoring might come from a different player each game.
Coach: Joe Caffrey
State classification: 2A
Key players: Jim McGavin, 5-11, senior; Dale Rapson, 6-4, senior; Jeff
Hivish, 5-10, senior; Sylvester Gibson, 6-2, senior; Brian Gallagher, 6-0,
senior.
Strength: Experience and scoring
Weakness: Size
Outlook: The Mohawks return their starting lineup after finishing second to
undefeated GAR last season in Division III. With a group of players who have
been together for two years, Meyers is the favorite. Rapson and McGavin should
take care of the bulk of the scoring after combining for more than 30 points
per game last season.
Coach: Joe Long
State classification: A
Key players: Sean Healey, 6-2, senior; Joe Tracy, 6-1, senior; Jim Dessoye,
Strength: Quickness
Weakness: Lack of experience and height
Outlook: The Eagles had a strong showing last season before losing a
heartbreaker to Susquehanna in the district playoffs. Healey returns after
finishing second on the team in scoring at 12 points per game. Although they
are small, quickness and hard work should make for another successful season
for Seton Catholic.
Coach: Keith Keiper
State classification: 2A
Key players: Donny Embleton, 6-1, senior; Jason Thompson, 6-0, senior; Mike
Regan, 6-1, senior; Charlie Lukasavage, 6-0, senior; Andrew Lohin, 6-2,
senior.
Strength: Quickness
Weakness: Lack of height and experience
Outlook: The inexperienced Queensmen have taken their lumps early this
season, but Keiper sees them improving. As the only two players with varsity
experience, Donny Embleton and Jason Thompson should lead the team in scoring.
Coach: Ron Powlus
State classification: A
Key players: Brian Everett, 5-9, senior; Jared Hontz, 6-3, senior, Ryan
Sirak, 5-9, senior; Edward Altemose, 6-3, junior; Tim Zettle, 6-2, junior.
Strength: Work ethic and attitude
Weakness: Lack of experience and leadership
Outlook: After a slow start in the preseason, the Rangers are left looking
for a floor leader. They have only one player with varsity experience and are
hoping to conclude the year with a winning record. As the players begin to
mesh, look for Northwest to upset a few teams, but don’t expect a division
championship run from this squad.
Coach: Chet Hines
State classification: 2A
Key players: Mark Williams, 6-1, senior; Mike Noss, 6-1, senior; Michael
Augustine, 5-5, senior; Matt Novinger, 6-4, senior.
Strength: Experience and depth
Weakness: Size
Outlook: The Argents offense is off to a slow start, but Hines still hopes
that a more balanced attack can turn around those scoring problems. With a
number of seniors who have been in the varsity program for three years, this
should come with time. Hines is concerned with his bench’s lack of experience
and the absence of a strong presence in the post. Williams and Noss return as
the team’s leading scoring threats.
Coach: Dan Denoia
State classification: A
Key players: Frank Stish, 6-4, sophomore; Matt Chapman, 5-9, sophomore;
Mike Sharkey, 5-11, sophomore; Mike DeCosmo, 6-0, junior; Matt Quinn, 6-1,
junior.
Strength: Quickness
Weakness: Young, inexperienced and small
Outlook: Bishop Hafey sends a young squad on to the court for the second
consecutive season, but Denoia expects steady improvement as the players gain
experience. Stish and Chapman started last year as freshmen and are continuing
to improve. Hafey hopes to be around .500 at the season’s end.
Coach: Tommy Dempsey
State classification: 2A
Key players: Gordie Weightman, 6-4, senior; Justin Ryncavage, 6-3,
sophomore; John Doyle, 6-1, senior; Joel McAndrew, 6-0, junior; Lloyd
Droppers, 6-5, junior.
Strength: Hard work and hustle
Weakness: No winning experience
Outlook: First-year coach Dempsey is looking to use hard work and gutsy
play to improve the Blue Knights’ record. Weightman was second on the team in
scoring last season at 11.1 points per game and McAndrew should add some
scoring punch.
