WESTMINSTER MEN'S BASKETBALL Titans look to remain PAC leaders
'The Circus' is back in town, looking to improve on last year's trip to the Division III tournament.
NEW WILMINGTON, Pa. -- It all began during a long bus ride home from Columbus in the days after Christmas 2003.
Having seen his team start the season at 2-8, with each loss by at least nine points, Westminster men's basketball coach Larry Ondako knew it was time for changes.
So, at the conclusion of a pair of defeats at the Otterbein Tournament, Ondako threw out the playbook.
Gone was the post-based offense and half-court defense. Faced with a team that had no seniors and no players taller than 6-foot-4, Ondako switched to a run-and-gun offense which relied almost exclusively on 3-point shooting and a full-court, trapping defense.
"We had to do something -- we were getting killed," recalled Ondako. "So, I thought we would give the new system a try on our trip to [a] Georgia [tournament]. That way, if it completely flopped, no one [in Pennsylvania] would ever see it."
Ondako's concerns went for naught. The results were immediate -- and historic.
By the numbers
After averaging 68.3 points per game in those first 10 games, the Titans closed the regular season by winning 13 of their last 17 games, averaging 102.4 points per contest en route to the team's first Presidents' Athletic Conference title.
The program's first trip to the ECAC Division III South Region Tournament followed and, although the playoff run was halted in the opening round at Alvernia, the loss did not diminish the success or impact of "The Circus," as the Titan players came to call their new system.
The numbers were staggering. In the 17-game stretch to close the regular season, Westminster surpassed 100 points nine times, including a 123-96 win over Kalamazoo. The Titans made at least 10 three-pointers in all 17 games, including a school-record 25 in a 102-74 PAC win over Washington & amp; Jefferson.
Ondako begins his second season with all five starters, each of whom earned All-PAC recognition, returning.
"We had a good preseason, a lot better than a year ago, so we're further along from that standpoint. We have more experience and more depth, both of which have resulted in good practices," Ondako said.
The returning starting five consists of junior point guard Mark DeMonaco (New Castle, Pa.), who averaged a conference best 18.1 points per game and was named first team All-PAC; All-PAC second teamers, senior guard Ed Pagley (New Castle, Pa., 15.8 ppg) and senior forward Pat O'Connor (13.9), and All-PAC honorable mention selections, senior guard Chris Hatch (South Range) and junior forward Dom Joseph (New Castle, Pa.).
"Mark really makes our team go, both offensively and defensively," Ondako said. "The team just feeds off his excitement.
"I think Ed is the best overall player in the PAC. He does everything so well, especially on defense, and seems to have a sense of knowing when we need him to step up."
Off the bench
A pair of juniors who likely will be among the first players off the bench -- guard Brian Fadden (Mohawk) and forward Micah Delo. Fadden, a part-time starter his first two seasons, averaged 7.1 points and 3.4 rebounds per game a year ago.
"I really think Brian will be our surprise player this year," said Ondako.
"He can play four different positions and does a lot of things you don't readily notice on the boxscore."
Rounding out the returnees are four sophomores, including forward Randall Poindexter (Wilson High). Poindexter, who started six games and averaged 5.0 ppg, is ineligible to play in the first semester.
Newcomers to the program include Craig Hannon (New Castle Union), Bobby
Preston (Neshannock), Chauncey Whitlow (Wilson), Jason Lenzi (Hubbard) and Jake Zatchok (Western Reserve).