HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW | All-American Conference American Division

AUSTINTOWN FITCH

Coach: Brian Beany (1st season)

2010-11 record: 5-16, 0-10 Federal League.

Projected starters: Jessie Driver (5-9 sophomore), Dan Chepke (6-5 senior), Will Mahone (6-2 senior), Trevor Yacovone (6-3 senior), Nick Williams (6-2 senior).

Other contributors: Nate Blair (6-2 senior), Pat Rovnak (6-0 senior), Kyle Moore (6-0 junior), Alex DiFrancesco (6-4 sophomore), Quincy Higgins (6-1 sophomore), Gabe Chepke (6-1 sophomore), Austin Hogan (6-2 sophomore).

Outlook: Falcons excited for a new start in the AAC. They’ll have a nice nucleus to start from, with Chepke (12 points per game), Yacovone and Williams (both 5 ppg). There isn’t a true post player yet, so the Falcons are looking to force opponents into a full-court game.

Schedule: Dec. 2 — at Jefferson (L, 38-42); Dec 6 — at Alliance (L, 81-84); Dec. 13 — Liberty; Dec. 16 — at Hubbard; Dec. 20 — Newton Falls; Dec. 23 — Canfield; Dec. 30 — at Poland; Jan. 3 — Beaver Local; Jan. 6 — Struthers; Jan. 10 — at Mooney; Jan. 13 — Howland; Jan. 20 — at Niles; Jan. 27 — Poland; Jan. 31 — at Lakeview; Feb. 3 — at Canfield; Feb. 7 — East; Feb. 10 — at Howland; Feb. 14 — Marlington; Feb. 18 — at Akron East; Feb. 21 — Boardman.

BEAVER LOCAL

Coach: Jake Walgate (5th season, 9-75).

2010-11 record: 0-21, 0-8 AAC.

Projected starters: Nick Miller (5-8 senior), Troy Hudson (5-11 junior), Ryan Smith (5-11 senior), Kevin Sevey (5-11 senior), Cody Dawson (5-11 senior).

Other contributors: Jake Allen (6-2 senior), Cody Reese (5-8 senior), Zack Mick (6-1 junior), Brandon Fetty (5-10 junior), Mike Haydu (5-10 junior), Matt Chamberlain (6-2 junior).

Outlook: Beavers look to rebound from a winless season with players returning who accounted for virtually all their scoring. Beaver Local will have to improve its defense (they allowed 75 points per game last season) and figure out how to compete facing a height deficit in every game.

Schedule: Dec. 2 — at Wellsville (L, 68-70); Dec. 6 — Crestview (L, 45-56); Dec. 9 — Lakeview (W, 60-53); Dec. 13 — at East Liverpool; Dec. 15 — Howland; Dec. 20 — Lisbon; Dec. 27 — at Oak Glen (W. Va.); Dec. 30 — at Struthers; Jan. 3 — at Fitch; Jan. 6 — Poland; Jan. 10 — Oak Glen (W. Va.); Jan. 13 — Hubbard; Jan. 18 — Wellsville; Jan. 20 — at Canfield; Jan. 27 — Niles; Feb. 3 — Struthers; Feb. 7 — East Liverpool; Feb. 10 — at Hubbard; Feb. 14 — at Champion; Feb. 21 — at Niles.

CANFIELD

Coach: Todd Muckleroy (2nd season, 8-14).

2010-11 record: 8-14, 5-3 AAC.

Projected starters: Conner Kesner (5-8 junior), Matt Yourstowsky (6-0 senior), Will Yobi (6-1 senior), Marco Delorenzo (5-10 junior), Kyle Brown (6-3 senior).

Other contributors: Kaymaun Alexander (6-0 junior), John Schiraldi (6-0 junior), Pat Hagy (6-5 junior), Brad Hutchison (5-8 junior), Jon Wagner (6-0 junior).

Outlook: Cards expect better things in Coach Muckleroy’s second season, but only two players with varsity experience — Yourstowsky and Yobi — will make it a challenge in tough AAC. Brown and Hagy will be forces on the block and Kesner will be point guard.

Schedule: Dec. 2 — at Lake (L, 48-55); Dec. 9 — Champion (W, 42-40); Dec. 13 — at Lakeview; Dec. 16 — at Struthers; Dec. 20 — at Warren Harding; Dec. 23 — at Fitch; Dec. 27 — Boardman; Dec. 30 — Howland; Jan. 3 — at Mooney; Jan. 6 — at Hubbard; Jan. 13 — Poland; Jan. 17 — at Alliance; Jan. 20 — Beaver Local; Jan. 24 — Mooney; Jan. 27 — at Howland; Jan. 31 — Struthers; Feb. 3 — Fitch; Feb. 10 — at Poland; Feb. 14 — East; Feb. 17 — at Niles.

HOWLAND

Coach: Bill Bogan (1st season).

2010-11 record: 14-8, 7-1 AAC.

Returning lettermen: Kenny Pozega (5-9 senior), Domenic Termne (5-9 senior), Zac Wilson (5-9 senior), Brendan Cope (6-0 junior).

Other varsity players: Joe Agardi (5-10 senior), Giulian Romeo (6-0 senior), Mike Seyman (6-3 senior), Twyone Sugick (6-0 senior), Mitch Chasser (6-1 junior), Chris Maze (5-10 junior), Arbie Murray (6-1 junior), John-Mar Weisman (5-9 junior).

Outlook: Tigers won the Red Tier last season, but return an incredible lack of height for a Division I team. Bogan will count on his perimeter players to do the bulk of the scoring.

Schedule: Dec. 2 — at Liberty (W, 99-90); Dec. 9 — Campbell Memorial (75-38); Dec. 15 — at Beaver Local; Dec. 20 — at Boardman; Dec. 23 — Poland; Dec. 27 — at LaBrae; Dec. 30 — at Canfield; Jan. 3 — Struthers; Jan. 6 — Niles; Jan. 10 — at Kenston; Jan. 13 — at Fitch; Jan. 20 — at Struthers; Jan. 27 — Canfield; Feb. 3 — at Poland; Feb. 4 — Warren JFK; Feb. 7 — at Niles; Feb. 10 — Fitch; Feb. 14 — at Lakeview; Feb. 17 — Hubbard; Feb. 21 — Champion.

HUBBARD

Coach: Rick Fox (7th season, 75-55).

2010-11 record: 13-8, 5-3 AAC.

Projected starters: Mike Tobey (5-11 senior), Nick Shelton (6-0 senior), Ryan Smith (6-3 senior), Robert Vargo (6-1 junior), Kirby Knutson (6-5 junior).

Other contributors: Darnell Tate (6-1 sophomore), Ryan Angelo (5-9 junior), Jordan Thomson (5-11 junior), Larry Minotti (5-11 junior), Matt Papiernik (6-2 senior), Greg Santullo (6-2 junior).

Outlook: Eagles are one of the youngest teams in the league, and will suffer some growing pains early in the season. How quickly juniors and first-time varsity players mature will be the key.

Schedule: Dec. 2 — at LaBrae (L, 34-75); Dec. 6 — Champion (L, 38-40); Dec. 9 — Girard (W, 38-36); Dec. 13 — West Middlesex; Dec. 16 — Fitch; Dec. 22 — at Struthers; Dec. 28-29 — at Hickory (Pa.) Tournament; Jan. 3 — at Pymatuning Valley; Jan. 6 — Canfield; Jan. 13 — at Beaver Local; Jan. 20 — at Poland; Jan. 24 — Niles; Jan. 27 — Struthers; Feb. 3 — at Niles; Feb. 4 — Mooney; Feb. 7 — Lakeview; Feb. 10 — Beaver Local; Feb. 14 — Liberty; Feb. 17 — at Howland.

NILES

Coach: Rick Kover (6th season, 48-62).

2010-11 record: 8-13, 2-6 AAC.

Projected starters: Ray Russ (5-10 junior), Joe Profanchick (6-2 senior), James Tate (6-0 sophomore), Zack Bailey (6-3 senior), Tyler Negro (6-3 senior).

Other contributors: Stefan Yuhas (5-11 junior), Kymonie Gamble (5-10 junior), Austin Bergana (5-11 junior), T.J. Brown (6-3 junior), Kyle Paden (6-1 sophomore).

Outlook: Russ averaged 11.5 ppg last season, and Bailey and Negro combined for 10 per outing, so Red Dragons will need to find some more scorers. How well those three and the newcomers mesh will be a key.

Schedule: Dec. 2 — at Newton Falls (L, 49-92); Dec. 6 — at LaBrae (L, 42-80); Dec. 9 — Jefferson (W, 70-68); Dec. 16 — at Poland; Dec. 20 — at Liberty; Dec. 27 — at Girard; Jan. 3 — Lakeview; Jan. 6 — at Howland; Jan. 10 — at Campbell; Jan. 13 — Struthers; Jan. 17 — Salem; Jan. 20 — Fitch; Jan. 24 — at Hubbard; Jan. 27 — at Beaver Local; Feb. 3 — Hubbard; Feb. 7 — Howland; Feb. 10 — at Struthers; Feb. 14 — Poland; Feb. 17 — Canfield; Feb. 21 — Beaver Local.

POLAND

Coach: Ken Grisdale (19th season, 305-115).

2010-11 record: 17-6, 6-2 AAC.

Projected starters: Colin Reardon (6-1 senior), Jerry Lawman (5-7 senior).

Other contributors: John Bannon (6-3 senior), Kyle Davis (6-4 senior), Eddie Moore (6-3 senior), Conner Schultheis (5-8 senior), Jordan Voitus (6-3 senior), Cameron Aguilar (6-0 senior), Alex Hubbell (6-1 junior), Kevin White (5-6 junior), Ryan Burke (6-0 junior), George Chammas (6-0 sophomore), Jacob Wolfe (6-3 sophomore), Jacob Roemer (6-0 sophomore).

Outlook: Reardon’s a nice guy to start with — he averaged 22.3 ppg last season. Key for the Bulldogs will be to find more established scoring to support him. One thing is for sure, Bulldogs will bring pressure.

Schedule: Dec. 9 — LaBrae (L, 54-56); Dec. 16 — Niles; Dec. 20 — Struthers; Dec. 23 — at Howland; Dec. 27 — at Campbell; Dec. 30 — Fitch; Jan. 3 — at Boardman; Jan. 6 — at Beaver Local; Jan. 13 — at Canfield; Jan. 20 — Hubbard; Jan. 24 — Lakeview; Jan. 27 — at Fitch; Jan. 31 — Liberty; Feb, 3 — Howland; Feb. 7 — Streetsboro; Feb. 10 — Canfield; Feb. 14 — at Niles; Feb. 17 — at Struthers; Feb. 21 — West Branch; Feb. 24 — at Girard.

STRUTHERS

Coach: Joe Savko (5th season, 55-35).

2010-11 record: 21-3, 8-0 AAC.

Projected starters: Jake Jakubec (6-0 senior), Jordan Sapp (6-2 senior), Joe Wilaj (5-7 junior), Dylan Schmidt (6-2 senior).

Other contributors: Tommy Kimbrough (5-11 junior), Austin Grewe (6-2 senior), Temeko Holness (6-3 sophomore), Richard Maynard (6-0 senior).

Outlook: Only Jacubec returns from district championship team with any varsity playing time. He averaged 15.9 ppg last season, so guess who opposing defenses will be focusing on? How the newcomers learn to contribute and mesh as a unit will determine the Wildcats’ success.

Schedule: Dec. 2 — at Campbell (W, 57-38); Dec. 6 — Lakeview (L, 58-61); Dec. 9 — Liberty (W, 81-79); Dec. 13 — at Salem; Dec. 16 — Canfield; Dec. 20 — at Poland; Dec. 22 — Hubbard; Dec. 30 — Beaver Local; Jan. 3 — at Howland; Jan. 6 — at Fitch; Jan. 13 — at Niles; Jan. 16 — Erie Strong Vincent (Covelli Centre, 5 p.m.); Jan. 20 — Howland; Jan. 27 — at Hubbard; Jan. 31 — at Canfield; Feb. 3 — at Beaver Local; Feb. 7 — Campbell; Feb. 10 — Niles; Feb. 17 — Poland; Feb. 21 — at Liberty.

Staff report