Tuesday, December 13, 2011
CAMPBELL MEMORIAL
Coach: Jay Brown (1st season).
2010-11 record: 12-12, 4-4 AAC.
Projected starters: Anthony Naze (5-8 senior), Charles Smith (5-10 junior), Devin Johnson (6-3 senior).
Other contributors: Ilias Frangopoulos (5-8 junior), George Billiros (5-10 freshman), D.J. Harrison (5-9 sophomore); Ryan Stoddard (5-10 junior), Jallel Shorter (6-3 sophomore), Robert Thompkins (5-8 senior), Brandon Jackson (5-11 sophomore).
Outlook: Red Devils begin with several uncertainties, including on the bench, where long-time coach Brian Danilov has taken a leave of absence. Brown takes over an inexperienced team that lacks a proven scorer.
Schedule: Dec. 2 — Struthers (L, 38-57); Dec. 6 — at Boardman (L, 41-80); Dec. 9 — at Howland (L, 38-75); Dec. 16 — at Lakeview; Dec. 23 — LaBrae; Dec. 27 — Poland; Dec. 30 — Champion; Jan. 6 — at Jefferson; Jan. 10 — Niles; Jan. 13 — at Newton Falls; Jan. 16 — George Jr. Republic (at Covelli Centre, 1 p.m.); Jan. 20 — Liberty; Jan. 24 — Brookfield; Jan. 27 — at LaBrae; Feb. 3 — at Champion; Feb. 7 — at Struthers; Feb. 10 — Newton Falls; Feb. 14 — Salem; Feb. 17 — Girard.
GIRARD
Coach: Nolan Cubellis (2nd season, 7-15).
2010-11 record: 7-15, 2-6 AAC.
Varsity roster: Michael Bornemiss (6-1 senior), Branden Byrd (5-11 senior), Doug Thomas (6-3 senior), Jim Melfi (6-0 senior), Zach Teter (5-11 senior), Jabril Brown (6-1 senior), Evan DelBene (5-8 junior), Evan Standohar (5-10 sophomore), Kenn Greaver (6-2 sophomore), Jim Standohar (5-7 sophomore), Jordan Graziano (5-8 sophomore), Vince Maderitz (5-11 sophomore), Chris Vince (5-10 sophomore), Craig Randall (5-9 freshman).
Outlook: Evan Standohar and Bornemiss are returning double-digit scorers to give the Indians a nucleus, but there’s an overall lack of varsity experience with this group. Cubellis will mix and match his lineups at times, and how well they mesh will determine their success.
Schedule: Dec. 2 — at McDonald (W, 60-55); Dec. 9 — at Hubbard (L, 36-38); Dec. 13 — at Maplewood; Dec. 16 — Newton Falls; Dec. 23 — at Liberty; Dec. 27 — Niles; Dec. 30 — Jefferson; Jan. 6 — at Champion; Jan. 7 — at Springfield; Jan. 13 — at Lakeview; Jan. 14 — Warren JFK; Jan. 20 — LaBrae; Jan. 27 — at Jefferson; Jan. 31 — Brookfield; Feb. 3 — Liberty; Feb. 7 — Pymatuning Valley; Feb. 10 — Lakeview; Feb. 17 — at Campbell; Feb. 21 — at Badger; Feb. 24 — Poland.
LABRAE
Coach: Chad Kiser (6th season, 68-44).
2010-11 record: 20-3, 8-0 AAC.
Projected starters: Matt Szorady (5-8 senior), Carl Brown (6-0 junior), Peyton Aldridge (6-7 sophomore), John Richards (6-1 junior), Paul Zigmont (6-3 junior).
Other contributors: Tyler Davidson (5-10 senior), Jermaine Keeney (5-10 senior), Carrington Herron (6-1 senior), Nathan Middleton (6-0 junior), Dan Misinay (6-1 senior), Kenny Hall (6-4 junior), Chris Clevenger (5-9 junior).
Outlook: Vikings are deep and talented. Szorady and Aldridge are proven double-digit scorers, but Brown, Richards and Zigmont can all step up. Herron was an impact player two years ago before being slowed by a knee injury. LaBrae has played in the last three district championship games — coming up just short the last two — and anything less this season would be considered a disappointment.
Schedule: Dec. 2 — Hubbard (W, 75-34); Dec. 6 — Niles (W, 80-42); Dec. 9 — at Poland (W, 56-54); Dec. 12 — Berkshire; Dec. 16 — Jefferson; Dec. 20 — Brookfield; Dec. 23 — at Campbell; Dec. 27 — Howland; Dec. 30 — Newton Falls; Jan. 3 — at Garrettsville; Jan. 6 — Lakeview; Jan. 13 — at Champion; Jan. 16 — Hickory (at Covelli Centre, 3 p.m.); Jan. 17 — at Windham; Jan. 20 — at Girard; Jan. 21 — at Sebring; Jan. 27 — Campbell; Feb. 3 — at Newton Falls; Feb. 10 — Champion; Feb. 17 — at Liberty.
LAKEVIEW
Coach: George Lanterman (6th season).
2010-11 record: 9-13, 2-6 AAC.
Projected starters: Anthony Franco (5-10 senior), Zach McDivitt (5-11 senior), Louie Novakovich (6-0 senior), Austin Haines (6-1 senior), Drew Bell (6-6 junior).
Other contributors: Kyle Ames (6-0 senior), Branden Bensing (6-1 junior), Clay Becker (6-2 junior), Elijah Henderson (6-4 junior), Erich Schmitt (6-2 junior).
Outlook: Five returning lettermen have buoyed expectations for the Bulldogs. They can deep on the bench, too, and if they can find the consistency on the offensive end that Lanterman seeks it could be a banner year.
Schedule: Dec. 6 — at Struthers (W, 61-58); Dec. 9 — at Beaver Local (L, 53-60); Dec. 13 — Canfield; Dec. 16 — Campbell; Dec. 23 — at Jefferson; Dec. 30 — Liberty; Jan. 3 — at Niles; Jan. 6 — at LaBrae; Jan. 10 — Ash. Edgewood; Jan. 13 — Girard; Jan. 17 — Grand Valley; Jan. 20 — Champion; Jan. 24 — at Poland; Jan. 27 — at Liberty; Jan. 31 — Fitch; Feb. 3 — Jefferson; Feb. 7 — at Hubbard; Feb. 10 — at Girard; Feb. 14 — Howland; Feb. 17 — at Newton Falls.
LIBERTY
Coach: Dan Bubon (1st season, 60-115 overall)
2010-11 record: 11-10, 3-5 AAC.
Projected starters: Asim Pleas Jr. (6-1 sophomore), Ryan Connelly (6-3 senior), Jamaal Daniel (6-0 senior), Jaylen Mann (6-4 senior), David Hight (6-3 junior).
Other contributors: Anthony Clinkscale (5-11 senior), John Helms Jr. (5-9 junior), Darrien Underwood (6-2 sophomore), Tyler Evans (6-2 junior).
Outlook: Bubon moves over from Champion and inherits a team that could contend for a league title if everything comes together. He likes Mann, who’s on everybody’s preseason all-area team, and Pleas at the point guard. Leopard have shown they can score in transition; how well they do in the half-court will determine their season.
Schedule: Dec. 2 — Howland (L, 90-99); Dec. 9 — at Struthers (L, 79-81); Dec. 13 — at Fitch; Dec. 16 — at Champion; Dec. 20 — Niles; Dec. 23 — Girard; Dec. 30 — at Lakeview; Jan. 3 — Salem; Jan. 6 — Newton Falls; Jan. 13 — at Jefferson; Jan. 17 — at East; Jan. 20 — at Campbell; Jan. 24 — Champion; Jan. 27 — Lakeview; Jan. 31 — at Poland; Feb. 3 — at Girard; Feb. 10 — Jefferson; Feb. 14 — at Hubbard; Feb. 17 — LaBrae; Feb. 21 — Struthers.
NEWTON FALLS
Coach: Roy Sembach (25th season, 318-216).
2010-11 record: 18-5, 5-3 AAC.
Projected starters: Cody Dillon (6-4 senior), Matt Brazin (5-11 senior), Shawn Haines (6-2 senior), Brian Moser (6-2 senior), Dale Kernan (5-11 junior).
Other contributors: Mitchell Kovach (6-0 senior), Nate Novotny (5-11 senior), Chase Nichols (6-3 senior), Logan Harrah (6-0 junior), Osmond Hawkins (6-1 sophomore), Mike Staton (6-2 junior), Jarrod Crowder (6-1 junior).
Outlook: Dillon will contend for county player of the year; he averaged 20.4 points per game last season. Brazin and Kernan averaged 8.0 and 7.6 ppg, respectively, and give the Tigers solid alternatives on offense. The bench is a little thin on varsity experience, and how well that develops could determine the Tigers’ overall success.
Schedule: Dec. 2 — Niles (W, 92-49); Dec. 6 — at Windham (W, 75-52); Dec. 9 — at Grand Valley (W, 61-42); Dec. 16 — at Girard; Dec. 20 — at Fitch; Dec. 23 — Champion; Dec. 27 — Southeast; Dec. 30 — at LaBrae; Jan. 3 — Brookfield; Jan. 6 — at Liberty; Jan. 10 — Jefferson; Jan. 13 — Campbell; Jan. 17 — St. Thomas; Jan. 21 — at JFK; Jan. 27 — at Champion; Feb. 3 — LaBrae; Feb. 7 — Garrettsville; Feb. 10 — at Campbell; Feb. 17 — Lakeview; Feb. 21 — at Youngstown Christian.
CHAMPION
Coach: Doug Foster.
2010-11 record: 2-19, 1-7 AAC.
Schedule: Dec. 6 — at Hubbard (W, 40-38); Dec. 9 — at Canfield (L, 40-42); Dec. 16 — Liberty; Dec. 20 — at JFK; Dec. 23 — at Newton Falls; Dec. 27 — at Bristol; Dec. 30 — at Campbell; Jan. 3 — Columbiana; Jan. 6 — Girard; Jan. 10 — Brookfield; Jan. 13 — LaBrae; Jan. 17 — Maplewood; Jan. 20 — at Lakeview; Jan. 24 — at Liberty; Jan. 27 — Newton Falls; Feb. 3 — Campbell; Feb. 10 — at LaBrae; Feb. 14 — Beaver Local; Feb. 17 — at Jefferson; Feb. 21 — at Howland.
JEFFERSON
Schedule: Dec. 2 — Fitch (W, 42-38); Dec. 9 — at Niles (L, 68-70); Dec. 16 — at LaBrae; Dec. 20 — Ash. Edgewood; Dec. 23 — Lakeview; Dec. 30 — at Girard; Jan. 3 — Geneva; Jan. 6 — Campbell; Jan. 10 — at Newton Falls; Jan. 13 — Liberty; Jan. 17 — Pymatuning Valley; Jan. 24 — at Ash. Edgewood; Jan. 27 — Girard; Feb. 3 — at Lakeview; Feb. 7 — Conneaut; Feb. 10 — at Liberty; Feb. 17 — Champion; Feb. 21 — at Ledgemont.
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