Boys district basketball preview

BOARDMAN

Coach: Dan McKeown (2nd season, 11-10).

2010-11 record: 11-10, 3-7 Federal League.

Projected starters: Dayne Hammond (6-6 senior), T.J. Irving (6-2 senior), Brian Butts (6-4 senior), Alex Passas (6-1 senior), Jamar Steverson (6-3 junior), Nico DiIanni (5-11 junior), Deion Harris (6-2 junior).

Other contributors: Nate Struharik (6-0 senior), Paris Wallace (6-0 senior), Ryan McKeown (6-3 sophomore), Austin Downie (6-5 junior), Bryce Saunders (6-3 sophomore), Sam Mathey (5-10 sophomore), Phil DiIanni (6-1 sophomore), Michael Duda (6-0 junior).

Outlook: Spartans have Hammond (10.8 ppg, 7.8 rpg) but need more balanced scoring from the other players on the floor. How quickly the younger players adapt to the speed and physical nature of the Federal League will go a long way in determining Boardman’s success.

Schedule: Dec. 6 — Campbell (W, 80-41); Dec. 9 — at Lake (L, 36-50); Dec. 13 — Mass. Perry (L, 45-60); Dec. 16 — Can. McKinley; Dec. 20 — Howland; Dec. 23 — at Can. GlenOak; Dec. 27 — at Canfield; Jan. 3 — Poland; Jan. 6 — at Mass. Jackson; Jan. 17 — Warren Harding; Jan. 20 — Lake; Jan. 24 — at Mass. Perry; Jan. 27 — at Can. McKinley; Jan. 28 — at Hoover; Feb. 3 — Can. GlenOak; Feb. 7 — Mass. Jackson; Feb. 10 — at East; Feb. 14 — at Mooney; Feb. 17 — Hoover; Feb. 21 — at Fitch.

BROOKFIELD

Coach: Chris Fahndrich (8th season).

2010-11 record: 16-5.

Varsity roster: J.C. Boyer (5-11 senior), Jimmy Quinlan (6-3 junior), Collin Harkulich (6-3 junior), Jeremy Quinlan (6-3 senior), Preston Sirochman (6-8 senior), Ryan Mosora (5-10 junior), Jimmy Hawley (5-11 senior), Michael Robertson (6-5 senior), Michael Johnson (6-1 senior), Aaron Gillis (6-10 senior).

Outlook: Warriors expect to build on last season’s success. They have several returning lettermen, can run the floor and shoot extremely well.

Schedule: Dec. 2 — Springfield (W, 64-48); Dec. 6 — Py. Valley (W, 60-54); Dec. 9 — Warren JFK (W, 65-63); Dec. 13 — at Mathews (W, 77-61); Dec. 16 — Conneaut; Dec. 20 — at LaBrae; Dec. 23 — Maplewood; Dec. 30 — South Range; Jan. 3 — at Newton Falls; Jan. 6 — East; Jan. 10 — at Champion; Jan. 17 — Columbiana; Jan. 24 — at Campbell; Jan. 27 — at Conneaut; Jan. 31 — at Girard; Feb. 7 — Youngstown Christian; Feb. 10 — Grand River Academy; Feb. 14 — McDonald; Feb. 21 — at East Palestine; Feb. 24 — at Grand Valley.

CARDINAL MOONEY

Coach: Chris Kohl (4th season, 38-26).

2010-11 record: 10-11.

Projected starters: Ryan Farragher (6-2 senior), George LeFlore (5-9 junior), Joe Deniro (6-0 senior), P.J. Quinn (6-1 senior), Doug Caputo (6-7 junior).

Other contributors: Donny Yankel (6-3 senior), George Brandenstine (6-2 junior), Demetr’s Allen, 5-9 junior; Anthony Filo (5-9 junior), Savon Watt (6-0 junior), Mark Handel (6-1 sophomore), Marcus Penza (6-2 sophomore).

Outlook: Caputo (12 ppg) and Farragher (10 ppg) are established scorers, but some younger guys are going to be counted on to step up and contribute right away.

Schedule: Dec. 6 — East (L, 64-71); Dec. 9 — Youngstown Christian (L, 43-44); Dec. 13 — at Farrell (Pa.) (L, 60-63); Dec. 16 — at Ursuline; Dec. 20 — at East Palestine; Dec. 28 — Cle. Benedictine; Jan. 3 — Canfield; Jan 6 — at East Liverpool; Jan. 10 — Fitch; Jan. 13 — at East; Jan. 17 — Akr. Hoban; Jan. 24 — at Canfield; Jan. 31 — Ash. Lakeside; Feb 3 — at Youngstown Christian; Feb. 4 — at Hubbard; Feb. 10 — Ursuline; Feb. 14 — Boardman; Feb, 17 — St. Thomas; Feb. 21 — at Kennedy Cath. (Pa.); Feb. 24 — at Hoover.

EAST

Coach: Mark Cherol (5th season, 44-36).

2010-11 record: 6-13.

Projected starters: Michael Hornbuckle (5-9 senior), Deontae Scott (6-3 junior), Jaylan Morrow (6-1 junior), Taylor Johnson (6-0 junior), Jamir Humphrey (6-2 junior).

Other contributors: Kenny Thornton (5-9 senior), Glen Gabriel (5-7 senior), Devontae Fleetion (5-10 senior), Terrell McClain (6-3 sophomore), Marquise Cotton (5-7 sophomore), Jarell Gadson (6-1 junior).

Outlook: This may the best Panthers team Cherol has had since the school was re-established. Panthers can play defense and turn that into transition points. There’s no go-to-guy yet, but a lot of potential ones. One concern is an overall lack of height.

Schedule: Dec. 2 — at Akr. North (W, 108-54); Dec. 6 — at Mooney (W, 71-64); Dec. 9 — Chanel (L, 70-94); Dec. 16 — at Massillon; Dec. 20 — Vision Quest (Pa.); Dec. 29-30 — at Farrell (Pa.) Tournament; Jan. 6 — at Brookfield; Jan. 10 — at Cle. Collinwood; Jan. 13 — Mooney; Jan. 17 — Liberty; Jan. 20 — Ursuline; Jan. 27 — Youngstown Christian; Jan. 31 — Warren Harding; Feb. 3 — at Barberton; Feb. 7 — at Fitch; Feb. 10 — Boardman; Feb. 14 — at Canfield; Feb. 17 — at Canton Cent. Cath.; Feb. 24 — at Ursuline.

SALEM

Coach: Rich Hart (2nd season, 10-12).

2010-11 record: 10-12.

Returning lettermen: Trent Kenreigh 5-10 senior), Ryan Bush (5-22 junior), Tony Shivers (6-4 junior), Brendon Webb (5-10 junior), Blake Vegua (5-9 junior), Mike Madison (5-9 junior).

Newcomers: Zack Penick (6-1 senior), Max Wolfgang (6-5 sophomore), Brayden Myers (6-3 junior), Jon Fortney (6-3 senior), Zack Economus (6-2 junior), Zack Wukotich (6-2 junior), Austin Frank (5-10 junior), Shane Grim (6-3 senior), Brooks Bezon (5-9 junior).

Outlook: Quakers move to the Northeastern Buckeye Conference this season, and should be one of the contenders for the title. There’s experience — six returning lettermen, and Penick, who sat out last season with an injury — and a solid junior class.

Schedule: Dec. 6 — United (W, 64-27); Dec. 9 — West Branch (L, 64-65); Dec. 13 — Struthers (W, 64-57); Dec. 16 — at Marlington; Dec. 20 — East Liverpool; Dec. 23 — Minerva; Dec. 30 — at Carrollton; Jan. 3 — at Liberty; Jan. 6 — Canton South; Jan. 10 — Alliance; Jan. 13 — at Louisville; Jan. 17 — at Niles; Jan. 20 — at West Branch; Jan. 24 — Marlington; Jan. 27 — at Minerva; Feb. 3 — Carrollton; Feb. 7 — at Canton South; Feb. 10 — at Alliance; Feb. 14 — at Campbell; Feb. 17 — Louisville.

URSULINE

Coach: Keith Gunther (9th season).

2010-11 record: 17-8.

Projected starters: Ralph Naples (6-0 senior), Preston Williams (6-0 junior), Jaylen Lowe (6-10 senior), Kevin Jackson (6-4 junior), Ryan Strollo (6-2 junior).

Other contributors: Chris Gunther (5-7 junior), Jeremy Roscoe (6-1 junior), Desmon McElroy (5-10 sophomore), Korri Maynard (5-8 sophomore), Kahlaid Pierce (6-2 junior).

Outlook: Fighting Irish made it to the regional finals a season ago and have their sights on taking it further in 2011-12. Strollo and Williams are established double-figure scorers, and Naple and Lowe have also show the ability to light it up any given night. If Lowe can be a defensive stopper around the basket Ursuline can go far.

Schedule (JV home games at 5:30 p.m.): Dec. 6 — Lutheran East (W, 68-27); Dec. 9 — at Akr. East (L, 42-64); Dec. 16 — Mooney; Dec. 17 — Farrell (Pa.); Dec. 20 — at St. Thomas; Dec. 27-28 — at East Liverpool Tournament; Jan. 6 — Massillon; Jan. 10 — Bedford; Jan. 14 — Malvern (at Hoover, 6 p.m.); Jan. 16 — Sharon (at Covelli Centre, 7 p.m.); Jan. 20 — at East; Jan. 27 — at Akr. North; Jan. 30 — at Kennedy Cath. (Pa.); Feb. 3 — at Akron St. Vincent-St. Mary; Feb. 10 — at Mooney; Feb. 14 — Akr. Kenmore; Feb. 17 — Imani Christian (Pa.); Feb. 21 — at Mass. Perry; Feb. 24 — East.

Staff reports