Raiders boys shooting for victory record
JACKSON TWP — A lot has changed for the Seneca Valley boys basketball team over the last 12 months.
This time last year, the Raiders were searching for respectability, hoping to improve on a 1-13 section record from the previous season.
Now the team is talking about breaking the school record for wins.
SV may have lost a lot of talent when eight seniors graduated in June, but coach Vic Giannotta isn't planning to take a step back this year.
"Last year's was a very cohesive group," said Giannotta, entering his fourth season with the team. "But if we can come together as a team this season, we can break the school record for wins in a season, which is 14."
The Raiders came close to that last year, finishing with 13 wins, including a playoff victory in the team's first trip to the postseason in more than 10 years.SV defeated Franklin Regional in a WPIAL Quad A play-in game before losing a heartbreaker to Moon in the first-round in February.After losing five players who were no shorter than 6-feet-3, the Raiders' lineup won't be quite as tall this season.Of the projected starters, only guard-forward C.J. Brown and guard Nate Herrmann stand as tall as 6-3.Senior forward-center Tony Treser is 6-6, but will be out until at least January after back surgery."We're a smaller team this year," said Giannotta. We're going to have to be smart basketball players. I still think we can rebound well."Brown, a 6-4 junior, averaged 8.3 points per game as a sophomore and will be counted on to be a leader in more ways than one.This will be his first full year with the varsity team because he missed the first six games of last year with an injury."He's a player who understands the game well," Giannotta said. "And he has a knack for being in the right place at the right time."Senior Sean Gress will be the starting point guard, and seniors John Fitzpatrick and Ryan Turner will both start the season at forward.
Looking to make contributions off the bench will be junior guards Dustin Anewalt and Dan Rohm, junior forward-center Matt Vogt and several sophomores and freshmen.Seneca Valley GirlsThe Raiders have had nearly 10 months to think about last year's disappointment.They'll now get a chance to do something about it.SV finished sixth out of seven teams in the WPIAL Section 3-AAAA with a 3-9 record."The girls were left with a sour taste in their mouths last year," said second-year coach Kelly Mathews. "It wasn't long after the season that they were in here looking forward to this year."The Raiders graduated guard Kelsey Spencer and forward-center Amanda Johnson, who combined for 22 double-figure scoring games last season.But returning are five players who saw significant playing time last season. All five will start.It starts with this year's seniors — point guard Megan Gebrosky, shooting guard Kelsey Patsilevas and forward Jackie Mangola.All three showed double-figure scoring potential in 2006-07.Mangola had a solid junior campaign, averaging eight points and six rebounds per contest."Jackie's just a competitor," said Mathews. "A big plus for us is that our forwards can go off the dribble."Rounding out the starting five are guard Aly Eagle and forward Catherine Messmer, who will be SV's tallest starter at 5-11.The top reserves from the bench will be junior forward Nicole Roche and freshmen guards Shayna Elser, Kara Moyer and Alyssa Miller.
