Coach Shoop could go out with a bang

By JOHN ENRIETTO Eagle Sports Editor

November 25, 2005 Last Updated: November 25, 2005 12:56 PM High School

SAXONBURG — The final act of Les Shoop's high school coaching career could play out at the Palumbo Center.

Whether or not Shoop feels his Knoch boys basketball team is talented enough to win a WPIAL title, his son certainly thinks it does.

"It can happen," senior point guard Jordan Shoop said. "He has never won one and neither have I. It'd be the perfect ending."

Coach Shoop enters his final season with the Knights needing 17 wins for him to reach 300 with Knoch. He needs just five wins to reach 500 in his 37-year coaching career.

The end of his coaching career hasn't hit Shoop yet — because the end of his coaching career hasn't arrived.

"I haven't even thought about it because I'm so wrapped up in this season," he said. "But when the moment comes when I know I'm blowing that whistle for the last time — it's going to be tough."

The Knights are carrying on this season without three starters from a year ago: Ryan Hollihan, Eric Czech and Ryan Ziacik.

Hollihan is playing at Allegheny College while Ziacik is playing at Messiah College. Czech is attending Brown University.

"Hollihan averaged 17 points and 11 rebounds per game inside last year," Coach Shoop said. "He's a 6-foot-7 kid who's hard to replace. Any 6-7 high school player is hard to replace because there aren't that many of them.

"Ryan Ziacik hit a ton of 3s and we have to find a way to account for that lost production as well."

Jordan Shoop averaged 18.2 points and 4.3 assists per game a year ago. He needs 117 points to reach 1,000 for his career.

Senior guard Scott Muska averaged seven points per game, while part-time starter Bill Elliott, who will start at forward, netted four per game.

"My two biggest concerns this year are building depth and replacing our lost production in the post," Coach Shoop said.

"Outside, we'll need Jordan to score a little more. That can be tough on a point guard, so at times, we may move him to off-guard."

If and when that happens, either senior Joel Berger or junior Dan Pickard will play point guard.

Pickard played basketball his freshman year, but didn't come out for the team last year.

A pair of sophomores, 6-2 forward Alex Whisler and 6-5 center Rob Briggs, join point guard Shoop, Muska and Elliott in the Knights' starting lineup.

Whisler injured his spleen playing football and will not be cleared for physical contact until Dec. 1. Knoch opens the season Dec. 2.

"Alex has been practicing with us, non-contact, on a regular basis," Coach Shoop said. "He can't play in our scrimmages, but he should be ready for the opener."

Briggs averaged 20 points per game for the junior varsity, while Whisler netted 10 per game.

"Those guys can score," Coach Shoop said. "I'm looking for big things from Rob. His wing span is incredible. You get the impression his arms can touch the ground.

"He'll give us the physical presence inside that we need."

Point guard Shoop recognizes the importance of Whisler and Briggs playing well.

"We're gonna need those guys," he said. "If they give us solid play, we'll be a well-rounded team. Rob Briggs has to be our presence inside. He'll get the bulk of the rebounds."

Rounding out the depth are junior guards Ben Hutterer and D'Ante Natili, and senior foreign exchange student Takanori Koroki, from Japan.

"Whoever coached him before did a good job teaching him the game," Coach Shoop said of Koroki. "He should be able to help us.

"Creating depth will be critical because you always have injuries and we're going to be a physical team, and that could mean foul trouble on occasion."

Shoop expects to contend for the section title and return to the WPIAL playoffs.

"Our section looks strong with Hampton, Mars, Valley … There are a lot of great rivalries because the same teams have been in this section for so long," he said.

KNOCH HIGH SCHOOL

2005-06 Basketball Schedule

Dec. 2-3-

at Moon Tip-Off Tournament;

Dec. 6-

FREEPORT,

Dec. 12-

ST. JOSEPH;

Dec. 13-

at North Hills;

Dec. 16-

KITTANNING;