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Boys basketball preview

Pasco's teams at a glance.

By IZZY GOULD
Published November 27, 2005

GULF

COACH: Steve Feldman (127-152, 11th season)

HOME COURT: Bever-Hicks Memorial Activity Center, 5355 School Road, New Port Richey.

DISTRICT: Class 4A, District 8

LAST SEASON: 15-12. District runnerup, lost in region quarterfinal.

KEY RETURNEES: Anthony Jackson (Jr., G), Kenny Fletcher (Jr., G)

OUTLOOK: Feldman was satisfied with his 2004-05 team's accomplishments, though he believes the Buccaneers would have enjoyed more success with better free-throw shooting. Gulf shot 53 percent from the line, an all-time low during Feldman's tenure. Gulf was 4-of-13 from the line in the 4A-8 title game, then 4-of-12 in the region quarterfinal against Citrus, losing both games by three points. Feldman said he will have as many as three freshmen and just two seniors, who weren't on the team last season. Guard Mike Barry was dismissed from the team last season and returns for his first action in two years. Feldman also welcomes Tarpon Springs transfer Nikola Stajic, a 6-foot-3 forward. Stajic should help absorb the loss of 6-foot-7 junior David Frasier, who transferred to a prep school one day before Gulf's preseason tip-off classic. Gulf will lean on 5-foot-11 junior guard Anthony Jackson, who earned first-team all-conference honors.

FELDMAN SAYS: "I defy you to look at my roster and tell me any name you recognize. That speaks for itself. Nothing in my roster was in my (scoring) book last year."

COACH: Jason Vetter (3-47, third season)

HOME COURT: Cobras Den, 14410 Cobra Way, Hudson.

DISTRICT: Class 4A, District 8

LAST SEASON: 2-23.

KEY RETURNEES: Eric Geckas (Sr., G), Eric Schwartz (Sr., G), Justin Hooten (Sr., F)

OUTLOOK: Vetter is convinced the Cobras possess the talent to defeat any team on its schedule. A bold statement considering Hudson has just three wins in Vetter's first two seasons. Of his 10 players, three return with varsity experience. Early on, opponents might scoff at Vetter's optimism. But Hudson should be in top form by midseason after four players - Matt Raimo, Jake McFadden, Mike Wilinski and Eric Schwartz - return from the football team. The absence of Schwartz and Raimo leaves Vetter without two point guards, and Vetter expects some rough times until their return.

VETTER SAYS: "We'll be a lot more competitive this year. There's no reason we can't beat anyone on our schedule. ... But we're hurting right now."

COACH: Dave Puhalski (234-214, 17th season)

HOME COURT: The Swamp, 20325 Gator Lane, Land O'Lakes.

DISTRICT: Class 5A, District 7

LAST SEASON: 14-10.

KEY RETURNEES: Caz Piurowski (Sr., C), Jarrett Santana (Sr., G), P.J. Potts (So., G), Develin Robinson (Jr., G)

OUTLOOK: Land O'Lakes will try to rebound after being bounced out of last year's district tournament. The Gators return Piurowski, a 6-foot-7, 245-pound force in the middle. There's also Robinson, a slashing guard who drives the offense and Piurowsk. The Gators must cope with the loss of Joe Weatherford, who is out with a broken left clavicle. Puhalski said he expects Weatherford back after Christmas.

PUHALSKI SAYS: "We'll try to hold our own and stay in the middle of the pack. We're about a year away."

COACH: Andy Schmitz (32-20, third season)

HOME COURT: Mitchell High, 2323 Little Road, New Port Richey.

DISTRICT: Class 6A, District 7

LAST SEASON: 16-10. Sunshine Athletic Conference champions. District runnerup, lost in region quarterfinal.

KEY RETURNEES: Mitch Foster (Sr., F), Ron Lafleur (Sr., G/F), D.J. Crosby (Sr., G), Elliott Bernard (Sr., C), Blake Stockton (Sr., G).

OUTLOOK: Mitchell enters the season as the county favorite, perhaps with its confidence rattled after a 55-52 opening-night loss at Ridgewood. Schmitz should have things ironed out before Tuesday's lone meeting with Wesley Chapel, considered by many to be the county's other SAC contender. Mitchell has 13 players - 10 returning and six with starting experience. After missing all of last season with a knee injury, Crosby returns as the starting point guard. Schmitz praised the efforts of Joe Urgo, who filled in for Crosby nicely. Schmitz considers Urgo a sixth starter and the sixth man at the season's onset. Mitchell spent most of the summer fine tuning. The Mustangs went undefeated in Gulf's summer league before forfeiting their final game.

SCHMITZ SAYS: "I don't see us having too many easy games. ... We spent a lot of time together this summer. When we weren't playing the kids were at the (YMCA) together just hanging out. They're not only teammates they are real good friends. I think that makes a big difference."

COACH: Poncho Broner (76-67, sixth season)

HOME COURT: Donald McBath Activities Center, 36850 State Road 52, Dade City.

DISTRICT: Class 4A, District 8

LAST SEASON: 24-4. District champion, lost in region semifinal.

KEY RETURNEES: Darrell Davis (Sr., F), John Daniel (Sr., G)

OUTLOOK: Pasco had the talent to run deep into last season's playoffs, but was forced to travel to undefeated Melbourne Florida Air in the region semifinals. Florida Air went on to win a state title. Pasco's biggest loss is Deran Burns, who graduated. But the Pirates return Division-I prospect Darrell Davis and pin-point shooter John Daniel to give the Pirates plenty of scoring and experience. Pasco should contend for SAC and district titles.

COACH: Gary Anders (359-158, 19th season)

HOME COURT: Ridgewood High, 7650 Orchid Lake Road, New Port Richey.

DISTRICT: Class 5A, District 7

LAST SEASON: 14-12.

KEY RETURNEES: Mike Lawrence (So., G), Mirza Muratovic (Sr., F), Ben Koenigsfeld (Jr., F)

OUTLOOK: Ridgewood was young last season, and younger this year. The Rams are searching for an identity after losing three seniors from last season, including leading scorer and second-team all-conference selection Brian Hoben. Statistically, Anders said he hasn't lost much more. Throughout the summer he gained confidence in this group. The Rams played four nights a week during the offseason in hopes of creating some continuity. Ridgewood finished the summer with a .500 record. Through the winter months, Anders will take more of a hands-on approach teaching his players. He believes these Rams will make some noise when and if they define themselves.

ANDERS SAYS: "Last year we were in a transition year. This year we're truly in a rebuilding year. I don't know how long our youth will be a factor. But I really like this group."

COACH: Robert Strong (8-15, second season)

HOME COURT: James Valentine Athletic Complex, 11646 Town Center Rd., New Port Richey.

DISTRICT: Class 5A, District 7

LAST SEASON: 8-15.

KEY RETURNEES: Jeremy Vilancione (Jr., G), Pat Morris (Jr., F), Adam Clarke (Sr., G), Derrick Stoll (Sr., F)

OUTLOOK: Strong took over a team last season that won three games in two years. He guided the Royal Knights to eight wins for their third-best finish in school history. Four starters return from that group, giving Strong hope River Ridge can compete with any team in the county or district. River Ridge lost its best player in Alex Pasquine, who averaged 16 points. The Royal Knights played 108 games over the summer and attended a shooting camp in Indiana. That has River Ridge hungry to tip off its season. The Royal Knights will play up to 10 players and plan to look to some younger players for key minutes. They include sophomore forward Lance Babcock, sophomore guard Ben Bontrager and freshman forward Alex Hill. Strong said he is not locked into any one starting five and practice will determine who lands in the starting lineup.

STRONG SAYS: "Last year our goal was just to be competitive. We played a tough schedule and we were competitive against every team we played. Now we want to take it to the next step and win a few more basketball games."

COACH: Doug Greseth (39-16, third season)

HOME COURT: Wesley Chapel High, 30651 Wells Road, Wesley Chapel.

DISTRICT: Class 5A, District 7

LAST SEASON: 17-10. District champions, lost in region quarterfinal.

KEY RETURNEES: Angel Alicea (Sr., F), Greg Jenkins (So., G), Joey Lahr (Sr., F)

OUTLOOK: The Wildcats took a huge loss with the exit of Chase Bussey, the county's leading scorer with 26.2 points per game. No one was sure what to expect from Wesley Chapel this season until it received two transfers who are more than capable of absorbing Bussey's absence. Seniors Ashley Thomas and Saladeem Dewberry transferred last spring in time to join the Wildcats for summer workouts. They helped push Wesley Chapel to 10-1 in the Land O'Lakes summer league and sent the county buzzing - the Wildcats are dangerous. Thomas is a 5-foot-10 senior expected to drive the offense. He sprained his ankle in a preseason game against Clearwater, but is expected to recover quickly. Dewberry is a 6-foot-6, 205-pound forward from Jacksonville Raines. They join Jenkins, Alicea and Lahr to round out the starting five. Greseth hopes this team can help develop some of his younger talent while challenging for conference and district titles.

GRESETH SAYS: "A lot of the rest of my team played JV last year and don't have a lot of varsity experience. My hope is to set an example for the kids the following year."

COACH: Gene Pieper (2-24, second season)

HOME COURT: Zephyrhills Activity Center, 6335 12th St., Zephyrhills.

DISTRICT: Class 4A, District 8

LAST SEASON: 2-24.

KEY RETURNEES: Brett Ross (Sr., F), Sederrik Cunningham (Jr., G), Cannellios Ansley (Jr., G), Jacob Browning (So., G)

OUTLOOK: Pieper appears in much better shape with his roster this season. That said, senior Bryan Thomas will not play basketball in hopes of focusing on his football recruitment. Thomas joined the 2004-05 Bulldogs midseason after recovering from minor football injuries. The trio of Cunningham, Ross and Ansley took their lumps last season. Now they have 6-foot-3 senior transfer Zach Stanley to help Ross in the frontcourt. Pieper believes Ansley should be more consistent this season. He'll be joined in the backcourt by Steven Axcius, a first-time varsity player. Zephyrhills worked hard during the offseason to improve, and it appears as though it will. Pieper's not sure what to expect, but a handful of county coaches believe Pieper will be the surprise coach of the year.

PIEPER SAYS: "We're turning things around at Zephyrhills. We have some real young kids and we're going to be real good in a couple of years. What happens this year remains to be seen. We have a lot of ball to play."

CALL FOR STATS: The Times runs statistics every Friday. Coaches are asked to call in stats on Wednesdays to Izzy Gould at 813 909-4612 (or leave a voice message), fax them to (813) 909-4611 or e-mail them to igould@sptimes.com

[Last modified November 28, 2005, 01:04:15]