Amherst, Pacelli boys have different looks By MIKE KEMMETER of The Gazette The Amherst High boys basketball program is turning the page and the next chapter is cloudy following Dylan Page's graduation. Page, the team's leading scorer, rebounder and shot-blocker, is now at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, leaving a huge hole for the Falcons to fill. Amherst is also missing starting point guard Paul Konkol and forward Jason Heinz, also lost to graduation. Eden Weller is Amherst's top returnee from last year's Central Wisconsin Conference large division championship team. "We lost a lot of scoring in Dylan and we lost a good point guard in Paul Konkol," Amherst coach Gregg Jensen said. "We lost our second-leading rebounder and scorer Jason Heinz. We lost three good kids, not only as far as leadership, but dependability." The Falcons do have nine senior players who played at least some time with the varsity team last year. Weller (6-foot-2, guard) was an honorable mention member of the all-conference team. Travis Stuczynski (6-1, guard), Jeremy Sherf (6-2, forward), Jesse Konkol (6-4, center), Nic Genske (6-1, forward), Jeff Cloninger (6-5, center), Dan Carlson (6-1, forward), Josh Thompson (6-0, forward) and Tony Packer (5-11, guard) also played varying roles for Amherst a year ago. "This year, so far, we lack leadership. The seniors, they didn't improve their game," Jensen said. "Our juniors are young and learning and they're not getting much leadership out of the seniors. I would like to get leadership out of our seniors, but we have yet to get that. "Everything is a major question mark right now. Nobody has come to the forefront for us right now." The Falcons will have 14 players suit up with the varsity team. There are nine juniors vying roster spots - Scott Nykl (5-11, guard), Derek Konkol (5-10, guard), Tim Olson (5-9, guard), Matt Mehne (6-2, forward/center), Ryan Shulfer (6-4, forward), Jordan Selbo (5-10, guard), Kevin Konkol (5-11, forward) Jeremy Floistad (6-4, center) and Josh Wedell (6-4, center). "We have numbers, but the problem is they haven't working on their games," Jensen said. "There could be a lot of changes as the year goes along." Jensen said Weyauwega-Fremont and Bonduel are the two teams to beat in the conference. Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Shiocton are two other teams that could contend, he said. "If we come out and we get some things down, I think we can compete. Our biggie is if we have anyone who can shoot from the outside and someone who can score inside," Jensen said. "We have some things we want to do, if we learn them, we'll be all right. Down the stretch run, hopefully we'll be in a position where we'll be tough to beat, no matter who we play. "We can be all right if we work hard every day and the bottom line is to work hard and learn." The Falcons open their season Thursday, Nov. 28 at Rosholt. Pacelli The Cardinals have a new look in their first season in the CWC large and the WIAA. Pacelli has a new coach, Jody Hauser, and only one returnee, senior Jason Lepak (5-11, forward). Ben Gruel (6-0, forward), Pat Schmitt (6-0, forward), George McCorkell (6-7, center) probably will join Lepak in the starting lineup at the start of the season. The point guard position, which was held for the past four years by Josh Owens, is up for grabs. Hauser said sophomores Jeff Herzog (5-7, guard) and Ahern Cashin (5-9, guard), and freshman Jake Owens (6-0, guard) are in contention for the spot. Seniors Jeremy Proulx (6-0, forward), Joe Miller (5-11, guard); juniors Brad Heeg (6-0, guard), Jim Milkowski (5-9, guard) and Zac Thome (6-0, forward); and sophomore Derrick Lepak (6-1, forward) are newcomers to the team who will come off the bench. "We're really going to take it one game at a time," Hauser said. "We'll play as hard as we can and try to learn every time we step on the court. "They're picking up the system well. They're a good group of kids to work with and they're working hard." Hauser, who was an assistant coach at UW-Platteville under Bo Ryan, said the team will play and aggressive-style man-to-man defense. "We'll run guys in and keep them fresh," he said. "We'll press a lot and we hope to wear other teams out." Offensively, Hauser said the Cardinals will run "more of an up-tempo" style. "We might try to push the ball. We have some speed." In the conference, Hauser said Weyauwega-Fremont and Bonduel are the top two teams. Amherst, Wittenberg-Birnamwood and Shiocton are right there too, he said. "I'm hoping that we can play competitive with all of those teams and let the chips fall where they may," Hauser said. "We'd like to think that we can be competitive and maybe be in the mix there." The Cardinals kick off their season Monday at home against Medford.