Returning starters give SPASH familiar look Pacelli, Amherst, A-B, Rosholt all kick off seasons By MIKE KEMMETER of The Gazette The Stevens Point Area Senior High School boys basketball team probably won't sneak up on many teams this season. With four returning starters and two others who saw substantial time a year ago, Panther opponents will likely know all about SPASH. But the problem is, they may not be able to stop them. "We have high expectations," SPASH coach Bob Schultz said. "These guys have been working for a long time. "We're not saying we're the best team. But we think we can play with any team on any given night. It's going to take a good team to have a good night to beat us." Point guard Casey Taggatz (5-foot-10), guard Josh Hall (6-1) and forwards Nick Bennett (6-4) and Ross Adamczak (6-4) will all return to the starting lineup for their senior seasons. They will be joined by 6-4 senior John Allee, who will man the middle in place of the graduated Pete Friedrich. Sharpshooting guard Derek Czaikowski will also see extended time off of the bench. "I consider them six starters," Schultz said. "They're all going to get starter minutes." People around the state are noticing the Panthers as Taggatz and Bennett are listed among Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook's Top 50 seniors. Forward Marc Konopacki (6-2, senior) is the only other returnee from last year's team. The Panthers will be without senior Kevin Fitzgerald, who will miss the season with an ankle injury. SPASH's newcomers are senior guards Chase Moore (5-11) and Matt Pacyna (6-0); sophomore guards Jon Bergeron and Ryan Taggatz (5-10); and junior center Eric Hoffman (6-4). "Our biggest strength is probably putting the ball in the hole. We have good shooters up and down the lineup," Schultz said. "We've gotta build up our defense where we can frustrate people. We're not there yet, but I hope we can get there. We're a very mobile, athletic team." The Panthers hope their talent and experience can carry them to the top of the Wisconsin Valley Conference and down to Madison for the state tournament. "Just like every other year, we want to win conference and go to state. Some years those goals are more realistic than other years," Schultz said. Pacelli Some coaches like padding their non-conference schedules with weak opponents and some prefer taking on top teams. Pacelli coach Steve Newcomer definitely believes in the latter, which he hopes will get his team ready to make a run at the final Central Wisconsin Catholic Conference championship. Newcomer has experience on his side with five returnees, including point guard Josh Owens, who is entering his fourth year as a starter and is one of Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook's Top 50 seniors. Also back are seniors Kurt Kramer (F) and Jim Czlapinski (C) and sophomore center Kyle Corrigan, who played extensively as a freshman. Senior forward Steve Wiczek returns as well, but knee tendonitis will keep him off of the court for three weeks. Those five, and newcomers Nate Swenson (senior, F), Ben Greuel (junior, F), Steve Baumhofer (junior, G), Jason Lepak (junior, F) and Brandon Peterson (senior, G) will find out how tough Pacelli's schedule is starting this weekend at the Shawano Holiday Tournament. After playing at the tourney Friday and Saturday, the Cardinals have at trio of games against top-notch competition. They will travel to take on defending state champion Park Falls (Dec. 9) and will play Adams-Friendship and West Salem in the Sentry Classic (Dec. 28 and 29). "We have a very difficult non-conference schedule. The way I look at it is we're getting ready for the conference," Newcomer said. "Realistically, I think even with our difficult schedule we can finish over .500 and hopefully compete for a conference championship." In Pacelli's run for a CWCC crown, Owens and Baumhofer are expected to start at the guard spots, Greuel and Kramer at forward and Corrigan will get the nod at center. Newcomer will rotate Corrigan, Kramer and Czlapinski in the post. "We have pretty nice size," Newcomer said. "I like our inside/outside balance." One thing Pacelli will have to work on is hitting the boards. "We weren't a good rebounding team last year," Newcomer said. "We have the ability to be good rebounders, we just need to make a consistent effort to improve in that area." The Cardinals will also have to replace Craig Hammerling, Ty West and Andy Cashin, all who graduated. While Newcomer said there are a few teams that are considered favorites, the CWCC race could be wide-open. "I think the conference will be very balanced this season. I would say the early favorites are (Marshfield) Columbus and (Eau Claire) Regis and probably (Wisconsin Rapids) Assumption." Amherst With four starters gone from last year's team, the Falcons will be counting on a quartet of seniors and six juniors during the 1999-00 season. One thing is certain - Amherst will be strong in the middle. First-team All-Central Wisconsin Conference center Dylan Page (6-8) is the lone starter returning. He is listed among Wisconsin Basketball Yearbook's Top 50 seniors. Seniors Paul Konkol (G) and Jason Heinz (F) both came off of the bench last year while senior Todd Orlowski and junior Eden Weller saw limited playing time with the varsity a year ago. That means the Falcons will be counting on a handful of juniors to catch on quickly. Travis Stuczynski and Mike Borgan will come off of the bench at the guard spots, Jeremy Sherf and Nick Genske will play at the forward position, and Jesse Konkol will fill in at center. "A lot of it will depend on the development of the juniors," Amherst coach Gregg Jensen said. "I think we'll be very competitive. "I like our personnel. Obviously I like our inside game. And then outside, I think that will come along." To replace eight players, including departed starters Angelo Licari, Michael Schweitzer, Mike Konkol and Ben Wacker, the Falcons will have to mesh as a team. "Everybody's got their role and has to learn their role," Jensen said. "The key is we have to develop role players. Everybody isn't a scorer, everybody isn't a defensive stopper. You always hear about the people who score the most points, but the important ones are the silent ones that are doing the rebounding, playing tough defense or handling the ball." Amherst will find out who needs to do what on the floor quickly, as the Falcons open their season Friday and Saturday at the Shawano Holiday Tournament. "We'll be thrown into the fire right way. That's good," Jensen said. "Then we have time to work things out for two weeks." Weyauwega-Fremont has four starters returning, including junior point guard Matt Rohde, and is considered the team to beat in the CWC large school division. "They're definitely the favorites," Jensen said of W-F. "Bonduel will be strong. Wittenberg(-Birnamwood), with their size you can't count them out. "It's a case of where we can't look past anyone. Others have personnel that can come out and sting you." Almond-Bancroft Three senior starters, including All-CWC first team member Kent Dernbach, are back as the Eagles will try to compete for a conference championship. Dernbach will man one of the forward spots along with fellow returning starter Trevor Dernbach. Blake Schultz (6-foot-3) is back as a starter too and will play both center and forward positions. That means Almond-Bancroft will have two new starters in the backcourt. Junior Matt Cummings will be the point guard while juniors Chris Leary and Joe Rendell will split time at the off guard position. Cummings and Leary split time with the varsity and junior varsity teams last season. Just because his backcourt doesn't have a lot of varsity experience doesn't mean Coach Curt Lamb is concerned. He cites ball handling and the team's transition game as strengths. "We should be a very competitive team that battles for the conference title," Lamb said. "I expect us to be a team that can get up and down the court utilizing fast break opportunities." When his starters need a rest, Lamb will have to depend on a group of newcomers. Only junior Brian Warner (F/C) saw time with the varsity team in 1998-99. In the frontcourt, juniors Mike Johnson (F) and Daniel Bradley (C) as well as senior Shadi Awwad could see playing time while junior Gavin McIntee can play both guard and forward positions. The team will have to replace departed players Chad Newby, Steve Nickel and Kip Gudtke. Lamb got the first look at his team Tuesday, Nov. 23 in a non-conference game against Montello. In the conference race, Lamb sees Iola-Scandinavia, Port Edwards and Bowler as the other teams who'll compete for the championship. Rosholt With the exception of unanimous All-CWC selection Ryan Zdroik, the defending CWC champions will have an entirely new look this season. Gone are four starters and all five players who came off of the bench, leaving Rosholt with 10 new varsity players that span all four grade levels. "On paper, it's definitely a rebuilding year and probably we'll take our lumps," Rosholt coach Steve Schoofs said. "We do have good basketball players. They're just young and in some cases very small. "We're only picked to win four games by the other conference coaches. Everybody is looking at us to be rebuilding. "I think we'll get better as the year goes on." The Hornets will make their debut Tuesday, Nov. 30 with a non-conference home game against Manawa. Behind Zdroik, a senior forward, 10 different Hornets could contribute. At guard, senior Matt Ziaja; junior Kevin Flick; sophomores Brad Zdroik, Bryce Domask and Dane Zdroik; and freshman Randy Printz could all see some playing time. Senior forwards Joe Kluck and Joel Skornia are joined by junior Luke Lane and junior center Nathaniel Miller in the frontcourt. "It's a mixed bag and we'll have to somehow get everybody to work together," Schoofs said. "I don't think we can measure this team by wins and losses. It will be by improvements, individuals' enthusiasm and things like that." With Jason Scott (23.9 points per game last year), Nathan Check, Pat O'Neil, Ryan Kuklinski and Mark Wierzba no longer with the Hornets, Zdroik will likely be the focus of each of Rosholt's opponents. "I believe Ryan Zdroik will command all of the attention," Schoofs said. "And the rest of the players will have to step up." In the conference race, Schoofs thinks Iola-Scandinavia, Port Edwards and Almond-Bancroft are among the top teams. "Maybe we can squeak one out (against them) because they're not expecting us to," he said. Schoofs realizes his team will make some youthful mistakes but hopes the Hornets can mature quickly. The experience his younger players will get can only help in the coming years. "I'm coming into this season with a very positive attitude," Schoofs said. "I really do think we have a bright future. Because of that, we may be able to surprise some teams."