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Panther basketball team stresses effort
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| Woodland Park is looking to turn the corner this season in basketball and will have a young team on the court to do it. Photo by Marvin Olberding |
Marvin Olberding
Panther basketball team stresses effort
After a 6-18 year that was followed by the graduation of seven seniors, the Woodland Park Panthers basketball team enters the 2008-09 season with question marks.
One thing that is not in doubt however, is who will lead the green and white: seniors Jared Giambalvo and Joel Schnierle.
Giambalvo, a 5-foot-11 senior guard, did not handle a lot of the scoring last season (5.8 points per game), but he did fill up the stat sheet. In addition to averaging 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and a blocked shot per game, Giambalvo recorded 2.9 steals per contest, including a school record 11 against Sierra on Jan. 15.
Schnierle, a 6-1 senior forward, was tied for the second-leading scorer for the Panthers last season (9.7 points per game), and reached double figures 14 times, including a season-high 18 against Liberty Dec. 18, 2007. He also added 3.3 rebounds and two assists per game.
Panther head coach Brian Gustafson said he’s putting a lot on the pair’s shoulders this season, but he thinks they’ll be ready to respond.
“They’re going to have to provide just about everything,” Gustafson said. “They’re going to need to lead by example. They’re going to need to be verbal leaders, and they’re going to need to handle a bulk of the scoring responsibilities. They’re up to it, and they’ll do it well.”
The Panthers’ top three rebounders from last season graduated, leaving a void on the inside. That will look to be filled by 6-foot-4 junior Austin Burgess. Gustafson said he believes Burgess can be a solution for the Panthers, but it won’t be easy.
“He plays hard, and he’s going to need to step up and be consistent, both offensively and defensively playing against difficult, big men,” Gustafson said.
Effort, he said, will be of critical importance this season for the Panthers, due both to the young talent on the team and the quality of teams on their schedule.
“We’re going to have to play harder, and more consistently with that kind of effort, than our opponents,” Gustafson said. “They’re certainly capable of playing hard, and I think it’s a legitimate expectation that they play with great effort and enthusiasm.”
Pioneer boys basketball to experience youth movement
Having a player that averages 19-20 points per game is a rare luxury for most high school basketball programs. The Cripple Creek/Victor Pioneers had that luxury the past two seasons with Taylor Morgan (19.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 2.8 steals last season). But now that Morgan has graduated, the opportunity is available for a player, or players, to step up and lead CC/V toward the postseason.
The Pioneers lost only three players from last year’s squad that finished 11-11 in the regular season before a surprising third-place finish at districts, leaving a group of experienced — but young — core of players for the 2008-09 campaign. The team will be comprised primarily of juniors and sophomores, meaning CC/V will have to grow up fast this year.
“We had a lot of sophomores and freshmen playing last year, so they’ve got a year’s worth of experience,” said Pioneer head coach Jim Bertrand. “They were some mainstays underneath, so we should be able to build on that.”
Junior forward Kyle Hamacher is the top returning scorer from last year’s squad, and he should expect to see an improvement on his 7-points-per-game average, which was third on the team. He’ll be joined on the inside by junior Sid Chapman, a 6-foot-3 center who will see a greatly expanded role this season. Sophomore Ethan Browning is also expected to provide some size inside.
Flanking the interior players will be a group of solid athletes that will be able to provide the Pioneers with speed and athleticism. Junior Michael Dicamillo started last season and will lead the backcourt for the Pioneers. Sophomore Jordan Ellis may jump up from the junior varsity level to contribute, while junior Shawn Dubbs and senior Michael Jennings could use their athletic ability to make opponents work all over the court.
“We’ll give up some height, but we’ll be able to pick up some speed,” Bertrand said.
Bertrand said opposing teams may overlook his squad because of their youth, but the vibe surrounding the Pioneer players suggests that might be a mistake.
“The attitude has been very positive,” Bertrand said. “They think they can do some things this year.”
The Pioneers start their season Dec. 4 at Fountain Valley.
Panther basketball team stresses effort
After a 6-18 year that was followed by the graduation of seven seniors, the Woodland Park Panthers basketball team enters the 2008-09 season with question marks.
One thing that is not in doubt however, is who will lead the green and white: seniors Jared Giambalvo and Joel Schnierle.
Giambalvo, a 5-foot-11 senior guard, did not handle a lot of the scoring last season (5.8 points per game), but he did fill up the stat sheet. In addition to averaging 3.5 assists, 3.3 rebounds and a blocked shot per game, Giambalvo recorded 2.9 steals per contest, including a school record 11 against Sierra on Jan. 15.
Schnierle, a 6-1 senior forward, was tied for the second-leading scorer for the Panthers last season (9.7 points per game), and reached double figures 14 times, including a season-high 18 against Liberty Dec. 18, 2007. He also added 3.3 rebounds and two assists per game.
Panther head coach Brian Gustafson said he’s putting a lot on the pair’s shoulders this season, but he thinks they’ll be ready to respond.
“They’re going to have to provide just about everything,” Gustafson said. “They’re going to need to lead by example. They’re going to need to be verbal leaders, and they’re going to need to handle a bulk of the scoring responsibilities. They’re up to it, and they’ll do it well.”
The Panthers’ top three rebounders from last season graduated, leaving a void on the inside. That will look to be filled by 6-foot-4 junior Austin Burgess. Gustafson said he believes Burgess can be a solution for the Panthers, but it won’t be easy.
“He plays hard, and he’s going to need to step up and be consistent, both offensively and defensively playing against difficult, big men,” Gustafson said.
Effort, he said, will be of critical importance this season for the Panthers, due both to the young talent on the team and the quality of teams on their schedule.
“We’re going to have to play harder, and more consistently with that kind of effort, than our opponents,” Gustafson said. “They’re certainly capable of playing hard, and I think it’s a legitimate expectation that they play with great effort and enthusiasm.”
Pioneer boys basketball to experience youth movement
Having a player that averages 19-20 points per game is a rare luxury for most high school basketball programs. The Cripple Creek/Victor Pioneers had that luxury the past two seasons with Taylor Morgan (19.6 points, 11.4 rebounds, 3.2 blocks, 2.8 steals last season). But now that Morgan has graduated, the opportunity is available for a player, or players, to step up and lead CC/V toward the postseason.
The Pioneers lost only three players from last year’s squad that finished 11-11 in the regular season before a surprising third-place finish at districts, leaving a group of experienced — but young — core of players for the 2008-09 campaign. The team will be comprised primarily of juniors and sophomores, meaning CC/V will have to grow up fast this year.
“We had a lot of sophomores and freshmen playing last year, so they’ve got a year’s worth of experience,” said Pioneer head coach Jim Bertrand. “They were some mainstays underneath, so we should be able to build on that.”
Junior forward Kyle Hamacher is the top returning scorer from last year’s squad, and he should expect to see an improvement on his 7-points-per-game average, which was third on the team. He’ll be joined on the inside by junior Sid Chapman, a 6-foot-3 center who will see a greatly expanded role this season. Sophomore Ethan Browning is also expected to provide some size inside.
Flanking the interior players will be a group of solid athletes that will be able to provide the Pioneers with speed and athleticism. Junior Michael Dicamillo started last season and will lead the backcourt for the Pioneers. Sophomore Jordan Ellis may jump up from the junior varsity level to contribute, while junior Shawn Dubbs and senior Michael Jennings could use their athletic ability to make opponents work all over the court.
“We’ll give up some height, but we’ll be able to pick up some speed,” Bertrand said.
Bertrand said opposing teams may overlook his squad because of their youth, but the vibe surrounding the Pioneer players suggests that might be a mistake.
“The attitude has been very positive,” Bertrand said. “They think they can do some things this year.”
The Pioneers start their season Dec. 4 at Fountain Valley.
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