However, with five graduated seniors and four other players who decided not to participate on this year's team, fourth-year head coach Joe Ferguson has been presented a challenge to try and keep the Lions in contention with a much younger and inexperienced team than he had planned.
"I was hoping we would be able to build on our last two seasons," said Ferguson. "I was even thinking we could continue our climb, but now with the guys who aren't returning to provide the senior leadership, we're having to find some younger guys to step into that leadership role. I'm confident though that these guys will give everything they have this season."
The five seniors who are gone include Jaye Dulavitch, C.J. Hesdon, Jake Leadbetter, Aaron Evans and Brandon Davis. The other four who decided not to participate include Marco Lopez, Dan Miller, Matt Potvin and Jonathan Pezzuti making a total of nine players gone from the 15-7 team that lost to North Clarion in the District 9 quarterfinals last season.
"We are going to have to be very universal in how we play guys," said Ferguson. "We have a lack of depth now because of our inexperience. We also don't have the size that we would have, and guys like Tyler Stitt and Adam Mellott who are two of our taller players are only sophomores who don't have any playing experience."
The cupboard isn't totally bare for C-L as six players are back who saw time on the floor last season. Senior Billy Leadbetter, juniors Eric Hesdon, Brandon Bell, and Zach Kemmer all return. Sophomores Billy Kelley and Ross Munsee, who each saw a little time last year, will most likely both see more time this season.
"So far everyone is filling their roles fairly well as we've been having to ask some guys to play different positions on the court due to our lack of size," said Ferguson. "Brandon Bell is one example as he'll move to more of an inside-out type of player rather than just play a guard position. Zach Kemmer is another who may have to move inside, and even though he may not have the size of a pure inside guy, he does have the leaping ability to play inside. Billy Kelley is another guy who has really good leaping ability."
Ferguson feels at this time he can go about eight deep which is about where he would like his team. Potential starters include Hesdon, Bell, Kemmer, Leadbetter, and either Kelley or Munsee. Juniors Kyler Smith and Taylor Port will each provide depth along with senior Shaquan Pratt.
"I think the guys have a good attitude and they are all hard workers," said Ferguson. "We do have some athletic players and our top five players all know the system and they all play well together. I think we should be a very quick team on the floor.
"We are going to keep with our general philosophy of trying to win the league and I'm confident our guys will give everything they have in trying to achieve that goal," said Ferguson when asked about his team goals for the season.
"Unfortunately, we're having to go about it with a younger group than we had planned. As far as the league goes I think the Keystone Shortway Athletic Conference will be very strong with North Clarion, A-C Valley, Keystone, Union, and you can't count out Venango Catholic."
C-L will open its season Friday against Brockway in the annual Brookville Tip-Off Tournament.
ROSTER
Seniors: Billy Leadbetter and Shaquan Pratt. Juniors: Eric Hesdon, Brandon Bell, Zach Kemmer, Kyler Smith, Taylor Port, and Matt Wieszczyk. Sophomores: Billy Kelley, Ross Munsee, Brad Fornoff, Jesse Himes, Adam Mellott, Emmitt Switzer, Cody Kerle, Tyler Stitt, and Brandon Bonner.
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