Lakewood's Conor Mabry is one of several key returning players for the Rangers this season.One can assume that the Lakewood High School boys basketball team is eager to start a new season.
The Rangers caught fire in the second half of the 2009-10 season enjoying a momentous ride all the way to a Division I sectional championship and a trip to the district tournament.
Head coach Phil Argento, with some experienced players back into the fold, expects such winning ways to continue throughout the upcoming season.
“We will compete for the Northeast Ohio Conference-Lake Division championship,” said the Lakewood coach. “Our perimeter play should be strong, while I believe we have excellent depth, speed, quickness and scoring ability.”
Argento will be relying on four returning starters to provide those important basketball qualities previously mentioned.
Heading the list of key returnees will be junior guard (6-2) Pete Nelson, senior forward (6-3) Jay Andreani, sophomore guard (6-0) Jacob Schmidt and senior guard (6-1) Conor Mabry.
Nelson, an all-conference performer last winter, returns to the lineup with an 18 point per game scoring average, while Mabry brings 10 points a contest to the Lakewood starting unit.
Schmidt, who started last year as a freshman, brings experience to Argento’s backcourt, while Andreani will be asked to play “big” inside as the Rangers are basically without that pure “big man” inside.
“We’re going to have to ask some guys to defend and rebound against much bigger opponents,” said Argento, “but they are all solid players.”
Looking to share inside responsibilities with Andreani will be sophomore Cameron Silver (6-4), a projected starter, and senior Jonathan Vincent (6-2), who brings much athleticism to the floor as a three-sport (football, basketball and track) athlete.
Newcomers to the Lakewood team this winter include sophomore guard/forward TyShawn Goolsby (6-3) and senior guard Adam Morris (6-0). Morris, who is described as a very hard working player, along with Goolsby, will provide that backcourt depth Argento is looking for in order to play an up-tempo game.
Off the bench, Lakewood figures to turn to the talents of senior Devon Goddard (5-10) and junior Derrion Williams (6-1). Both players saw a significant amount of varsity action last year.
“Our athleticism should allow us to play a style of basketball that will be fun to watch,” said Argento. “Defensively, we want to apply full-court pressure so as to make things difficult for our opponents to deal with every night.”
Lakewood is slated to host Avon on Tuesday beginning at 7:30 p.m.
The Lady Rangers will welcome a new coach for the 2010-11 season. Michael Gallagher takes over for Nicole Anderson, who stepped down to devote more time to family.
Lakewood had a difficult time last winter without injured senior Martha Nagbe, who is now playing in college. But Gallagher isn't exactly inheriting a team without experience as he welcomes five starters back to the hardwood this season.
“I know we will work very hard this year,” said the first-year Lakewood girls coach. “I know that such a work ethic will equate to some victories.”
Hoping to demonstrate such work habits resulting in a wining season will be returning starters Jessica Garcia (senior guard, 5-9), Amanda Sacha (junior forward, 5-10), Julie Herman (junior forward, 5-9), Megan Barrett (sophomore guard, 5-8) and Maggie Rowell (sophomore point guard, 5-1.)
The rest of the Lady Ranger varsity roster figures to be freshman point guard Mikayla Harper (5-3), junior forward Simone Brown (5-8), freshman guard Taylor Shaw (5-7), junior guard Taylor Prebel (5-3), senior guard Bridgette Garcia (5-7) and sophomore forward Tori Millicevic.
Contact Holzheimer at
(216) 986-2361.