ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 28, 1996 TAG: 9612030007
SECTION: CURRENT PAGE: NRV-5 EDITION: HOLIDAY
DATELINE: FLOYD
TYPE: HIGH SCHOOL SPORTS
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
When a coach says his biggest concern for the upcoming season is himself, that's probably because he has little else to worry about.
Such is the case for Floyd County High Coach Alan Cantrell, in his sixth season at the helm for the Buffaloes. Cantrell returns four starters from a team that went undefeated through Three Rivers District regular-season play last year.
"It's a good feeling to have so many starters back," Cantrell said. "My biggest concern is coaching. With this group it would be very easy to do some over-coaching. My job is going to be just to help them understand what we need to do. We have to come out hard every game, we don't want to look ahead or look back at the past either."
Leading the way for the Buffaloes will be Cantrell's son, Travis. Travis earned district player of the year honors as a sophomore, averaging 18.7 points, six assists and four rebounds per game as a guard. He will be joined in the backcourt by returning starter Adam Harris.
Returning in the front court for the Buffaloes are forwards Jason Dalton and Derek Saunders, both all-district picks last year.
"Overall we're in good shape both at the post positions and with the guards," Alan Cantrell said. "Plus we're fairly deep on the bench. With the personnel we have and with good size at the post and the guard positions, we can look at a lot of different combinations. Matchups shouldn't give us many problems."
A look at the rest of the district:
In his ninth season at Auburn, coach Kevin Harris returns no starters from a team that finished a dismal 3-17 in 1995. Auburn's challenge is to develop team chemistry. It will be up to the coach to find a replacement for graduated all-district performer Kenny Wojciechowski.
"After a 3-17 season you always hope for improvement," Harris said. "We have to improve to be able to compete with the teams in this district. With Glenvar coming in, I think we have one of the strongest districts in the state."
Leading the charge for Auburn will be a corps of six seniors, led by Phil Morris, Randy Teel and Nathan Thomas.
Giles coach John Howlett and his Spartans are coming off a season of renewed hope. Giles won its first Three Rivers tournament championship and advanced to regional action for the first time in 10 years. The Spartans were knocked out of the opening round of the Group A Region C tournament by a one-point overtime loss to Grayson County. Giles is eager to return to the postseason.
"We're coming into this year riding that recent success," Howlett said. "We don't want it to be another 10 years before we get back to the playoffs."
Forwards Jason Edwards and Adam Jones and guard Robbie Claytor return as starters. Also expected to play a lot are a trio of seniors: Aaron Albert, Ben Brown and Landon Cassidy.
At 6-feet-6, Albert is Giles' tallest player. He and Jones should make a formidable inside pair.
Glenvar enters its first season in the district coming off a year in which it went 20-7 against a tough schedule and advanced to the state semifinals. The Highlanders return just one starter, senior point guard Josh Williamson. Senior Aaron Cawa, who saw considerable playing time last season, will flank Williamson in the backcourt.
"We have good experience at the guard position, but we're inexperienced inside," Glenvar coach Art Lawrence said. "This is one of the best groups I've had as far as working in the off season, hitting the weights goes. It's probably not the most talented group I've had, but I think they work harder."
Filling out the Highlanders' lineup will be forwards Chris Evans, who Lawrence says is the best shooter on the team, and Seth Noonkester. Senior Lynward Twine will start at center.
Radford will be quick and aggressive.
Coach Rick Cormany returns just two starters from last season's 12-9 team. He hopes a solid group of upperclassmen will continue to develop as the year progresses.
"I think we're going to be very competitive," Cormany said. "This group is working as hard as any I've had. When we lose it will be because we just had a bad game, it won't be because we're outhustled. But with so many newcomers from the JV team playing key roles, we'll have to get better as the season gets longer."
Senior guard John Robertson, who averaged 14.8 points per game in 1995, is the leading returning scorer for the Bobcats. Also back is swingman Andrew Crowder and junior forward Tony Hash, the most athletic player on the team. Hash, who came off the bench for Radford last season, should start this season.
First-year coach Fred Horeise inherits a Shawsville team that has made a routine of defeat in recent seasons. The Shawnees have won just four games in the past two years. Horeise expects that to change with the return of four starters. The question mark is an untested bench.
"It's going to take a while for the kids to unlearn what they've been taught the past few years and relearn my system," Horeise said. "But we've got some good solid young players. I think it's unrealistic for us to think we can challenge for the regular season but maybe by the district tournament."
Leading the way will be senior guard Larry Smith, an all-district selection last season.
Auburn
95-96 record: 3-17 overall, 1-7 in the Three Rivers District (Tied for forth place in district.)
Coach: Kevin W. Harris, 9th year
Returning starters: None
Key players: Phil Morris, 6-7, sr., post; Randy Teel, 6-1, sr., point guard; Nathan Thomas, 6-1, sr., forward.
Outlook: The main challenge will be to develop chemistry among the starting five. The Eagles must find a replacement for Kenny Wojciechowski, their only all-district performer a year ago.
Floyd County
95-96 record: 19-4 overall, 8-0 in the Three Rivers District (regular season champion, Region C quarterfinalist)
Coach: Alan Cantrell, 5th year
Returning starters: Derek Saunders, 6-4, sr., post, 14.2 points per game, 8 rebounds per game; Travis Cantrell, 6-1, jr., guard 18.7 ppg, 6 assists per game; Adam Harris, 5-9, sr., guard, 9 ppg; Jason Dalton, 6-2, jr., post/guard, 12 ppg, 6 rpg.
Other key players: Alan Underwood, 5-11, sr., guard, 3 ppg; Brian Swortzel, 6-5, jr., post, 4 ppg, 4 rpg.
Outlook: With four of five starters back from a team that went undefeated through the regular season district schedule last year, Floyd County is still the team to beat. But the Buffaloes can't overlook Glenvar, who ousted them in the first round of regionals last year.
Giles
95-96 record: 16-5 overall, 5-3 in the Three Rivers District (tied for second place in district, district tournament champions, Region C quarterfinalist)
Coach: John Howlett, 6th year
Returning starters: Robbie Claytor, 6-2, sr., guard, 10.5 ppg, 3.5 rebounds per game, 3.5 steals per game, 4 apg; Jason Edwards, 6-3, jr., forward, 4.5 ppg, 4 rpg; Adam Jones, 6-1, sr., forward, 7.5 ppg, 6 rpg.
Other key players: Ben Brown, 6-0, sr., guard; Landon Cassidy, 6-0, sr., guard; Aaron Albert, 6-6, sr., center.
Outlook: Giles advanced to regional play for the first time in 10 years. Don't expect them to take that long to get back. The Spartans are riding high after capturing the Three Rivers tournament championship, their first. With a returning group of solid performers, Giles should be in the hunt again this year.
Glenvar
95-96 record: 20-7 overall, 11-1 in the Pioneer District (Pioneer District regular season and tournament champions, Region C champions, state semifinalist)
Coach: Art Lawrence, 10th year
Returning starters: Josh Williamson, 6-1, sr., point guard, 14 ppg, 5 rpg, 4 apg, 2 steals per game.
Other key players: Aaron Cawa, 5-9, sr., guard; Chris Evans, 6-1, jr., forward; Seth Noonkester, 6-5, soph., forward; Lynward Twine, 5-11, sr., center.
Outlook: Glenvar should be strong again. There is still some rebuilding to do to reach last year's level. A major objective is to develop the type of depth the Highlanders had at the end of last year.
Radford
95-96 record: 12-9 overall, 5-3 in the Three Rivers District (tied for second)
Coach: Rick Cormany, 4th year
Returning starters: John Robertson, 5-10, sr., guard, 14.8 points per game, 59 three-point goals; Andrew Crowder, 6-4, soph., guard, 4.7 ppg., 2.7 assists per game.
Other key players: Tony Hash, 6-1, jr., forward, 4.7 ppg.; Elliot Barton, 5-10, sr., guard; Robbie McGuire, 5-10, sr., guard; Adam Artrip, 5-11, jr., guard/forward; Tim Fleisher, 5-10, jr., guard; Steven Hairston, 6-5, jr., center; Joe Housel, 6-4, jr., forward/center; Coy Stump, 6-2, jr., forward/center.
Outlook: The roster is dotted by juniors, many of whom are in their first varsity season. The Bobcats expect to improve as the season progresses and vow not to be out-hustled.
Shawsville
95-96 record: 2-18 overall, 1-7 in the Three Rivers District (tied for fourth)
Coach: Fred Horeise, first year
Returning starters: Larry Smith, 5-10, sr., guard, 12 ppg; Barnett Carr, 6-3, jr., guard/forward; Simon Jones, 6-4, soph., center, 10 ppg; Chris Graham, 6-2, forward (moved to point guard).
Other key players: Linden Ryan, 6-3, soph., forward; Jason Horne, 6-0, sr., center/forward.
Outlook: With four wins in two years, expectations are modest. Horeise, a proven winner as the girls' basketball coach at Parry McCluer, expects a transition period as the team adjusts to a new system.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1, Floyd County; 2, Glenvar; 3, Giles; 4, Radford; 5, Auburn; 6, Shawsville.
LENGTH: Long : 180 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM. Floyd's Adam Harris looks to score againstby CNBGiles last season.