ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Thursday, November 28, 1996 TAG: 9612030016
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: W-13 EDITION: HOLIDAY
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
The Glenvar boys' basketball team is coming off a 20-7 season, including an 11-1 showing in the Pioneer District and a berth in the semifinal round of the Group A tournament.
The Highlanders have lost four of five starters to graduation, but they'll have to adjust to more than just a new starting lineup this season. Glenvar must adjust to new opponents as well in its first season as a member of the Three Rivers District.
``I'm looking forward to it,'' coach Art Lawrence said. ``As far as comparing the two districts, I'd probably say the Three Rivers is probably stronger from top to bottom but the Pioneer was stronger at the top. I also think the Pioneer was more of a finesse district, whereas the Three Rivers is more power - bang it inside. It's a lot more aggressive than the Pioneer, so that'll be an adjustment for us.''
The Highlanders return senior point guard Josh Williamson, who averaged 14 points, five rebounds and four assists per game as a junior. Senior guard 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,'' 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 Highlander's lineup will be forwards Chris Evans, who Lawrence says is the best shooter on the team, and Seth Noonkester. Senior Lynward Twine, another player who saw several minutes last year, will start at center.
In his ninth season at Auburn, coach Kevin Harris returns no starters from a team that finished a dismal 3-17 in 1995. He will need to develop chemistry among his players and will have to find a replacement for 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.
Floyd County coach Alan Cantrell, in his sixth season at the helm for the Buffaloes, returns four starters from a team that went undefeated through Three Rivers District regular-season play last year.
Leading the way for the Buffaloes will be Cantrell's son, Travis. Travis garnered Player of the Year honors as a sophomore, averaging 18.7 points and six assists per game from the guard position. He will be joined in the backcourt by returning starter Adam Harris. Also returning 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,'' 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.''
Giles coach John Howlett and his Spartans are coming off a season of renewed hope. For the first time in school history Giles captured the Three Rivers tournament championship and advanced to regional action for the first time in 10 years. Despite being knocked off in the opening round of regionals, the one-point overtime loss to Grayson County served as a taste of things to come.
``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.''
Returning for the Spartans are forwards Jason Edwards and Adam Jones and guard Robbie Claytor. Also expected to see playing time are a trio of seniors: Aaron Albert, Ben Brown and Landon Cassidy.
At 6-foot-6 Albert is the tallest on Giles' roster, and Howlett said Albert, along with Jones, should make a formidable inside pair.
Radford will utilize a quick and very aggressive lineup to make its charge through district play. Coach Rick Cormany returns just two starters from last season's 12-9 team, but is loaded with upperclassmen he hopes 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 out-hustled. 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 swing-man Andrew Crowder. Junior forward Tony Hash, who Cormany describes as the most athletic player on the team, is also penciled in as a starter. Hash came off the bench for Radford last season, averaging 4.7 points per game.
First-year coach Fred Horeise inherits a Shawsville club that has struggled in years past. The Shawnees have won just four games in the last two years, but Horeise expects that to change. Shawsville returns four starters from last year's team, but has 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.
Here's a closer look at the teams:
AUBURN
1995-96 record: 3-17 overall, 1-7 in the Three Rivers District (Tied for fourth place in district.)
Coach: Kevin W. Harris, ninth season.
Returning starters: None.
Other key players: Phil Morris, 6-7, Sr., post; Randy Teel, 6-1, Sr., point guard; Nathan Thomas, 6-1, Sr., forward.
Outlook: With no returning starters, the main challenge for Harris will be developing chemistry among his new starting five. After a 3-17 finish last year, the Eagles are looking for improvement. To do so they will have to find a replacement for Kenny Wojciechowski, their only all-district performer a year ago.
FLOYD COUNTY
1995-96 record: 19-4 overall, 8-0 in the Three Rivers District (Three Rivers regular season district champion, Region C quarterfinalist).
Coach: Alan Cantrell, fifth season.
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 Three Rivers regular season last year, Floyd County is still the team to beat. But the Buffaloes can't overlook the Glenvar Highlanders, who ousted them in the first round of regional action last year.
GILES
1995-96 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, sixth season.
Returning starters: Robbie Claytor, 6-2, Sr., guard, 10.5 points per game, 3.5 rebounds per game, 3.5 steals per game, 4 assists per game; 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 made its first trip to regional play last season for the first time in 10 years. Don't expect them to take that long to get back. They are riding high after capturing the Three Rivers tournament championship, a first in school history. With a returning group of solid performers, Giles looks to be in the hunt again this year.
GLENVAR
1995-96 record: 20-7 overall, 11-1 in the Pioneer District (Pioneer District regular season and tournament, Region C champions, Group AA state semifinalist).
Coach: Art Lawrence, 10th season.
Returning starters: Josh Williamson, 6-1, Sr., point guard, 14 points per game, 5 rebounds per game, 4 assists per game, 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 could be among the state's strongest teams again with a good group of returning players at all positions. There is still some rebuilding to do to reach last year's level and Lawrence must develop some depth as he had at the end of last year.
RADFORD
1995-96 record: 12-9 overall, 5-3 in the Three Rivers District (Tied for second place in district).
Coach: Rick Cormany, fourth season.
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.; Eliot 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: Cormany said, although at this point he couldn't pinpoint a starting lineup, there is one thing he is sure of: his group won't be outhustled by anyone. This team is filled with juniors, but for many of them this will mark their first year on the varsity squad. As a result, the Bobcats can expect to get better as the season progresses.
SHAWSVILLE
95-96 record: 2-18 overall, 1-7 in the Three Rivers District (Tied for fourth place in district).
Coach:Fred Horeise, first year.
Returning starters: Larry Smith, 5-10, Sr., guard, 12 points per game; 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: Having accumulated just four wins in the last two years, expectations in Shawsville aren't running too high. But don't count out first-year coach Fred Horeise, who is a proven winner with the girls' basketball program at Parry McCluer in years past. Horeise will use this as a rebuilding year to incorporate his own style of coaching into the system.
PREDICTED ORDER OF FINISH: 1, Floyd County; 2, Glenvar; 3, Giles; 4, Radford; 5, Shawsville; 6, Auburn.
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