Basketball action opens Friday

BY KEVIN WOODRUFF

The 2011-12 boys’ and girls’ varsity basketball season will open up on Friday night withSusquehannaCounty’s teams in non-league action.

On the boys’ side,ElkLakewill play in the annual Mike “Red” Wallace Scholarship Game againstCarbondale.

That matchup will kick off at7:15 p.m.on Friday. Last year, the Warriors were defeated 52-48 in the game atCarbondale.

Blue Ridgewill compete in the Sayre Tournament, starting at7 p.m.on Friday where last year the team took a pair of losses fromFrederickDouglassAcademyand Sayre.

Montrose Area will take onRiversideHigh Schoolon the road on Friday at7:15 p.m.Last season, the Meteors took a 39-38 victory over the Vikings at home in their opener.

Mountain Viewwill travel to compete in the Wallenpaupack Tournament at7 p.m.on Friday. In last year’s opening weekend,Mountain Viewcompeted in the Hawley Rotary Tournament, taking third with a 42-20 win overWestern Wayne.

Susquehanna Community’s boys’ basketball team will travel to Afton Central (N.Y.) at7 p.m.on Friday.

ForestCitywill open its season on Sunday, Dec. 11, at6 p.m.in the opening round of the Finan Tournament at Honesdale. Last season, the Foresters lost 53-19 toCarbondalein the first round.

Girls’ basketball will see Elk Lake and Susquehanna’s girls’ basketball teams travel to Tunkhannock for the Kiwanis Tip-Off Tournament starting withElkLakeplaying GAR at6:30 p.m.and Susquehanna taking of Tunkhannock at8 p.m.

Last year, the Tigers took home the gold with a 46-21 victory over GAR in the finals.ElkLaketook third place with a 40-18 win over Susquehanna.

Blue Ridge’s girls’ basketball team will take part in the Sayre Tip-Off Tournament starting at7 p.m.on Friday. The Lady Raiders lost 81-13 to Sayre in the first round last season.

Montrose will play at home on Fridat night at7:15 p.m.against Valley View. Last year, the Lady Meteors took a 54-53 win in the opener against the Spartans.

Mountain Viewwill take on Holy Cross on the road on Friday night at7:30 p.m.The Eagles will look to avenge last year’s opening night loss to the Crusaders.

BOYS’ TEAMS

Blue Ridge

Nickname: Raiders

Home Court:Blue RidgeHigh School

Last Season: 14-9

Head coach: Brian Woodruff

Returning starters: Alex Cardoza, Sr., G.; Jesse Pruitt, Sr., G./F.; Sawyer Dearborn, Jr., G./F.

Other returnees: Chris Carlsen, Jr., F.; Mike Gathany, Jr., F.; Teejay Loomis, Jr., G.; Jake Hinkley, Jr., F.

Newcomers: Shawn Darrow, Sr., G.; Tyler Drake, Jr., F.

Elk Lake

Nickname: Warriors

Home Court: Mike “Red”Wallace Court

Last Season: 12-10

Head coach: John Warnero

Returning starters: Rob Heft, Jr., G.; Ryan Wilson, Sr., C.; Matt Cuomo, Sr., G.

Other returnees: Tanner Reyan, So., G.; Tyler Arnold, So., G.; Pete McGee, So., C.; Jason Vermeulen, Jr., F.; Matt Woolcock, So., G.; Nick Dudock, So., G.

Newcomers: Damien Dailey, Jr.,F.; Dalton Sherman, Fr., G.; Wyatt Warner, Fr., F.; Eddie Cumens, Fr., G.; Ben Townsend, Fr., F.; Zack Sigirci, Jr., G.

Forest City

Nickname: Foresters

Home Court: Julius Prezelski Gymnasium

Last Season: 5-18

Head coach: Billy Jones

Returning starters: David Cavalieri, Sr., G./F.; Dylan Walsh, Sr., F.

Other returnees: Brian Nebzydoski, Sr., F.; Logan Fitzsimmons, Sr., F.; Vince DeLucy, Jr., G.; Alex Kresock, S. G.; Ricky Yankauskas, So., G.

Newcomers: Noah Fedak, Fr., G.; Matt Nevins, Fr., G.

Montrose

Nickname: Meteors

Home Court:MontroseHigh School

Last Season: 18-7

Head coach: Todd Smith

Returning starters: Andrew Klein, Colby Major, Jordan Smith, Mason Legg, Brenton Warner, Cory Adams, Joey Zuber, Tom Lewis, Zach Loomis, Cameron Dean.

Newcomers: Erik Burgh,Troy Ely, Josh Hale.

Mountain View

Nickname: Eagles

Home Court:Mountain ViewHigh School

Last Season: 4-18

Head coach: David Bell

Returning starters: Nate Goodenough, Jr., G.; Derek Bradley, So., C.

Other returnees: Jon CHipelo, Sr., G.; Nate Chipelo, Sr., F.; David Lukens, Sr., F.; Joel Madas, Sr., F.; Gary Smith, Sr., G.; Mike Wakalowski, Sr., G./F.

Susquehanna

Nickname: Sabers

Home Court:SusquehannaHigh School

Last Season: 8-16

Head coach:Lawrence Tompkins

Returning starters: Austin Cowperthwait, Sr., G./F.; Andrzej Tomczyk, Jr., G.; Dan Biegert, Jr., G./F.

Newcomers: Brandon Soden, So., G.; Mark Zappe, So., F.; Josh Wheeler, So., G.; Cody Towers, So., G.

GIRLS’ TEAMS

Blue Ridge

Nickname: Lady Raiders

Home Court:Blue Ridge hIgh School

Last Season: 4-18

Head coach: Michael Budnik

Returning starters: Kristen Brown, Sr., G/F; Jacquelyn Furch, Sr., G.; Ashley Warren, Sr., F.; Jenna Rupakus, Jr., G./F.; Jessica Jhingoor, Jr., G./F.

Other returnees: Morgan Lesjack, So., F.; Dakota Radakovich, Jr., F; Jenna Bennett, So. G; Sierra Hall, So., G; Jessica Loomis, So., F.

Newcomers: Katherine Kempa, Fr., G./F.; Lauren Whitney, Fr., G.; Rebekah Bayle, Fr., F.

Elk Lake

Nickname: Lady Warriors

Home Court: Mike “Red”Wallace Court

Last Season: 7-14

Head Coach: Dave Shingler

Returning Starters: Meghan Bush, Jr., F; Kenzie Moon, Jr., G.; Taylor Watkins, So., G.

Other Returnees: Lydia Watkins, Sr., F.; Elizabeth Benscoter, Jr., F.; Mikayla Boner, Jr., F.; Kellie Grosvenor, Jr., F.; Sara Kwiatkowski, Jr., C.; Kelsey Mitchell, So., C.; Rebecca Oakes, So., G.; Alexia Schrader, So., C.; Casey Tyler, So., G.

Newcomers: None.

Forest City

Nickname: Lady Foresters

Home Court: Julius Prezelski Gymnasium

Last Season: 17-9

Head coach: Carl Urbas

Returning starters: Carly Erdmann, So., F.

Other returnees: Tania Pollard, Sr., C; Taylor Tammero, Sr., G.; Morgan Saul, Jr., G.; Cassandra Bendyk, So., F.

Newcomers: Liz Heller, Sr., G.; Katelyn Sweeney, So., G.; Kaitlyn Zymbrski, Fr., F.; Madison McGraw, Fr., F.; Paige Zack, Fr., G.; Emily Statkun, Fr., G.; Deanna Hazen, Jr., F.

Montrose

Nickname: Lady Meteors

Home Court:MontroseHigh School

Last Season: 22-5

Head coach: Al Smith

Returning starters:Dallas Ely, Sr., G.; Sara Krupinski, Sr., G./F.

Other returnees: Katie Stranburg, Sr., G.; Brooke Malloy, Sr., F.

Newcomers: Myra Lattimore, So., F; Nicki Lewis, So., G.; Ashley Lattner, So., G.

Mountain View

Nickname: Lady Eagles

Home Court:Mountain ViewHigh School

Last Season: 10-12

Head coach: Jason Nese

Returning starters: Melissa Monahan, Sr., G.; Dominique Chadwick, Sr., F.; Victoria Sterling, Jr., G; Megan Kress, Sr., F.

Other returnees: Paige Seymour, So., G.; Megan Getz, So., G./F.; Caitlyn Tague, Jr., C.; Mikaela Phillips, So., C.; Sarah Nichols, So., G.; Christine Zeck, So., F.

Newcomers: Mercedes Kromko, Sr., F.; Makenna Whitaker, Fr., G.; Traci Kromko, Fr., G.; Ariana Gabriel, Fr., G.; Tori Wilder, Fr., G.; Paige Spencer, Fr., F.

Susquehanna

Nickname: Lady Sabers

Home Court:SusquehannaHigh School

Last Season: 0-22

Head coach: Brian Niblock

Returning starters: Mashawna Hargett, So., G.; Emily Carmody, J., G.; Brianne Bianco, Jr.

Other returnees: Mollie Mroz, So., F.; Sara Serfilippi, So., F.; Amber Dubanowitz, So., F.; Casey Williams, Jr., F.; Kara Gow, Jr., G.; Lindsey Burdick, So., G.; Chastity Carvin, So., F.; Brooke Sampson, Jr., F.

Newcomers: Mikayla Hargett, Fr., G.; Nicole Barnes, Fr., G.; Nicole Shay, Fr., G.; Felicia Hines, Fr., G.; Nicole Hines, Fr., F.; Taryn Tross, Fr., F.; Ivy Christensen, Fr., G.