2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 29-30 -- at Cambridge Springs tourney Dec. 6 -- at Kennedy Catholic Dec. 9 -- at Hickory Dec. 13 -- Commodore Perry Dec. 30 -- at Jamestown Jan. 3 -- at West Middlesex Jan. 4 -- Hickory Jan. 7 -- Kennedy Catholic Jan. 11 -- at Slippery Rock Jan. 14 -- Reynolds* Jan. 17 -- at Sharpsville* Jan. 21 -- Wilmington* Jan. 25 -- at Mercer* Jan. 27 -- Slippery Rock Jan. 28 -- at Commodore Perry Jan. 31 -- Sharpsville* Feb. 4 -- West Middlesex Feb. 7 -- at Reynolds* Feb. 11 -- at Wilmington* Feb. 13 -- Mercer* [* = MCAC-AA contest]

By The Herald Sports Staff

For the first time in memory, Greenville's football team did not advance to the postseason playoffs, meaning head basketball coach Kelly Jones had 19 players on hand when practice commenced in mid-November. And some of those Trojans headed to the gym from the football field in a foul mood stemming from Greenville's grid disappointment.

"There are a couple new faces who had a little bit of a sour taste in their mouth after football, so they came into they gym with a sense of purpose," related Jones, the 12th-year Trojans' taskmaster.

A quartet of seniors -- 5-foot-5 point guard Tim Hudson, 5-9 off-guard Trevor Cascio, 6-0 power forward Steve Bayer and 5-10 swingman Dennis Reynolds -- traded cleats for sneaks, and are hoping to effect a turnabout in the Trojans' tradition.

"Energetic is the best term I can come up with at this point," Jones mused. "Our weakness is our size -- we really don't have anybody over six feet (juniors Matt Woodward and Jeff Moser, 6-2 and 6-1, respectively, are the tallest Trojans on the roster) -- but at this point we're hoping that a good combination of quickness and being a little tenacious will compensate for that. And our team concept. I'm really pleased with how we've been able to play together pretty well," Jones continued. "If we keep progressing in that venue, we're looking for positive results."

Jones assessed, "Timmy Hudson has really matured and as I've watched him I've enjoyed seeing him grow as a person. I hope he can display athletic growth as successful as his social growth ... Trevor Cascio has shown he's really been able to shoot the ball for us. Getting him healthy (from sinus and ear infections and strep throat) we're hoping he can run the floor for us and provide some scoring for us ... Steve Bayer has really impressed us with his willingness to listen and learn to adapt his game to what we're trying to do. I can tell he's a good student, because he's become a good student of the game in a short while ... Derek Chess (5-11 senior power forward) kind of brings a toughness to the team we haven't always had in the past ... Brent Richards (5-11 junior swingman) will be our defensive stopper. He's really beginning to utilize his athletic ability to do some positive things on the basketball floor ... and Dennis Reynolds brings a presence. He commanded respect in the huddle as the quarterback, and he's doing the same thing on the basketball floor."

Also, Jones indicated the window of opportunity will remain open for 295-pound senior Andy Young, an NCAA Division I football prospect who may opt to play basketball. Steve Haylett is the Trojans' remaining senior, a 5-7 guard.

Greenville garnered a 4-18 overall record, but 4-4 MCAC-AA ledger last year.

Jones sees his alma mater, Mercer, as the team "given an edge as far as returning experience," but also noted, "Wilmington should have some carry-over from having made the playoffs last year," while also noting new coaches at Reynolds (Brian Brown) and Sharpsville (Rob Spon). He also pointed out his Trojans, who started the campaign in the Cambridge Springs Tipoff Tourney against Strong Vincent, will face formidable MCAC-A entries Kennedy Catholic and West Middlesex for the first time in recent seasons.

"They're equally as tough as some AAAs even though they're small schools, and they're going to present difficult roadblocks to victory.

"But AA is going to be interesting," Jones understated, adding, "We're crossing our fingers.

"We have some really nice kids and it's fun to go to practice right now. They've been listening, so you actually feel like, from an educational background, that some instruction is being done and they're attempting to understand the concepts we're trying to impart." -- By Ed Farrell, assistant sports editor