2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 29-30 -- at Farrell Tipoff tourney Dec. 6 -- Greenville Dec. 11 -- Reynolds Dec. 13 -- at Wilmington Dec. 17 -- at Rayen Dec. 20 -- at Mercer Dec. 21 -- Laurel Dec. 26-27 -- at Franklin Christmas tourney Jan. 7 -- at Greenville Jan. 10 -- Commodore Perry* Jan. 11 -- Night of Champions (at Westminster College) Jan. 14 -- Sharpsville Jan. 17 -- Wilmington Jan. 18 -- at John F. Kennedy Jan. 21 -- Massillon Jan. 24 -- at West Middlesex* Jan. 28 -- Mercer Jan. 31 -- at Commodore Perry* Feb. 2 -- vs. St. Edwardıs (Gund Arena) Feb. 8 -- Farrell Feb. 11 -- at Sharpsville Feb. 14 -- West Middlesex* [* = MCAC-A contest]

By The Herald Sports Staff

For a program that won four consecutive Class A commonwealth crowns, there is a tangible, inherent expectation level for the Kennedy Catholic boys' basketball program. But if there's a perception that, because the Golden Eagles ended last season as a runner-up rather than atop the PIAA pedestal, it's more of a misconception.

"Every year, we expect and want to win a state championship. We begin practice each day having that goal, and we walk out of the lockerroom preparing to win a state championship," summarized second-year head coach Tim Loomis.

A handful of returnees from last season's 27-5 team that had the program's 39-game postseason winning skein halted by Scotland School in the title tilt will lead a large and athletic aggregation of Golden Eagles. Along the front line will be 6-foot-4 seniors Craig Wellman and 220-pound Ramone Truxon, who will be bolstered by 6-7 junior Alberic Kande and 6-3 sophomore Justin Gartner. Dan Harris, a 6-foot shooting guard, also returns after serving the role of sixth man and defensive stopper last year.

Lending depth to that quintet will a pair of freshmen in 6-5 David Jackson -- who led St. Joseph's to last spring's Pennsy Parochial championship game -- and 6-4 Roderick Fuller, who could start the season at the point. A pair of sophomores, 6-2 shooter Shamus Reimold and 5-8 point guard Brandon Mirizio also will see time. Seniors A.J. DeCarbo, Mike Allebach and James Calenda will lend depth, as will sophomores Mike Kobal and T.J. Taylor.

"Our weakness right now is our perimeter play, which, in the past, always has been strong," Loomis said of his squad's shooting. "And I think, obviously, our inexperience. We do have some kids coming back who played significant minutes last year, but in actuality we're a very inexperienced team.

"I think our strengths," Loomis continued, "will be that we're a good rebounding team and, by January, we'd better be an exceptional defensive team if we're to win a state championship simply because we're not going to be a scoring team. So if our defense can generate our offense, we'll be a pretty good team. We have more of a bench this year and we're more athletic. And the kids have worked hard in the weight room five days a week (with Buhl Club Wellness Center trainer Lou DeJulia), so we're stronger and bigger even though we lack experience."

Loomis also said, being in his second season, " ... we're a lot further along than we were last year. In one way, we're just like last year because we have some inexperienced kids not yet knowing what's going on; but on the other hand, because of the older ones, we've been able to move ahead step by step and put some things in, although I don't expect to have things ready to go until January.

"Unfortunately," Loomis related, "my trademark is a slow-starting team because it takes a while for the kids to learn the system each year as we keep adding things. And part of it is my fault because I'm a 'type-A' personality and it takes time for them to catch up.

"But I'm excited because we are young," Loomis continued. "I like coaching young teams. In a lot of ways they're harder to coach, but they also might play harder than veteran teams. They play hard every day because they're learning. So I'm excited."

Kennedy Catholic's cage program has become synonymous with success on the state-wide stage, but Loomis said he and his players embrace that.

"I don't consider that pressure," said Loomis, who coached collegiately for 16 seasons at NCAA Division I and II levels before taking a hiatus, then assuming the Kennedy's helm. "I wouldn't have taken this job if the basic finishing point wasn't a state championship. I wouldn't have been interested. This is just like every job I've taken, whether the emphasis was on getting to the NCAAs (tournament) or a state championship.

"Even last year, as far as pressure, there wasn't any on me or the kids to win a state championship, although there might have been on the community. But we don't look at it like that. There's not so much pressure, but we want to reinforce that the only conclusion is we need to win a state title." -- By Ed Farrell, assistant sports editor.