2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 29-30 -- at Meadville tourney Dec. 3 -- Shenango Dec. 6 -- at Mercer Dec. 10 -- at Meadville Dec. 13 -- at Sharpsville Dec. 14 -- Neshannock Dec. 17 -- at Wilmington Dec. 20 -- at Hickory Dec. 23 -- Reynolds Dec. 27-28 -- West Middlesex Kiwanis Club tourney Jan. 3 -- Greenville Jan. 7 -- Mercer Jan. 11 -- Conneaut Valley Jan. 14 -- Hickory Jan. 17 -- at Commodore Perry* Jan. 18 -- at Laurel Jan. 21 -- Sharpsville Jan. 24 -- at Kennedy Catholic* Jan. 31 -- Wilmington Feb. 4 -- at Greenville Feb. 7 -- Commodore Perry* Feb. 14 -- Kennedy Catholic* [* = MCAC-A contest]

By The Herald Sports Staff

Last year's West Middlesex High boys basketball team and this season's football squad have a lot in common: Both had very successful regular seasons and district playoff appearances, but both lost to Clarion-Limestone in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.

Head basketball coach Chad Mild, in his fourth year at the helm of the Big Reds, led his players to a 20-8 record last year and is hoping for more success this year in Class A of the Mercer County Athletic Conference.

The Big Reds will be held by senior 5-foot-8 point guard Jake Buzard, a 3-year starter, and senior 6-2 forward Tyler Babcock, a second-year starter. Mild admitted, "Jake is definitely one of the keys to any type of success that we will have this year. He's been a leader for our team in the past, and we look for him to do the same for us this season. We're keeping a low profile this year. We'll see what the team does at game time."

Two other players, both juniors, will be counted upon, including 6-2 forward Paul Fair and 6-3 forward Bobby Michaels.

Mild said, "Another player that might make an impact sometime for us is Bill Picciotto. He's a 5-9 senior and will play guard. There really aren't any new kids on the team this year that we think will make a huge impact."

Another senior on the 2002-03 Big Reds' roster is 5-8 guard Dan Mihalcak.

This year's edition will use whatever system is necessary to win, and Mild elaborated, "If we get the chance to run, we'll run; if we don't get the chance to run, we'll slow it down a little. We want to push the ball up the court though. It will be the same system that we've run for the last couple years. We'll try to control the tempo of the game and see what happens."

The major strength of this year's team is at guard.

"The guard position looks real good for us this season," said Mild. "Tyler has played the position before and Jake will definitely see some time there. Another guy is (5-7) junior Ricky Holzworth. He may play at that position at some point during the season."

The Big Reds should be good on the offensive side of the ball, but Mild is concerned with his team's defensive play.

"Our post play could be a weakness for us. Defensively, we need someone to handle guarding the point for us. We have guys 6-2, 6-1, 6-2, but we don't have that one guy that's 6-5 or 6-6 that could dominate and guard the inside. Another thing is that we just have to get into shape after football. I'm not used to this and all the success the football team had this year. I usually get the guys kind of early, but not this year. But that's great that they had a good season."

Out of the 18 players included roster this season, seven played on the District 10 Class A championship football team.

Mild's team will have a tough time repeating last year's success but the team has some athletic players and a very good coaching staff. Despite those qualities, Mild is keeping his thoughts about his team to himself.

"We are practicing hard and just want to keep a low profile. We'll see what happens and what the kids do when it's game time."

Mild's assistant coaches are his brother Brad; former Sharon High head coach Gary Revale, and Jay Ondo. -- By Rob Malsom, Herald writer