2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 29 -- at Mohawk Dec. 3 -- at Grove City Dec. 6 -- Shenango Dec. 10 -- Laurel Dec. 13 -- Kennedy Catholic Dec. 17 -- West Middlesex Dec. 18 -- Mohawk Dec. 20 -- at Slippery Rock Dec. 23 -- at Lakeview Dec. 26-27 -- West Middlesex Christmas tourney Jan. 3 -- Sharon Jan. 7 -- Sharpsville Jan. 10 -- at Reynolds Jan. 14 -- Mercer* Jan. 17 -- at Kennedy Catholic Jan. 21 -- at Greenville* Jan. 24 -- Commodore Perry Jan. 28 -- at Sharpsville* Jan. 31 -- at West Middlesex Feb. 4 -- Reynolds Feb. 7 -- at Mercer* Feb. 11 -- Greenville* Feb. 14 -- at Commodore Perry [* = MCAC-AA contest]

By The Herald Sports Staff

In his third year at Wilmington's cage helm, coach Nick Cannone guided the Greyhounds to a Mercer County Athletic Conference championship and District 10 playoff berth. Now he's hoping that one of the school's football staples -- the Hounds' Hammer defense -- can become one of his team's strong suits.

"We're trying to sell the kids on defense this year, and they've really picked up the defense a lot since last year," Cannone reported following two weeks of practice and a pair of scrimmages (Laurel, Neshannock). "The people we have coming back were our best defensive players last year they were role players we made guard other teams' best (offensive) players, so we'll be trying to feed off that. And I'm pleased with the way they're getting after people."

Returning from last season's 8-17 overall, 6-2 Mercer County Athletic Conference Class AA championship contingent that split its last dozen games, is a trio of guards, including seniors Nick Sheehan and Tyler Ault, 6-0 and 5-10, respectively, and 6-1 junior 2-guard Adam Ligo, while 6-6 senior post Andy Rayner and 6-3 junior frontliner Steve Johnston also return.

Newcomers expected to make an immediate impact include 5-10 senior point guard Ryan Castor, who did not play last year, and a trio of juniors in 6-3 post Alan Ferguson, 6-0 guard Nick George, and 5-11 guard John Morrison.

"They're all interchangeable, my guards," Cannone confided. "I'm looking for some good ballhandlers and, defenders. It's wide open after Sheehan and Ault."

Others expected to lend depth will be 6-3 junior post Andrew Robison and the sophomore triumvirate of 6-4 Mark Wagner, 6-3 Gary Hanssen, and 5-10 guard Jonathan Fauzey, who "has good offensive instincts and handles himself well," according to Cannone.

"We have five post players, and I've never had that in the past," Cannone recalled. "We have some muscle inside this year where, in the past except for my first year, we were kind of soft inside. But now I think we can hold our own with most of the teams and that's encouraging."

A concern for Cannone is "finding a way to replace our top three scorers from last year (Matt Maxwell, Quay Rosengarth and Matt Krawczyk)," who combined for approximately 40 points per game a year ago.

"Our wreakness is we're going to have to find people who were role players last year to pick it up offensively this year. Sheehan will have to pick it up, Ault will have to pick it up, and Ligo has to score," Cannone forecasted.

More depth means more competitive practices, too, which Cannone hopes will translate into players better prepared for game situations.

"This is my first year where we're really going to have competitive practices. You can't just show up to the gym; you're going to have to play for your position, whereas in the past we didn't have stiff enough competition," Cannone admitted.

Particularly pleasing to Cannone is the fact, regarding his depth, "there's not a whole lot of drop-off.

"And they're learning," Cannone continued. "This should be a fun year. So far, they understand what's going on. This is my fourth year, so I haven't had a lot to do as far as teaching a lot of little things because they've been hearing them the last three years."

Although the Greyhounds garnered the 2002 MCAC-AA title with a regular season-ending win at Reynolds, Cannone considers Mercer the favorite this year.

"My buddy (Mercer head coach) Mike Williams has everybody back and this is their third year playing together ... so they're going to be awfully good. Sharpsville has a new coach with 'Sponny' (Rob Spon) and I'm happy for Brian Brown (Reynolds), a local boy who's taken over that program; I'm sure he'll do a wonderful job there. And the old standby, Kelly Jones (Greenville). So it's going to be a competitive league, but I would have to say Mercer is definitely the team, because they have everyone back, to beat. But it's pretty wide open for that second (MCAC-AA District 10) playoff spot."

"But we're coming together, we're coming together, and I'm pleased so ar with our effort, defensively," Cannone concluded. "If we want to get into the playoffs and defend our championship, we'll have to play defensively better than anyone else in our league. ... And I think we can get into peoples' faces this year more than ever."

The Hounds Hammer worked so well in the Greyhounds' grid program, why not on the hardwood?

Notes: Cannone, who coached Farrell boys (8 years), Farrell girls (4) and West Middlesex girls (4), said Ligo (football-related ankle injury), Ault (broken finger on his non-shooting hand) and Hanssen (ankle) have been slowed by injuries. -- By Ed Farrell, assistant sports editor.