2002-03 SCHEDULE

Nov. 29-30 -- Tipoff tourney Dec. 3 -- at Reynolds Dec. 6 -- Maplewood* Dec. 10 -- at Cambridge Springs* Dec. 17 -- Linesville* Dec. 20 -- Union City* Dec. 23 -- Wilmington Dec. 27-28 -- at Warren Holiday tourney Jan. 3 -- at Conneaut Valley* Jan. 7 -- at Saegertown* Jan. 10 -- Cochranton* Jan. 14 -- Conneaut Lake* Jan. 17 -- at Maplewood* Jan. 21 -- Cambridge Springs* Jan. 24 -- Jamestown* Jan. 31 -- at Union City* Feb. 4 -- Conneaut Valley* Feb. 7 -- Saegertown* Feb. 11 -- at Cochranton* Feb. 14 -- at Conneaut Lake* [* = FCVC contest]

By The Herald Sports Staff

It's been awhile since the Lakeview High Sailors were searching for a second straight playoff berth. Last year, the Sailors copped the French Creek Valley Conference crown with a 23-6 record before bowing to Sto-Rox in the opening round of PIAA play.

"It was great for the kids, because they had never been exposed to district or interdistrict play," Lakeview head coach Gary Burke said. "It was something that not only the players embraced and had a great time with, but also the student body and the community got behind us. It was a great experience for everyone up here who had never been in that position before."

Those experiences should help the Sailors and the community as Lakeview prepares for a return trip to postseason play behind nine seniors and seven returning letterwinners.

"We're confident about our experiences. After some of the battles that we went through last year to get where we did, that will help us again this season," Burke said. "Because we have several lettermen returning, these kids have the experience and they have the knowledge. We just have to do things more by committee this year. If we take care of the little details, I'm excited."

Experience is definitely something that Burke will have to work with during the 2002-03 campaign. Many of his key players have logged significant playing time since their freshman or sophomore seasons.

"In my three years here, we've only lost four seniors and these kids have played since they were sophomores," Burke said. "Ever since these kids were sophomores, they have been the backbone of the program."

With the plethora of talented players, Burke will have the opportunity to fit his starting lineup to each opponent, but will have the same basic components.

Three-year letterman Luke Eidenmuller will get the starting nod at point guard while senior letterman and 3-point specialist Adam Engstrom will start opposite of Eidenmuller. Senior 2-year lettermen Dale Walker (6-4) and Ned Moore (6-3), who averaged 11.7 points last season, will start up front.

After those four, Burke has a number of players to fill the final starting front. Senior guards Matt Irvine, Phillip Minshull, Andrew Rau or Stephen White can step in to form a 3-guard pressuring lineup, or senior forward Tyler McAfoose (6-3) can join Moore and Walker up front for an imposing front line.

"To say that we could go 10 deep on any single night would not be out of the question. We should be able to go 10, maybe, 11 deep depending on the game situation," Burke said. "We may not have the same starting lineup week in and week out."

With four players listed at 6-foot-4 or taller, Lakeview will look inside, primarily, to Moore and Walker.

"We're going to pound the ball inside again and make people defend Ned and Dale. They're going to be a good combination for us," Burke said. "Dale has made the biggest gains in the off-season. He can step out on the perimeter and the three and he can slash to the basket. Ned is probably the most explosive player we have. If he doesn't score, you're going to foul him."

After sharing time with graduated Chad Greggs, Engstrom will be counted on to pull opposing teams out of the post as the Sailors' primary perimeter threat

"Adam Engstrom was a good outside threat for us last year despite sharing shots with Chad Greggs," Burke said. "We expect Adam to get off more shots this year."

After three years of guiding the Sailor offense through good times and bad, Eidenmiller will be expected to do it one final season at point guard, now adding senior leadership to the mix.

"Luke is a rock for us. He leads by example. He picks people up and he calms them down," Burke said. "Nobody works harder than he does. He has rubbed off on a lot of players in his four years here."

Despite all the success that the Sailors experienced last year, Burke is worried about the prospects of this year's conference matchups.

"We have to realize that we have to play night in and night out to win this league again. There are several teams that have a shot to win," Burke said. "There's no reason that we shouldn't give 110 percent every night. If we do that, chances are we'll have the chance to win or at least be in the contest."

Burke is assisted by John and Jeff Engstrom and Ralph Sundelin. -- By Corey J. Corbin, Allied News Sports Editor