'99-00 SCHEDULE

Dec. 3 -- Linesville      7-- West Middlesex      10-- at Mercer      14-- at Reynolds      17-- Wilmington      22-- Conneaut Lake      28-- Christmas Tournament      29-- Christmas Tournament Jan . 3 -- at A. C. Valley      7-- at Sharpsville      14-- Reynolds      18-- at Kennedy Christian      19-- West Forest      21-- at Villa Maria      25-- Sharpsville      28-- at West Middlesex Feb. 1 -- Villa Maria      4-- at Wilmington      7-- Clarion      11-- Mercer      16-- at Wake Forest      18-- Kennedy Christian

By The Herald Sports Staff

COMMODORE PERRY

The Panthers enter the 1999 season on the upswing.

During the 1997-98 season they finished with a 2-19 mark, but improved that to 4-15 for the 1998-99 season.

"I definitely see a gradual progression," explained Panthers head coach Jay Carlson, "especially in our younger kids. Our junior high group has had some success and I think its going to carry on into varsity."

This is Carlson's sixth year as head coach. He started in 1990 and coached until 1993 when he took a three-year hiatus and came back in 1996.

This year, the Panthers are sporting six seniors, four of whom lettered last year.

Josh Timko, a 6-3 forward, turned it on late last year to earn himself an automatic start. Also returning is the 5-11 Matt Roberts, who as a junior led the squad with an average of nine points per game.

"We're trying to spread out the shots," Carlson said. "We're trying to prevent them from looking to one person to make all the shots. It's a lot easier to stop an individual than it is to stop an entire team."

Another pair of senior lettermen in 5-9 Brad Jenkins and 6-foot Jim Sodano will battle for position at guard as will a pair of new seniors in Rob Lewis and Mike Foulk, both guards and both coming in at 5-11.

"We have all of our guards back," said Carlson. "We have a returning junior, Jason Robinson (6-1 forward) who had a great year last year, he lettered, a 6-6 sophomore Josh Sindlinger and Matt Roberts is back and we're going to look to him to run the show."

Also looking for major playing time will be junior point guard Dustin Landfried at 5-10 and 6-foot sophomore Eric McCullough

"I think we're going to have some good height again like last year," Carlson stated. "At forward we've got guys 6-2, 6-4, 6-6. Our height is certainly one of our strengths."

Another strength the Panthers are boasting this year are their numbers.

"That is one luxury that we have this year is depth," said Carlson. "We have five solid starters and at least five or six guys that can easily fill in."

Bruce Hough, Carlson's assistant also controls the junior varsity team.

"What we need now is some leadership, we need some maturity," explained Carlson. "We have the physical skills. If we can put it all together we should do all right because we have some experience coming back and we have some skilled young players.

"Now, it's more mental preparation." Carlson continued. "We need to learn how to win. We need to get everyone to gel together and play as a team. We have the physical talent"

The Panthers have been alone in the MCAC Class A division with the perennial power of Kennedy Christian since 1998 when the West Middlesex Big Reds moved from A to AA.

"I'm anxious for the season to start," said Carlson. "I think that the team shows a lot of potential and I think that we have the possibility to be a better team but we really won't know until the season starts."