'99-00 SCHEDULE

Dec. 3 -- at Laurel      7-- at Sharon      10-- Grove City      14-- at Kennedy Christian      17-- at Commodore Perry      21-- Sharpsville      23-- Shenango      28-- Linesville Christmas Tounament      30-- Linesville Christmas Tournament Jan . 4 -- Portersville Christian      7-- at George Junior      11-- Greenville      14-- Mercer      18-- at West Middlesex      21-- at Reynolds      26-- at Hickory      28-- Slippery Rock Feb. 1 -- at Slippery Rock      4-- Commodore Perry      8-- George Junior      11-- at Greenville      15-- at Mercer      18-- West Middlesex      22-- Reynolds.

By The Herald Sports Staff

It's safe to say Nick Cannone is quite happy to be back in the driver's seat again.

After a one-year layoff, at least as a head coach, Cannone returns to the bench as the mentor of the Wilmington Greyhounds this season.

"That's what I wanted," said Cannone, who served as an assistant under Gary Revale at Sharon last season after not having his contract renewed at Farrell two years ago. "They treated me great at Sharon, but it's great just being in charge again and going through the organizational part and just being able to build from your beliefs in the way you think basketball should be played."

As his 233-93 mark at Farrell (167-55 from 1990-98) and West Middlesex (66-38 from 1986-90) clearly attest, Cannone seems to know quite well how the game should be played. The 233 victories are currently ninth-best in county annals.

"I enjoy building up a program and seeing where it takes you," Cannone said. "I knew I enjoyed it the first day I was in gym this summer. I was excited that I was back in the gym and calling my own shots and working with young athletes again, because that's what I enjoy the most."

Among the young athletes Cannone is working with are returning letterwinners, all seniors: 6-3 guard-forward Matt Robison (338 points), 5-9 point guard Dustin Mounts (119) and 6-1 guard-forward Neils Jorgensen.

In addition, sophomores Matt Krawchyk, a 5-8 guard, and Quay Rosengarth, a 6-1 guard-forward, both saw playing time as freshmen, Cannone reported.

"Coming into season we had no offense," Cannone said. "I met some of the kids, but I hadn't seen them play so I didn't know what to do off ensively. Although I knew we were going to play man defensively."

And for a school that prides itself on defense, at least on the football field, that should prove to be beneficial. In fact, Cannone is also going to welcome a couple of the football Greyhounds, Mike Copper and Jared Scofield, back to the hardwood this season.

"I was encouraged to see that the football players after a tough loss on (Nov. 20) all were in the gym the following Monday," Cannone said. "So that sent a positive message to me. After the first week, they're adjusting. They're working hard and understanding some of the things we're trying to do."

Copper and Scofield are 6-4 seniors and should provide some much-needed muscle under the boards for the Greyhounds. Copper last played as a freshman, while Scofield last suited up as a sophomore.

"Mike hasn't played in a couple of years, but he's an athlete," Cannone said. "We just have to get the rust off him. Both have talent and are outstanding athletes. We just have to fine tune their games."

Others expected to get their games fine-tuned as varsity players are: seniors ‹ 5-9 guard Jeremy Juback, 6-4 forward Kevin DeCarlo and 5-10 guard Hans Jorgensen; juniors ‹ 6-1 guard-forward Doug Cameron, 6-0 guard Matt Coad and 5-7 guard Dave Burdick; freshmen ‹ 5-10 guard Nick Sheehan, 5-10 guard Tyler Ault and 6-4 forward Andy Rayner.

"We're going to take our time and not be in a hurry to put something in," Cannone said. "We're going to try to do it right. These kids remind me a lot of the kids I had at West Middlesex. ... I have a good feeling they're going to work hard and are going to respond to us. Like at West Middlesex, I have a feeling these kids will go through a wall for you."

One of those kids who went through a wall for Cannone at West Middlesex is Rick Ladjevich, a teacher in the Hermitage School District who will serve as Cannone's varsity assistant and jayvee coach this year.

Ladjevich, one of the most prolific scorers in Mercer County annals, holds the county's single-season (827) and single-game (63) scoring records and also is ninth on the career scoring list (1,426).

He went on to star collegiately in baseball, leading his squad to an NCAA Division II national championship while also earning Player of the Year honors. Ladjevich also played professionally in the Seattle Mariners' minor league organization before retiring a few years back and return to school.

"I'm very fortunate to have Ladjevich to help me," Cannone said. "He's a big plus. (Because of his enthusiasm and energy), he already got me going a little bit. He brings a lot to the table and he's going to be a very good coach one day."

Others assisting Cannone are 9th-grade coach Ryan Sturgess, who starred at Westminster College before graduating in 1999 and also played on the Brandon Short-led McKeesport squad that won a WPIAL championship several years ago. Don Boyles, who played on a WPIAL titlist while at Union High School, heads up the 8th-grade program.

"I'm very, very fortunate to have those guys helping me," Cannone said. "They could do a lot of good things for our program."

As for the MCAC-AA race this season, Cannone expects it to be a real "meat grinder," with George Junior and Sharpsville, perhaps, serving as slight playoff favorites.

"I like the league and look what happens every year: They are well-represented in the playoffs," Cannone said. "The teams we see day in and day out will make us better. And I have to drive my point home that the kids have got to come to play and they can't ease up. We have to be blue collar day in and day out to have some success. There are no easy teams out there.

"I'll think we'll get better as the year goes on, but we'd like to be competitive in every game. And if there's a chance, we'd like to make the playoffs. Is that unrealistic? I don't know, but if their work-ethic tells me anything, these kids are willing to pay the price."