NHS basketball preview
Expectations are high for the 1997-98 Newark Reds boys basketball team.
Veteran coach Ron Ceravolo has nine returning players. Last year's Reds captured the Finger Lakes East title and fared well in sectional play.
Ceravolo guided the Reds to the number one seed in Class BB play and was named Section 5 Class BB Coach of the year. Last season, the young (mostly junors) squad surprised the Finger Lakes East by winning the League crown. Luke Peters and Tanner Webb, both seniors, will be the leaders this year.
Peters, a first team all-league performer, averaged 13.2 points per game for Newark. Webb averaged 10.7 points per game. Junior Josh Herman is expected to be another key for the Reds. Herman is currently out with an injury but is expected to be back in two weeks. He averaged 10.6 points per game.
The Reds have three big men this season in Brian Strait 6'5", Josh Jinks 6'4", and Greg Ide 6'5". Jinks was second on the team in rebounding last year with 87. Ide is good from 12 feet and is expected to give the Reds some offensive capability inside the paint.
Also returning is the Reds top defensive player, Pete Czerkas. Czerkas at 6'2" was given the task last season of guarding the other team's best offensive player. Point guard Richard Hill provides speed and team leadership. Devin Wage at 6'1" is one of the better jumpers and should provide rebounding strength.
The juniors this season include guard Jason Sloane at 6'1" - one of the biggest point guards in recent years. Forward Justin Whyte currently stands at 6'2". Guard Rich Fernandez (5'9') is one of the Reds' better pure shooters. Forward Pete Simizon (6'0") has good jumping ability.
The Reds are the team to chase this year in the Finger Lakes East with Canandaigua and Penn Yan not far behind.
Defensively, the Reds allowed just 57.3 points a game, while scoring 62.5 points a game. Assisting the Reds once again will be defensive coordinator volunteer coach Bob Havrilla.
The Reds open up the 1997-98 season in the VVS tournament Friday night. Their first game will be against Ilion at 6 p.m. with the championship game slated for Saturday at 8 p.m. Other teams in the tournament include Cardinal Leger and VVS.
The Reds open League play on December 9 at Victor at 7:30 p.m.
Pictured: Captains for the 1997-98 Newark Reds are Pete Czerkas, Rich Hill, and Brian Strait.
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