CURWENSVILLE – A familiar figure returns to coach the Curwensville Golden Tide boys basketball this season.
Matt Wassil will be courtside once again after taking five years off from coaching after the 2010-11 season.
Wassil takes over for Shane Pentz who replaced Wassil back in 2011.
Curwensville returns four letter winners from last year’s team that had an overall record of 4-18.
Zach Marshall is the lone senior letterman returning while two juniors return in Josh Terry and Devan Barrett. The other returning letter winner is sophomore Avery Francisco.
Marshall averaged 6.7 points per game last season while Barrett tossed in 4.4 per game and Francisco added 3.0 per contest.
Wassil talked about his rotation plan to start the season, saying, “We will look to use a nine man rotation throughout the year as Devan Barrett, Nate McKenrick and Zach Marshall look to be initial starters at the guard positions. Christian Bakaysa and Avery Francisco will be pivotal contributors in the post.” Wassil continued, “Noah Von Gunden, Cameron Moore, and Dakota Bloom will also be vying for playing time. The starting line-up will often depend on the strengths and weaknesses of the opposing team, so to start the season we may very likely go with a four guard lineup.”
About the team in general Wassil commented, “As a team we are taking it one day at a time and focusing on getting better every day. We have some team goals that will take care of themselves if we put in the effort and continue to work as a team to accomplish those goals. We’ve had some leadership from some players that has really allowed us to make strides towards those goals. We know we still have a long way to go before we get to where we want to be, but the kids are doing everything that’s been asked of them.”
As far as returning to coach his alma-mater Wassil said, “I’m excited to get back on the sidelines. It’s been exciting being in the gym and putting in work with the guys. I’ve been pleased with our effort so far this preseason. We will continue to work hard and get better every day and see where it takes us.”
Assisting Wassil at the varsity level will be Eric Johnson, while Eric Duriancik and Nicole Miloser will handle the junior high program.
The Golden Tide have a tough foe when they tip-off the season on Friday, at home, against a veteran Clearfield squad. The Bison beat the Tide twice last season, 76-35 and 72-39.
Listen to the Curwensville-Clearfield boys game on WOKW-FM, 102.9, starting with the pre-game show at 7:20 pm.
ROSTER:
SENIORS: Joe Johnson, Zach Marshall*, Cameron Moore
JUNIORS: Eli Clark, Devan Barrett*, Nate McKendrick, Josh Terry*
SOPHOMORES: Christian Bakaysa, Dakota Bloom, Trey Bumbarger, Jordan Demko, Avery Francisco*, Jeremy Irwin, Ben Jasper, Noah Von Gunden
* DENOTES RETURNING LETTER WINNER
SCHEDULE :
DECEMBER: 9 CLEARFIELD*, 12 at West Branch, 16 MOSHANNON VALLEY, 21 GLENDALE*
JANUARY: 3 RIDGWAY, 4 JOHNSONBURG*, 6 at Brockway*, 10 at DuBois Central Catholic, 11 at Moshannon Valley, 13 HARMONY, 17 ELK COUNTY CATHOLIC, 18 WEST BRANCH*, 20 at Kane, 24 at Ridgway*, 27 BROCKWAY, 30 KANE, 31 at Harmony *(Varsity Only – #7:30 pm)
FEBRUARY: 1 at Glendale, 3 at Johnsonburg, 6 at Clearfield*, 7 DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC,
10 SHEFFIELD*
NOTE: # ALL JV GAMES START AT 6 PM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
* GAMES BROADCAST BY WOKW-FM, 102.9, WITH THE PRE-GAME SHOW STARTING AT APPROXIMATELY 7:20 PM.
(BROADCAST SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)
