CURWENSVILLE – It is head coach Matt Wassil’s second season back with the Curwensville boys basketball team after posting a 6-16 mark in 2016-17.
Wassil had previously mentored the Golden Tide basketball program from 2006 through 2011.
Curwensville lost just one player through graduation in Zach Marshall but the Tide have five letter winners returning this year giving room for optimism.
Wassil recently commented about his second season back, saying, “I am pleased with the leadership that has been developed throughout the program from year one to year two. It takes time for those things and our kids are showing great growth.”
“We are returning the majority of our team this season, which of course means there are certain expectations,” Wassil said. “Good leadership will be needed, however, if we have hopes of meeting team goals.”
The five returning lettermen are seniors Devan Barrett and Josh Terry with three juniors in Christian Bakaysa, Avery Francisco and Noah Von Gunden.
Barrett lead the Tide last year with 10.5 points per game, while Terry put up 10 per contest.
“That’s a good group because it gives us experience and some depth, as these guys played a lot of minutes last year, which should be a plus,” Wassil said.
Others on the roster expected to play meaningful minutes are seniors Nate McKenrick and Nick Stewart along with juniors Dakota Bloom and Jeremy Irwin.
Then Wassil added, “I think our experience this year should be very helpful. It’s a good thing when you return five lettermen and have a few other guys who have had varsity minutes.”
The Golden Tide coach then closed, saying, “One of our focal points this year is consistency. We know what level we are capable of playing at. It’s a matter of playing at the level all of the time.”
Curwensville will open the season on the road, on Friday, at Clearfield against the Bison.
Last year the Bison easily handled the Tide, 81-38 and 87-35.
Listen to the Curwensville – Clearfield boys basketball game on WOKW-FM, 102.9, with the pre-game show starting at approximately 7:20 pm.
ROSTER
SENIORS: *Devan Barrett, Nathan McKenrick, Nick Stewart, *Josh Terry
JUNIORS: *Christian Bakaysa, Dakota Bloom, Jordan Demko, *Avery Francisco, Lincoln Guiffre, Jeremy Irwin, *Noah Von Gunden
SOPHOMORES: Chris Daniel, Ty Dixon, Adam Kunkle, Adam Miller, Caleb Vance
* DENOTES RETURNING LETTER WINNER
SCHEDULE
DECEMBER – *8 at Clearfield, *11 WEST BRANCH, 15 at Moshannon Valley, 20 GLENDALE, 28 & 29 at Freeport Tournament
JANUARY – *3 at Ridgway, 5 BROCKWAY, 9 DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 11 HARMONY,
16 at Elk County Catholic, *19 KANE, *22 MOSHANNON VALLEY, 23 RIDGWAY, *26 at Brockway, 31 at Glendale
FEBRUARY – *2 JOHNSONBURG, 6 at Dubois Central Catholic, 7 at West Branch, 9 at Sheffield,
*12 CLEARFIELD, 14 at Harmony
NOTE: HOME GAMES IN CAPS. ALL JV GAMES START AT 6 PM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
* GAMES TO BE BROADCAST ON WOKW-FM, 102.9 WITH THE PRE GAME SHOW STARTING AT APPROXIAMETLY 7:20 PM.
(BROADCAST SCHEDULE IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE)