CURWENSVILLE – Matt Wassil starts his fourth season in his second stint back as head coach of the Curwensville boys basketball program.
In 2018-19 the Golden Tide could muster up just five wins against 17 losses, but did win three of its final five games with hopes of a carryover effect for the 2019-20 campaign.
Since Wassil’s return Curwensville is 26-63 the past four seasons with the best year being the 2017-18 team that produced an 11-12 record that included a District 9 playoff appearance.
The cupboard isn’t exactly full for this year, but it isn’t quite bare either as the Tide return three letter winners.
One senior, one junior and one sophomore letter winner will be what Wassil needs to build around for any chance of success this season.
Senior Adam Miller, junior Trevor Lansberry and sophomore Ty Terry are those who captured letters last year.
Wassil recently stated, “Trying to replace the seniors from last year will be difficult, but it’s a challenge we look forward to this year. So we will rely on the off-season growth of Terry, Lansberry, and Miller to lead us through the early part of the season. And we have others that we will be looking for contributions from in freshman Danny McGarry, juniors Scott Condon and Ty Tkacik, and sophomore Landon Swatsworth.”
Asked how you find success Coach Wassil said, “I think a lot of our success hinges on how well our guards can make each of their teammates better on a daily basis. It’s their job to make the game easier for everyone else. If they do that, we have a chance to be successful.”
As far as strategy the Golden Tide mentor made it simple by saying, “We have to find consistency in our half court offense. We are going to need to create some opportunities in the open court as well.”
Gone from last year‘s‘ squad are Avery Francisco, Christian Bakaysa, Dakota Bloom, Jeremy Irwin, Lincoln Giuffre and Jordan Demko.
The Golden Tide open the year on Friday, at home against the Clearfield Bison. Last season the Bison defeated the Tide 77-32 and 61-50.
Listen to the Curwensville-Clearfield game on WOKW-FM, 102.9, with the pre-game show starting at approximately 7:20 pm.
ROSTER:
SENIORS: Adam Kunkle, *Adam Miller
JUNIORS: Scott Condon, Chase Graham, *Trevor Lansberry, Michael Lezzer, Chase Mullaney, Ty Tkacik
SOPHOMORES: Tyler Lee, Jayson Rowles, Landon Swatsworth, *Ty Terry
FRESHMEN: Daniel McGarry
* Denotes returning letter winner.
SCHEDULE
DECEMBER: *6 CLEARFIELD, 11 MOSHANNON VALLEY, 13 at Ridgway, *18 at West Branch,
27 at Philipsburg-Osceola
JANUARY: 3 BROCKWAY, *7 DUBOIS CENTRAL CATHOLIC, 10 HARMONY, 14 at Elk County Catholic, 15 at Glendale, 17 KANE, 21 RIDGWAY, 22 PHILIPSBURG-OSCEOLA,
24 at Brockway, 27 WEST BRANCH, 29 GLENDALE, 31 JOHNSONBURG
FEBRUARY: 4 at DuBois Central Catholic, 7 at Sheffield, *10 at Harmony, *12 at Moshannon Valley, *13 at Clearfield
NOTE: HOME GAME IN CAPS. ALL VARSITY GAME START AT 7:30 UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED.
* GAMES TO BE BROADCAST ON WOKW-FM, 102.9. SCHEDULE SUBJECT TO CHANGE
