DUBOIS – Tip off for the 2008-2009 Penn State DuBois Basketball season is set for this Saturday. The women will face the Alfred University Women’s Basketball Team at 1:00 p.m., and the men will take on Jamestown Community college at 2:30.
“We’re cautiously optimistic about the season,” said Men’s Head Coach, David Bennett, explaining that the first five games on the schedule pit the Nittany Lions against formidable non-conference opponents. “We lost four of five starters this year, so there are several new faces and a lot of people who will have to step up into new roles,” he continued.
But, with Bennett at the helm, a winning season is not out of reach. He’ll return four players this year. He said the veterans and the new-comers alike are more than capable of holding their own on the hardwood. “I feel like we have some talented players,” Bennett said. “Our goals are to win a conference title and return to the USCAA National Tournament.”
The 2007-2008 season ended with a trip to the semi-finals in the PSUAC Conference and a chance to play in the USCAA National Tournament. The Penn State DuBois Nittany Lions ended the season, (15-15)
Returning Players are Forward, Ryan Hritz of Clarion, Wing Player, Kevin Neal of Punxsutawney, Guard, Josh Salter of Elk County Catholic, and Forward, Jimmy Higgins of Elk County Catholic. Marcus Genevro was on the team two years ago when he was first team PSUAC All-Conference and USCAA All-American, and he returns this season as team captain.
Cedrick Williams, 5’9” sophomore from Fort Lauderdale, FL and Derek Burdick, 5’10’ freshman from Coudersport High School will man the point guard position.
Marcus Genevro, 6’0” junior from Elk County Catholic, will start at shooting guard with Kevin Neal, 5’10” sophomore, and Kyle Mahoney, 5’10” sophomore from Elk County Catholic, providing depth at the shooting guard position.
Josh Salter, 6’5” sophomore, and Jovan Brown, 6’1” sophomore from Sayre High School in Philadelphia, PA, are competing for the other starting guard position.
Jimmy Higgins, 6’4” sophomore, Ryan Hritz, 6’3” sophomore, and Chris Dickison, 6’5” freshman from Stoudsburg, PA are battling for the two starting forward positions. John Hau, 6’3” freshman from Coudersport, is coming off ACL surgery and will compete for playing time and provide depth at the forward position.
The Penn State DuBois Men’s Basketball team opens the season with two home games. After Saturday’s home opener against Jamestown Community College, Penn State DuBois will return to action on Nov. 17 as they host Pitt-Titusville in a men’s/women’s doubleheader with the women’s game beginning at 6:00 p.m. and the men’s game immediately following.
