Posted: Dec. 1, 2009 |(0) Comments

Homestead boys basketball

Forgive Highlanders coach Ray Curry if he was a bit confused a few weeks ago to have all his expected varsity players available for early practices, but that was the case because the defending state champion football squad's season ended a little earlier than expected.

But it's hardly the only first this winter for the experienced Highlanders, as they will also welcome their first freshman, 6-6 Luke Worthington, to varsity since the legendary Steve Schwandt back in 1961.

"We have only three guys 6-4 or above," said Curry, "so there was a need for him. … It was rather funny though, because we're so used to the football team going deep in the playoffs , we didn't bother scheduling a scrimmage, because that's always around the time of the state finals (which Homestead went to three successive years prior to this season).

"We just didn't do it."

So Curry is looking forward to getting a fast start for his team for the first time in several years. Coming off a 6-15 season, they took on defending state Division 2 champion Wisconsin Lutheran on Tuesday in its opener and will meet Muskego at 11:30 a.m. Saturday in the Terry Porter Classic at South Division.

The Highlanders will build around returning 6-4 second-team all-conference selection John Laihinen, who had an all-state season as defensive end for the football team. Laihinen and another football veteran, 6-3 senior Coy Smith, will give Curry a rarity. It's the first time he's had his top two returning scorers back in several years.

Other veterans include 5-9 senior guard Bryan Bronaugh and 6-0 junior point guard Dominic Wilder. Curry said that Wilder had a great summer and is drawing some Division I college interest.

Other seniors include 5-10 Andrew Holtorf, 5-9 Nick Pitner and 6-2 Lamonte Moore. Six other juniors make up the rest of the varsity.

"They're all hard-working kids," said Curry, "and a lot of them had good (off-season) camps. They're really willing to work. I don't think we'll have the depth of a team like Germantown, but we will be able to run and press."

But Curry knows it will be an uphill battle in a deep North Shore this season. The top two teams from a year ago, Bay and Germantown, are in rebuilding mode, but already have shown signs of life and Port Washington, Nicolet, Milwaukee Lutheran and Cedarburg are looking to make moves to the top this winter.

"I think we're looking for a big turnaround," Curry said, "and what's going to help, is that we have great chemistry. We've only had one bad practice and then we turned around the next day and had our best practice in two years."

Whitefish Bay girls basketball

The successful rebuilding program for the Blue Dukes over the last few years looks to reach to a peak this winter, as an experienced squad looks to build on an encouraging 10-13 mark of a year ago.

"I think our experience and depth will all be better than it was a year ago," said Bay coach Greg Capper. "We have better skill sets and better athletes. I think for Dave (assistant coach Dave Markson) and I, this will be a fun third year running things."

The Blue Dukes opened their season against West Allis Hale on Tuesday and will visit in-town rival Dominican at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Bay will head over to Waukesha North for a 7:30 p.m. tilt on Dec. 8.

Bay will rely on six players who saw significant minutes last winter. They include returning senior starters in 5-9 Alexa Herasimchuk and 5-10 Maggie Rice and returning junior starters 5-9 Jessie Switzer and 5-6 Lydia Kaminsky.

Other players of impact will be 5-6 senior Kylie Davidson and 5-8 junior Leslie Fuda.

"We haven't had a scrimmage yet, so we're going to dive right into things," said Capper. "We'll run when its available to us and always try to take care of the ball. Like most good teams, we'll try to play solid half-court defense and run a number of defenses."

Defending co-champ Nicolet looks very strong, said Capper and Germantown has a chance to be good, too, he said.

"We'd like to be in that mix," he said. "We have to be ready to finish plays, but I think we're ready to step up. We have enough experience. I like our chances."

Homestead girls basketball

Small, green and looking for improvement wherever they can find it, it will definitely be a rebuilding season for the Highlanders girls this winter.

Homestead learned some hard lessons in its opening 71-46 loss to Pewaukee in the NY2LA Classic on Saturday, but new coach Matt Heuser said it did not dent the good attitude that's pervaded camp.

"So far, I've really enjoyed working with the girls," he said. "They've been pretty positive, have had a good attitude and are good listeners."

They'll need to be. Heuser is taking over for veteran coach Bill Scasny, who retired after last season's 18-5 WIAA regional champion campaign. Nine seniors are gone from that team.

Heuser, who worked with Homestead's junior varsity boys team last winter, has just five seniors to work with this season, including just a handful with any real experience. Leading the way will be 5-9 junior forward Siena Mitman, who had 19 points in the loss to Pewaukee.

Other leaders include 5-5 senior guards Sarah Block and Katie Smigelski, who are team co-captains.

Also looking to earn significant minutes are seniors 5-6 Megan Geschke, 5-9 Emily Martin and 5-4 Natalie Sperling; 5-7 junior Gabby Kailas and 5-10 sophomore Hannah Young. Kailas will get first shot at running the point.

"We'll have a lot of guards cutting to the basket, and we'll try to get out and run," said Heuser. "We want to fast break and push it, because we do have a lot of speed and hope to use it to our advantage."

Defending co-champ Nicolet will lead the North Shore this winter, with Germantown and Whitefish Bay in contention. The Highlanders will host another rebuilding team, Menomonee Falls, at 7:30 p.m. Friday.

Shorewood boys basketball

Youth will be served for the Greyhounds this winter, as they look to replace seven graduated seniors from last season with a new look team that includes three freshmen.

"And there's a possibility of more (freshmen)," said Shorewood coach John Hoch, "and we'll have a sophomore point guard, too."

The Greyhounds took on Watertown in their opener on Tuesday and will open their Woodland Conference season Friday at home against South Milwaukee (7:30 p.m.).

Hoch will be working with only two returning starters off a team that went 6-16 last season. They include 6-6 senior forward Chase Miller, who is a good passer and perimeter shooter, and 5-10 senior guard Erik Berg.

Others who look to impact the team this winter include 5-8 sophomore point guard Deion Jackson-Body, 6-3 junior forward Devon Walton and freshmen Austin Malone-Mitchell (5-8), Tyler Miller (6-1) and Alex Najieb (5-11).

"I like the kids," said Hoch. "We're going to have four levels of kids on the varsity and we're working hard to build some cohesiveness. We'll put in a lot of new things and try to work with our existing talent."

"Maybe we'll go a little more up-tempo, try some dribble-drive offense. We'll look to go to the hoop more and use more full-court pressure on defense."

Brown Deer boys basketball

Fresh off a 10-12 season, the Falcons dropped their opener to Milwaukee Pulaski, 60-51, at the NY2LA Classic at Nicolet on Friday.

The Falcons, who are co-coached by Andy Bauschelt and James Flegel, jumped right into the heart of their Woodland Conference schedule this week with a pair of games, including a Friday home tilt against Whitnall at 7:30 p.m.

Brown Deer has only four seniors on its roster and will be a little short on height, as the tallest player is 6-4 sophomore Jamon Jackson-Wilson. Seniors include 6-3 Antwan Battles, 6-2 Danny Korpela, 6-0 Tevin Roundtree and 5-8 Nigel Ogbonna.

Other players of importance include juniors 5-11 Joziah Mallett, 6-1 Kierre Ogbanna, and 5-8 Chris Smith and 5-6 freshman Jake Schimenz.

In the game against Pulaski, the Falcons took an 18-11 first quarter lead, but the Rams outscored them 35-17 in the second and third quarters combined to take control.

Jackson-Wilson had 11 points while Smith and Ogbanna nine apiece and Mallett eight.

Brown Deer girls basketball

Low on numbers, but hopefully long on "want-to," the Falcons will look to talent to overcome their lack of depth this season.

New coach Mark Busalacchi was hired in October, so recruiting through the hallways was hard to do. As a result, the Falcons have only 18 girls out in the entire program. They will run a 10-player varsity and an eight-player junior varsity.

"But we'll still want to run and push it," he said. "We won't have much of a bench, but we will get after people and we will be entertaining.

"And the kids have been really responsive. They're really super upbeat. They've really made it a priority to get along well."

Leading the speed patrol will be two members of the Falcons powerhouse state track 400-meter relay team, 5-4 junior Chelsea Stingley and 5-5 junior Ariel Kinlow. Other veterans include 5-10 senior Monique Morris and 6-1 junior Ariel Feiertag.

Two freshmen who will be helpful include 5-7 Allison Laurent and 5-9 Jasalyn Lee and 5-7 Mariah Weddle has also looked good.

Busalacchi has 10 years of experience with boys teams at Mukwonago, Waukesha West and Carroll College, but this is his first chance to coach a girls team.

The Falcons began their Woodland Conference season Tuesday against Greenfield and head to Whitnall on Friday for a 7:30 p.m. tilt.

Shorewood girls basketball

Hope springs eternal in the camp of the Greyhounds as they have nowhere to go but up from their 0-21 mark of last season.

"It is going to be another challenging season for us in the Woodland Conference this year as we continue to build the program," said Greyhounds coach Charlie Kazel. "We are going to be very young again. Right now, I anticipate starting three freshmen at point guard, shooting guard and forward. It's going to be a difficult transition from eighth grade basketball to varsity against top teams in the Woodland.

"At this point we aren't too concerned with wins and losses. Although it sure would be nice to win one. We will work hard and try to get better with each game. Success for us will be measured in improvement and how much fun the girls have."

The Greyhounds will have only three seniors this winter. They are guards Kari Glass and Melanie Gilmore and forward Ajeanette Gordon. The only junior is guard Jenny Vrobel.

Four sophomores and five freshmen make up the rest of the roster.

Shorewood opened its season against Racine Prairie on Tuesday and will visit South Milwaukee at 7:30 p.m. Friday for its Woodland Conference debut.