Click here to subscribe today or Login.
By PAUL SOKOLOSKI; Times Leader Sports Writer
Friday, November 28, 1997 Page:
In the fifth season of men’s basketball at Marywood, the Pacers are as
likely to stand as they are to sit. In other words, they’re pretty
unpredictable.
“You know how 5-year-olds are,” Marywood coach Ed Cosgrove said, his eyes
rolling. “Sometimes they listen, sometimes they don’t.”
Chances are, though, the Pacers will be running a lot.
Led by smooth sophomore guard Anthony Mauro, the Pacers can play 11-deep in
a fast-paced pressure style that’s bound to bring excitement to Marywood this
year.
“We’re going to up-tempo this year, we’re going to put pressure on people,”
Cosgrove said. “We’re not going to sit back and hope not to lose. We’re going
to go and win.”
That’s something that the Pacers have been waiting for since a men’s
basketball program began at Marywood in 1993-94.
“People talk about turning the program around,” said Cosgrove, whose team
has never won more than five games in a season during his first four years.
“We never turned. We’re still turning. That’s the point that I’d like to make.
You can’t turn around something that hasn’t fully turned.”
This year, the Pacers are primed to make major inroads on their course.
Rico Morales and Guy-Jo Gordon are back from soccer season and should
bolster the starting lineup soon. They’re surrounded by talented players such
as Harold Shaw, Chris Davis, John Bendzunas and Adam Kieselowsky- all who fit
well in supercharged style featuring Mauro.
Marywood was hurt by the loss of senior co-captain Dave Brixius, who
suffered a dislocated wrist and broke his arm in five places during a fall in
the Laurel Line Tournament. He’ll miss the season, but it’s still hard to
count Marywood out.
“This year, we’re looking at double-figure wins and making the playoffs,”
Cosgrove said. “That is always the goal. We’re progressing right along the
line that we need to be.”
Marywood women have playoff hopes
After missing the PAC playoffs for the first time in three years, the
Marywood women’s basketball team is planning a big return this year.
“That’s definitely in sight for us,” said Marywood coach Teri Snyder.
“Everybody wants a championship, everybody wants league playoffs.”
To get there, the Lady Pacers will try to speed up their game with a deep
but inexperienced bench.
“The key is going to be some of the younger players getting the
experience,” Snyder said.
For starters, Marywood can rely on junior center Keri Ruddy to control the
inside and returning guards Rose Kuchwara and Tracey Schimelfenig from the
perimeter. They all gained valuable experience during last year’s 7-16 finish.
Promising freshman Piper Frick, from Montrose, has proven a strong
defensive player in the early going, while sophomore guard Chesla Bohinski
from Wilkes-Barre is showing signs of becoming a dependable scorer.
The Lady Pacers had plenty of problems breaking press defenses in the early
going, but Snyder doesn’t expect that to last.
“It’s going to take some work,” she said. “It’s not going to happen all at
once.”
Once Marywood solves that problem, though, it should rebound into the PAC
playoff race.
“We definitely have high hopes for this team,” Snyder said. “They work
hard, they don’t give up. The desire, hope and determination is there.”