Last year’s division winners are among the favorites in this year’s Suburban Council boys basketball field. North Division champion Shaker and South Division champion Bethlehem each return several key players from last year’s respective rosters, which several coaches said gives them the edge over the rest of the league. “I would think Bethlehem should be strong again. They’ve got some good size and some good shooters back,” said Colonie coach Doug Kilmer. “And Shaker in the other division has several players back.” “I see it being very tough,” added Mohonasen coach Ken Dagostino. “Everybody’s good this year. I think a couple of teams are going to be improved over last year.” Here is a closer look at the Suburban Council field.
North Division
Ballston Spa Scotties
Head coach: Jon Lea
Key players: Jon Bingham (senior forward), Jesse Flynt (senior guard), Dan Kaplan (senior forward), George Kernochan (senior guard), Andre Edgerton (junior forward) Outlook: Lea is hoping his second year at Ballston Spa will go better than his first, when the Scotties managed only five wins. “One of the things we’re hoping to do is be a better defensive team,” said Lea. “We gave up an average of 64 points per game last year. We can’t do that in the Suburban Council.” BH-BL Spartans
Head coach: Gary Bynon
Key players: Max Batty (senior forward), Robert Knightes (senior guard/forward), Austin Nydeggar (junior forward/guard), David Wellington (junior guard/forward) Outlook: Before he resigned Tuesday (see related story here), coach George Dudas found himself in the familiar position of having to integrate several football players into the basketball team after the football team played in the state championship game for the fourth time in the last five years. “Just getting the chemistry and getting those guys together takes time,” said Dudas. “Most of the other teams are about four weeks ahead of us.” Niskayuna Silver Warriors
Head coach: Ian McShane
Key players: Connor Andrews (senior guard), Liam Byrne (senior forward), Brandon Fine (senior forward), Aaron Gordon (junior guard), Brent Oliver (senior guard), Michael Sise (junior guard) Outlook: McShane said he’s seeking improvement from his Silver Warriors after they struggled in the North Division last year. “We’ve got a little size, but more importantly there are some good shooters in this league, so we have to get out and play defense,” said McShane. Saratoga Blue Streaks
Head coach: Jack Brock
Key players: Jesse Alexander (junior center), Noah Arciero (junior guard/forward), Chris Byno (sophomore guard), Jonathan Rach (senior forward), Nick Smith (senior guard/forward) Outlook: The Blue Streaks started their season with victories over Glens Falls and Guilderland in their tip-off tournament last weekend, and Brock said he’s hoping the scrappy, gutsy style his players showed will carry through the regular season. “It’s an awesome group. They’re hard working,” said Brock. “They’re a well-rounded group.” Shaker Blue Bison
Head coach: Jeff Holmes
Key players: Dave Morrison (senior center), Chris Landers (senior forward), Zach Yakel (senior guard), Tyler Hoffman (junior guard/forward), Andrew Holmes (junior guard/forward) Outlook: Holmes said this year’s Blue Bison could be his deepest squad in several years, in terms of talent. “We think we can play different ways,” said Holmes. “We’ve got size, we’ve got quickness and we’ve got better shooters. We’re excited about our veterans and our flexibility.” Shen Plainsmen
Head coach: Tony Dzikas
Key players: Jake Hicks (junior guard), Ted McCarthy (senior guard), Dylan Molloy (senior guard), Paul Sarapilio (senior forward), Drew Zlogar (senior forward) Outlook: The Plainsmen must overcome the graduation of several starters from last year’s squad if they are to contend for the North Division title again. “We’re very young this year, so we’re hoping we’ll be better in January than we are now,” said Dzikas. South Division
Averill Park Warriors
Head coach: Dave Pugliese
Key players: Dan VanRoy (senior forward), Luke Ziegler (senior guard), Matt LaBounty (senior forward), Miles Joyce (sophomore guard) Outlook: With seven of their top eight players back from last year’s team, Pugliese said he’s optimistic about the Warriors’ chances in a tough South Division field. “We feel we can be competitive this year,” said Pugliese. “We have two three-year starters in Dan VanRoy and Luke Ziegler, so that helps us.” Bethlehem Eagles
Head coach: A.G. Irons
Key players: John Sica (sophomore center), Myles Bergere (senior forward), Nate Kane (senior guard), Connor Morelli (junior forward) Outlook: The Eagles have plenty of size in the front court with the 6-foot, 7-inch Sica and the 6-3 Bergere, but it’s the backcourt play and the development of a younger group of players that Irons said will determine Bethlehem’s ability to defend its South Division title. “Our goal is obviously to put ourselves in a position to contend for titles,” said Irons. “The Suburban Council South is always going to be tough.” Colonie Garnet Raiders
Head coach: Dave Kilmer
Key players: Godfrey Freeman (senior guard), Jake Samuels (senior forward), Sonny Benson (senior guard), John Ziamandanis (senior guard), Brandon Jeffers (senior guard), Ryan Nicholson (junior forward), Nolan Smith (sophomore guard) Outlook: Kilmer said he knows his team will give a maximum amount of effort this season. Whether it translates to more wins will depend on what they have left in the tank at the end of games. “We’re pretty small, and we’ll hustle a lot,” said Kilmer. “It’s just a matter of whether we can win late in the game.” Columbia Blue Devils
Head coach: Jim Obermayer
Key players: Jahlil Nails (sophomore forward), Conrad Zampier (senior guard/forward)
Outlook: The Blue Devils have two proven scorers in Nails and Zampier, but whether they can unseat Bethlehem for the division title will depend on who else steps up for them. Guilderland Dutchmen
Head coach: Ron Osinksi
Key players: Brian Crupi (senior guard), Vince Simeone (junior guard), Connor Burg (senior guard/forward), Troy Buchanan (senior guard), Matt Cerutti (junior forward), Marc Dumoulin (junior forward) Outlook: The Dutchmen were dealt a blow when Cerutti was sidelined in the preseason with an injury that might keep him out of the entire season. That leaves Osinski with only a limited number of varsity veterans to work with. “It’s a very inexperienced group. There are a couple of guys I don’t know if they’ve even started at the high school level before,” said Osinski. Mohonasen Mighty Warriors
Head coach: Ken Dagostino
Key players: Grant Massaroni (senior forward), Nick Rapp (senior guard), Joe DeLuca (senior forward) Outlook: The Mighty Warriors also lack experience in their starting lineup after several seniors graduated following a Section II Class A semifinal exit in the 2011-12 season. “The group is very new – not young, but very new,” said Dagostino. “We’ve got Grant (Massaroni) back, and the rest were close to starting last year but were behind a talented senior group.”