Seniors lead Williamsville South into ECIC Division II
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Since 2000, it hasn't mattered which division Williamsville South has played in - they've finished second.

With a return to ECIC Division II after a three-year hiatus, South coach Al Monaco is looking forward to the challenge.

"We will be very competitive," said Monaco whose team finished 10-2 in ECIC III last year, 16-6 overall. "A lot will depend on how we do in close games."

Monaco's team has ten seniors, eight of which played on varsity last year. Seniors Adrian Wood and Frankie Pieri lead the way. Wood, 6-foot-2, was the team's second leading scorer last year, averaging 16 points.

The speedy Wood, who played for the Western Region at this past summer's Empire State Games, will start for the fourth straight season at shooting guard or small forward. He is a returning ECIC division all-star and enters the season as the ninth highest scorer in South history (667 points). If he stays healthy, he could become only the fourth player at South to go over 1,000 points.

"He has flat out speed and really developed into a good shooter," said Monaco. "He really improved that aspect of his game."

Pieri, 6-foot-4, 192-pounds averaged 10 points and eight rebounds last year. It's his third year starting.

Senior Spencer McIntyre will start at small forward or power forward depending on the match-up.

"He's our best three-point shooter so we'll use him a lot as an inside-outside player," said Monaco. "If they put a smaller guy on him, we're going to try to take him down inside and if they put someone bigger on him, we're going to let him step outside and shoot."

Tiny freshman Mark Coppola (5-foot-1, 105-pounds) replaces Chris O'Connell, who graduated and is now playing for St. John Fisher College, at point guard. Coppola played last year at Christ The King School.

"He's quick, smart and has great court vision," said Monaco. "When he's on the court, he makes everyone better. When somebody is open, he gets them the ball... It was clear from day one that he could play."

Mark's older brother, senior P.J. Coppola, and senior Scott Steimer are vying for the starting off-guard spot.

"I'm waiting to see which one will step up and consistently hit a three-pointer and play some defense," said Monaco. "I think a lot of teams will be concentrating on Adrian and we need someone else who can hit an open three when they guard Adrian or collapse down on Frankie."

Reserves who should see significant time are senior forwards Pat Pidgeon and Dan Lynch and senior guard Tyler Tucker.

Sophomore Daeshaune Clark joined the team late but should contribute quickness and athleticism when he is able to play.

Monaco has liked what he has seen so far.

"They play well as a team," he said. "They're unselfish and have a great team chemistry that could carry a long way."

South's season ended last year to Olean in the Section VI Class A-2 semifinals.

South 2006-07 Schedule 11-30 Lake Shore Lions Club Tourney at Frontier High School vs. St. Francis .... 6 p.m. 12-1 Lake Shore Lions Club Tourney at Frontier vs. Maryvale or Frontier (2 p.m. consolation, 4 p.m. championship) 12-5 at Depew ............................. 7:30 p.m. 12-7 Hamburg.............................. 7:30 p.m. 12-12 Amherst ............................. 7:30 p.m. 12-15 Lake Shore........................ 7:30 p.m. 12-19 at W.S. East....................... 7:30 p.m. 12-28 Williamsville Rotary Tournament at South - South vs. Starpoint ...... 7:30 p.m. 12-29 Williamsville Rotary Tournament at South vs. North or Fredonia consolation (6 p.m., championship................. (7:30 p.m.) 1-5 East ......................................... 7:30 p.m. 1-9 Clarence ................................ 7:30 p.m. 1-11 at Iroquois ........................... 7:30 p.m. 1-19 at Hamburg .......................... 7:30 p.m. 1-25 at Amherst .......................... 7:30 p.m. 1-26 Timon-St. Jude.................... 7:30 p.m. 1-30 at Lake Shore ..................... 7:30 p.m. 2-2 W.S. East ............................... 7:30 p.m. 2-6 Maryvale ................................ 7:30 p.m. 2-8 at East ................................... 7:30 p.m. 2-13 Iroquois................................ 7:30 p.m.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com