Williamsville North changes offensive philosophy
by PATRICK J. NAGY Reporter

Gone are the days of pounding the basketball down low on every possession for Williamsville North boys basketball.

"(Now) we're just fast," said North coach Chuck Swierski. "Last year, we slowed things down and dumped the ball inside to Rob (Gronkowski) and Max (Lipsitz). "This year, we will depend more on speed and athleticism. We're encouraging them to play a little bit up tempo but at the right time."

Swierski had to change his offensive philosophy because seven of his top eight players from last year either graduated, or in Gronkowski's case, transferred out of the district.

"We've got some work to do but we have some tools to work with," said Swierski. "It will take some time for us to gel as a team."

Four players return from last year's 14-7 team - seniors Ryan Young, Alex Calderon, Zach Boron, and John Ticco - but Young was the only one who saw the floor because the seniors in front of them last year were so good, Swierski said.

Young, 6-foot-5, 205-pound, is a natural power forward but will most likely play at center.

"He does a little bit of everything," said Swierski. "He's probably right now our best rebounder and defender. Offensively, he's much improved from last year."

Young is a co-captain with Calderon, who will start at point guard.

"He brings toughness and won't back down from anybody," said Swierski. "He's a decent ball handler and worked hard on his jump shot... He doesn't do anything great but most things pretty well as a point guard."

Boron will play at small forward and should bring high energy, along with a nice mid-range jump shot and a strong move to the basket, Swierski said.

Ticco is a good shooter, Swierski said.

The rest of the squad minus senior Brian Davis, the team's best natural scorer who should be one of the first reserves off the bench, comes from JV. Juniors John Piaggione, Alex Ullrich, Joe Greenwald, Dave Kling and Justin Miller and sophomore identical twins Alex and Stephen Barth make the jump.

Piaggione was the starting point guard on JV.

"He's lighting fast, is very athletic, and can run the point, play shooting guard or small forward," said Swierski.

Ullrich, 6-foot-4, was MVP of the JV team and should play a lot at power forward. Swierski said Ullrich, a golfer in the fall, is a cerebral player who will outhink the opponent instead of overpowering them.

Greenwald can play shooting guard, Kling, who transferred from St. Joe's to Williamsville South last year, is a guard, and Miller, a 6-foot-8 volleyball player who plays well defensively blocking or altering shots, is a forward.

The Barth twins, both 6-foot-2 small forwards, are incredible raw athletes who are interchangeable at guard or forward, Swierski said.

Swierski sees his team facing growing pains early in the season but once they come together, feels they will be pretty decent.

North 2006-07 Schedule 12-4 East ....................... 7:30 p.m. 12-6 at Jamestown ...... 7:30 p.m. 12-8 at Ken. West Tourn vs. Amherst. ................................ TBA 12-9 at Ken. West Tourn..... TBA 12-12 Frontier............... 7:30 p.m. 12-14 at Clarence......... 7:30 p.m. 12-15 ECIC-MMA Challenge at St. Mary's of Lancaster, O'Hara TBA 12-19 W.S. West............ 7:30 p.m. 12-28 Williamsville Rotary Tournament at South - North vs. Fredonia ................................... 6 p.m. 12-29 Williamsville Rotary Tournament at South - vs. South or Starpoint consolation (6 p.m.), championship (7:30 p.m.) 1-5 at Sweet Home....... 7:30 p.m. 1-11 Orchard Park........ 7:30 p.m. 1-16 at Lancaster .......... 7:30 p.m. 1-19 Jamestown ............ 7:30 p.m. 1-26 at Frontier ........... 7:30 p.m. 1-30 Clarence ............... 7:30 p.m. 2-2 at W.S. West ........... 7:30 p.m. 2-8 Sweet Home .......... 7:30 p.m. 2-12 at Orchard Park .. 7:30 p.m. 2-15 Lancaster.............. 7:30 p.m.

e-mail: pnagy@beenews.com