Ridgway Elkers
Head coach: Tony Allegretto
2019-20 Record: 20-8
Playoffs: Lost to Johnsonburg, 51-32, in AML Semifinals; Beat Smethport, 50-27, in District 9 Class 2A quarterfinals; Beat Coudersport, 39-29, in District 9 Class 2A semifinals; Beat Clarion, 41-32, in District 9 Class 2A Championship Game; Beat Shenango, 59-47, in the first round of PIAA Class 2A playoffs; Lost to Farrell, 51-33, in PIAA Class 2A second round
Top returning players: Alex Bon (Sr., G/F, 3.3 ppg, 2 rpg), RJ Miller (Sr., G/F, 2.4 ppg, 3 rpg), Domenic Allegretto (Jr., PG, 4.9 ppg, 3 apg, 3 rpg), Dan Park (Jr., F/C, 8.4 ppg, 5 rpg)
Top players lost: Matt Dush (13.8 ppg, 3.8 apg, 3.1 rpg, 1.9 spg, Shot 59.9 percent from the field; First team All-District 9 as a senior), Zack Zameroski (12.8 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 2.0 apg, 1.0 spg; Shot 50.2 percent from the field; Third-team All-District 9)
Key newcomers: Dominic Gaudino (Sr.), Will Howard (Jr.), Jack Benninger (So.), Aaron Sorg (So.), Erik Panebianco (So.). This group will be competing for the remainder of the playing time. Dom can provide some experience, while Will can provide defense and rebounding once he learns our system, Erik will be called upon to handle the back-up PG duties, while we hope a scoring lift will come from Jack and Aaron.
Keys to the season: The keys to the season are (1) The ability of the inexperienced players to learn a system that usually takes all summer through January to understand and to become comfortable within. (2) For our players to take to the coaching they are going to receive at an accelerated level. (3) Our returning players need to be leaders and role models to the newcomers and provide stability within our system. (4) Finding the ability to score from all contributors. (5) Getting into shape physically and mentally prior to the reset and carrying this through to the playoffs.
Things your team was doing during the COVID-19 pause of winter sports: We were able to get in a dozen or so practices prior to the current pause. We were prepared to start the season. Since the stoppage occurred we have not had the ability to get together. In the weeks leading up to the restart, we will have some virtual meetings to discuss secondary techniques for preparing for the season outside of being in the gym. The players will be expected to get themselves back into playing shape physically by that first practice on Jan. 11, and they will have to mentally revisit what we were trying to accomplish in the practice we had. We were unable to have an off-season program since our loss to Farrell on March 11. Once we hit mid-November we knew we had to work hard to play catch-up. This season will provide many challenges and I think the team you see in Mid-January will have little resemblance to what we are by March.
