Seneca Valley Basketball Gears Up for 2010-11 Season

Seneca Valley Girls Basketball 

Todd Bumgardner's girls basketball team at Seneca Valley might be the only team in the entire state that isn't looking to improve from last year. After all, it's kind of difficult to do so when last year included winning the Maryland 3A State Championship and going 27-0 in the process.

And while the fifth-year Seneca coach would like to see his team back in this year's title game, his expectations for this year's team are a little more modest.

"I don't know quite what to expect," Bumgardner said of this year's team that is only returning one starter from last season. "Obviously, I'd like to win as many games as possible this season. But my main goal is just to work hard and compete hard every night and see what happens."

The fact that the Screamin' Eagles lost 80 percent of their starting line-up from last year's team that accounted for what Bumgardner estimates to be 90 percent of their total scoring, is of course the leading factor in the coach's modesty. Among those players gone is last year's All-Met and All-County Player of the Year Kelsey Wolfe, who averaged more than 20 points-per-game last season and is now playing for the University of Virginia and is already making an immediate impact for the Cavaliers.

Obviously, replacing the Maryland Gatorade Player of the Year and the school's all-time leading scorer (1,809 career points) won't be easy. Still, one thing Bumgardner definitely expects out of his team this season is for its few returning players to establish themselves as leaders, particularly Sasha Orr, the team's lone returning starter. 

Orr is the clear leader of the team at practice so far, helping lead drills and fire teammates up during practice. But she also knows it's a team game. "This team is all about team work and working together," Orr said. 

Junior guard Bridget Rothert, who was the team's "sixth man" on last year's championship team, is another player that Bumgardner is expecting big things from this season. "Even though she wasn't a starter, she was a key contributor last year. I'm definitely looking for her to take on a leadership role this season." 

The Screamin' Eagles kick off the season next Tuesday night at Einstein while the team's home opener is Friday night, Dec. 10 against Northwood.

Seneca Valley Boys Basketball

Meanwhile, boys basketball coach Tom Sheahin's team didn't fare quite as well last season, winning just four games in its 2009-10 campaign. But Sheahin is hopeful about the possibilities that lie ahead this season.

"I'm excited that I have 14 great kids that work extremely hard and are all right around a 3.0 [grade point average]," Sheahin said. "They're working hard and I'm proud their effort so far.  If we continue to work hard and take care of the mental part of the game, we should be successful."

Sheahin said that his team is definitely ahead of where it was this time last year, especially in the mental aspect that he says is so important. The coach stated that his players are doing a much better job of remembering play calls and executing the game plan he and his coaching staff have put together. 

And while Bumgardner's team is extremely young, the boys squad is returning many of its key players from last season.

But one key player that won't be returning that some fans may be expecting to see is Mike Bullock, who was a junior on last year's team and averaged 19 points-per-game. Even though he had a year left academically, he was ineligible to compete athletically in sports this season because he "aged out," according to Sheahin.  The 19-year-old transferred to a PG County school last summer.

While Bullock's explosiveness will be missed, Sheahin is excited about some of the players that will be returning to this year's team, including Miles Cooper, who Sheahin referred to as a "key contributor." The 6-foot-2 point guard averaged around 9 points-per-game last year.

One thing the Screamin' Eagles aren't lacking is size. 6-foot-4 Andrew Hampton, 6-foot-4 Chris Williams, and Tanner Vallely, a 6-foot-5 junior who also played football, are among those players that Sheahin will be looking to lead Seneca this season. 

Sheahin also stated that the parity among the teams in Montgomery County's 3A division will make this season more competitive for all schools. He saw things in his team in summer and fall leagues that give him confidence that his team is ready to compete with anyone.

Quince Orchard, specifically, is one team that Sheahin is looking forward to playing and considers among his team's biggest rivals. The Screamin' Eagles play the Cougars for the first time on Dec. 22 at home. 

Seneca's season gets underway at home Tuesday night against Einstein.

Visit Germantown.Patch.com on Monday, Dec. 6 for a preview of the Northwest High School boys and girls teams and follow Germantown.Patch.com all season long for comprehensive basketball coverage.