Boys BBall Hopes for PAC-10 Championship

After a PAC-10 Championship and District Playoffs loss in 2010 for the Rams boys basketball program, there's just one goal in mind: a PAC-10 Championship win.

The Rams squad, under seventh-year head coach and social studies teacher Mike Young, went 16-9 overall last year and 11-2 in the league. Young and his team hope that 2011 is the time to shine.

"Our expectations are, if you ask anyone on our team, is to win the PAC-10 Championship," Young said. "I don’t think anyone will be satisfied with anything less. We’ve made it and lost three of the last four years."

With leading scorer Steve Joyce and another key contributor in Andrew Keys graduating at the end of last year, the Rams will look toward a core group of senior leaders and an experience junior to get the job done.

Footballers Andrew Scanlan and Darryl Branch, soccer's Josh Dishman, football AND soccer's are all seniors who will make a contribution. Tyler Shrunk and Ryan Keefe should make an impact as well on the senior roll.

Junior center Zameer McDowell has started since his freshman year and will be a definite staple in the Rams' plans for glory. Young also accredited sophomores Drew Kakareka and Nick Stanek with varsity contributor's honors. So far so good in preseason practices.

"Right now, there’s been no basketball related injuries," Young said. "A lot of these guys played fall sports, which is great, because we encourage our guys to play a lot of different sports. But, the football guys are still sore from the long football season. They’re rounding into basketball shape. It’s a lot more running and conditioning. I don’t think there’s hurdles or obstacles. It’s just a lot of team chemistry, meshing and getting everyone to accept their roles, which is always important."

Aside from the normal in-league matchups, which should be tough on their own, Spring-Ford is looking at some tough games in Central Bucks West and Central Bucks South along with a "shootout" in Octarara and a holiday tournament in Coatesville.

Young and the squad lost a volunteer coach this year in Spring-Ford alumnus , who now takes the reigns at Owen J. Roberts.

"He was a volunteer and was only here for one year," said Young. "He did a great job. The assistants we have are great. They both teach here at the high school, which is good for me, since I’m not in the building. They can handle things for me during the day. We have another volunteer as well, my dad, Jim Young."

Overall, Young and the Rams know it will all come together with only patience and perseverance. The Rams open up at the PAC-10 Suburban Challenge vs. Central Bucks West and South on Friday and Saturday Dec. 9-10.

"But, it’s a process. It’s not going to come easily or automatically," he said. "It’s a work in progress throughout the season and every game is going to be a tough one because the league is tough."

Boys Basketball 2011-2012 Schedule

Tuesday 11/29

3:30PM

@

Pennridge (scrimmage)

Monday 12/5

5:00PM

@

Conestoga (scrimmage)

Friday 12/9

8:00PM

@

PAC 10-Suburban Challenge - Central Bucks West

Saturday 12/10

7:30PM

Vs.

PAC 10-Suburban Challenge - Central Bucks South (JV Game at 4:30 pm vs. CB South)

Tuesday 12/13

7:30PM

vs.

Boyertown

Friday 12/16

7:30PM

vs.

Methacton

Saturday 12/17

4:30 pm

@

Mid-Atlantic Shoot Out (Octorara)

Tuesday 12/20

7:30PM

vs.

La Salle College High School

Thursday 12/22

7:30PM

vs.

Owen J Roberts

Wednesday 12/28

7:30 PM

@

Coatesville Holiday Tournament  vs. Coatesville

Thursday 12/29

TBA

@

Coatesville Holiday Tournament  

Tuesday 1/3

7:30PM

@

Perkiomen Valley

Thursday 1/5

7:30PM

vs.

Pottsgrove School District

Saturday 1/7

2:30PM

@

Upper Perkiomen

Tuesday 1/10

7:30PM

vs.

Phoenixville

Thursday 1/12

7:00PM

@

Abington

Saturday 1/14

3:30PM

vs.

North Penn

Tuesday 1/17

7:30PM

vs.

Pope John Paul ll High School

Friday 1/20

7:30PM

@

Pottstown

Tuesday 1/24

7:30PM

@

Boyertown

Friday 1/27

7:30PM

@

Methacton

Saturday 1/28

7:00PM

vs.

Central Bucks East

Thursday 2/2

7:30PM

@

Owen J Roberts

Saturday 2/4

7:30PM

vs.

Perkiomen Valley

Friday 2/10

TBA

vs.

PAC 10 Final Four

Tuesday 2/14

7:00PM

vs.

PAC 10 Championship

Friday 2/17

TBA

vs.

District One - 1st Round