Scoring is big question facing Flyer boys

MILLBURY – The biggest question for the Lake boys basketball team entering its second season under head
coach Jim Scharer is who will score?
The Flyers, who finished 4-17 for the second consecutive season in Scharer’s first year, enter 2009-10
having lost around 85 percent of the team’s scoring. Gone are leading scorer Anthony Lumbreras and
classmates Michael Mathews, Nick Mikels, Joe Moon, Kyler Lucas and Alex Geisel, who scored a majority of
the points. Lake finished last in the Suburban Lakes League with a 1-13 record.
"We’re really looking to find consistent scorers," said Scharer, who is the first second-year
coach for the Flyers in over four seasons. "But I believe, with all my heart, we have more weapons
than we had last year. We have more kids that can and are capable of scoring double figures."
Last season, the Flyers averaged 44.1 points per game. On defense, they gave up an average of 52.3.
"Last year, we were very one-dimensional and everyone said we’re going to defend Anthony
(Lumbreras)," said Scharer. "This year there isn’t really anyone they can focus on and we have
more complementary players as well."
One returning scorer who should take a lot of the focus inside will be 6-foot-7-inch center Alex Cordell.
Cordell, the team’s leading returning scorer, averaged just over seven points per contest last season.
He showed flashes that he could become one the SLL’s top big men.
"I’m really pleased with (Cordell)," said Scharer of the senior. "He’s very focused and
he’s stepped into a leadership role, which I hope he grasps with a lot of gusto. He can be a very good
player if he works hard at both ends of the floor."
Helping Cordell in the frontcourt will be returning letter winners – sophomore Christopher Pennington and
junior Joe Vancena. Also expected to see plenty of time on the floor will be sophomores Alan Martinez
and Dylan Hirzel, along with seniors Drew Holder and Terry Tomanski. Lake returns a total of four letter
winners, including junior Ahmed Ismail.
"There’s five or six kids in there we can play in the frontcourt," said Scharer. "The
drop-off is very small between them too."
In the backcourt, replacing Lumbreras and Moon will be Ismail and Mike Moon, Joe’s younger brother.
Ismail saw plenty of playing time off the bench last season and is expected to be running the offense
from the point position.

"He’s really quick and has really worked a lot on his shot over the off-season," said Scharer
of the junior. "He’s a veteran now, too. That’s what you need to win in this league."
Younger players making the jump up from the lower levels could include junior Kurt McKee, junior Devon
Robinson and sophomore Josh Tantari.
"The nice thing about this team is it’s young," said Scharer. "Young teams tend to improve
faster than teams that are senior dominated, especially in the first years of a system."
To get to that next level and compete for an SLL title, though, Scharer says his team has to learn to
make the extra plays.
"It’s going to be about conquering that winning mentality and making plays when we need to,"
said Scharer. "Last year, we were really close in a lot of games. Of our 17 losses, we were within
five points of the other team in third quarter 13 times and we just didn’t make the plays we needed
to."
LAKE BOYS SCHEDULE
Dec. 4 – at Bettsville
Dec. 11 – ELMWOOD#
Dec. 15 – OAK HARBOR
Dec. 19 – at Lakota
Dec. 22 – at Northwood
Jan. 2 – DELTA
Jan. 5 – OTSEGO#
Jan. 8 – WOODMORE#
Jan. 14 – GIBSONBURG#
Jan. 16 – SWANTON
Jan. 19 – at Eastwood#
Jan. 22 – at Genoa#
Jan. 28 – at Elmwood#
Jan. 30 – at Rossford
Feb. 5 – at Otsego#
Feb. 6 – FOSTORIA ST. WENDELIN
Feb. 11 – at Woodmore#
Feb. 16 – at Gibsonburg#
Feb. 19 – EASTWOOD#
Feb. 26 – GENOA#
#-Suburban Lakes League game