Depth is key for Lew-Port boys basketball team

by Eric Keppeler
Lewiston Porter Sentinel, December 9, 2006

Pat Krawczyk received a rough welcome to the varsity head coaching job for the Lewiston-Porter boys basketball team.

Krawczyk, who spent the last two years as the Lancers’ junior varsity coach, was looking forward to relying on senior guard David LaChance to lead the team as the latter began his fourth year on the varsity and third season as a starter.

Instead, LaChance suffered a broken elbow last weekend in the first quarter of the Lancers’ first game of the season.

“Yeah, that was tough to take,” Krawczyk said. “But everybody’s adjusting to it. We think Dave will be back around the first of the year, but in the meantime, it’s an opportunity for some of the younger players.”

LaChance and 6-foot-1 sophomore forward Robbie Seyler were the keys to this year’s offense. Both players averaged 12 points per game last season.

Senior guard Dave Vanoni will start in LaChance’s place. Junior guard Jarred Flock started some games last season, and Krawczyk is also looking for him pick up some of the scoring load.

Junior Zach Eoute moves up from the junior varsity to handle the point guard duties, and junior forward Brad Maines is the first man off the bench.

“We don’t have much size,” Krawczyk said. “Basically, it’s like everybody is a guard. But we have pretty good speed, and we can trap and pressure. Hopefully, we’re good shooters, too.”

Krawczyk has a number of players returning with varsity experience, and he’s hoping for good things from all of them.

Senior Brian Basta was a reserve last season, and he can play either guard of forward. Senior Steve Stanley also returns at guard, and senior Jake Rougeux is back at forward. Senior centers Joe Bartos and Brandon Stack also return.

Junior forward Steve Zasucha started for the junior varsity team last year, and junior forward Garrett Ventry returns to the program after a year off.

The Lancers, as usual, will be the smallest school competing in the Niagara Frontier League, so they’re playing up a class almost every night. That’s usually reflected in the league standings as the Lancers usually dwell in the bottom half, but it’s also a big help when the playoffs begin.

When faced with teams their own size, the Lancers are well prepared by their tough regular season slate.

Last year, Lew-Port finished 9-12 overall and knocked out the Pioneer Panthers in the opening round of sectionals. The Lancers then were eliminated by the Cheektowaga Warriors in the quarterfinals.

Krawczyk hopes to improve on both the regular season and post-season records.

“Two years ago, we won one league game,” he said. “Last year, we won three. We’re hoping that the trend of improvement can continue. Then in the playoffs, we want to go as far as we can. Ultimately, we’d love to go to (the sectional semifinals at) Buffalo State. We just missed out on that last year by one game. Maybe this year, we can get there.”