CLINTON TWP. — Lackawanna Trail’s boys basketball team won just three games last season but, with many players returning with varsity experience, the Lions could be poised for a breakout season.

“We bring back experience with five seniors and two juniors, and they feel they’re ready,” Lackawanna Trail head coach Christian Sunseri said.

Sunseri believes hard work, specifically on defense, will be a key factor in determining the team’s success.

“Our effort fluctuated last year because we lost so many games,” he said. “We want to worry about the things we can control — our effort, playing hard every night and defensive consistency. If our defense plays well, it can keep us in any game.”

Seniors guards Travis Ankoff and John Maier, senior forwards Ronnie Traver and Anthony Berrios and junior guard Griffin Holmes are expected to make up the starting lineup.

Senior forward Jake Sanders, junior forward Shawn Jones, sophomore forward Zac Cost and sophomore guards Jordan Edwards and Zach Stec may see expanded roles this season. Freshman guard Josh Rzucidlo may also crack the rotation.

Forwards Steve Scioscia and Cody Stuenzi, the team’s top two scorers a year ago, graduated leaving a big void to fill on the offensive end of the court.

Sunseri expects Ankoff and Maier to be the main scoring threats on the perimeter with Jones and Sanders handling most of the work inside the paint.

“A lot of the juniors, who are now seniors, played a lot of minutes last year,” Sunseri said. “They weren’t the primary scorers, but they got a lot of experience and now it’s their turn to step up and take on those roles.”

Sunseri feels the race for the Lackawanna League Division 4 championship should be fairly wide open, although he pegged Blue Ridge as a slight favorite.

“I think our league is up in the air for anyone,” Sunseri said. “There have been a couple coaching changes and Elk Lake and Montrose, who typically dominate our league, both graduated a lot of guys.”

The third-year coach believes he’s created a positive basketball culture at Lackawanna Trail and hopes to see continued growth.

“We’ve built excitement around the program,” Sunseri said. “When I started we had about 14 or 15 kids and we’re up to about 19. We’re still looking to improve our overall consistency. We had a really good season my first year, then we lost a bunch of seniors and were way down last year. We’re trying to build the program to where when we lose kids, we have experienced kids in the next class to step up. “

Lackawanna Trail will compete in Class 2A after playing in Class A the past two seasons. The Lions last district playoff win came in 2013.

“The two (goals) the team set out that they want to (accomplish) are winning the (Cal King) Tournament, because the school hasn’t won it in four or five years, and winning the league title,” Sunseri said.

Lackawanna Trail will open its season at the Wallenpaupack Tournament against East Stroudsburg North Friday, Dec. 9.

Lackawanna Trail boys basketball projected starters, from left, guard John Maier, forward Ronnie Traver, guard Travis Ankoff, forward Anthony Berrios and guard Griffin Holmes.
http://www.theabingtonjournal.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/web1_ABJ-LT-Basketball.jpg.optimal.jpgLackawanna Trail boys basketball projected starters, from left, guard John Maier, forward Ronnie Traver, guard Travis Ankoff, forward Anthony Berrios and guard Griffin Holmes. Robert Tomkavage | Abington Journal

By Robert Tomkavage

rtomkavage@timesleader.com

Reach Robert Tomkavage at 570-704-3941 or on Twitter @rtomkavage.

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Video Caption: Lackawanna Trail’s boys basketball team returns seven upperclassmen and could be headed for a breakout season.
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