When the Elba basketball team walked off the court in the Section 5 Class DD semifinals last year, it was after an amazing 12-point comeback victory over rival Notre Dame. It was a huge upset.
The Lancers then lost to Fillmore 53-43 in the finals, but are hoping to carry over the momentum from that sectional run to this season.
Juniors Phil Ostroski and Sonny Guiliano were major factors in that run and both return to lead a physically strong Elba squad into the 2008-2009 season.
Ostroski was a huge player on the squad last season when he had to fill in for a team that had suspension issues early on, and he was a unique talent - a big body that could step outside and shoot the 3 at any time.
The 6-foot-1, 210-pound forward will be the go-to guy for the Lancers and could very well be one of the top scorers in the league this season.
Guiliano is going to run the point this season after seeing good minutes a year ago. He's also big, at 6-foot-1, 210 pounds, and has the ability to put the ball in the basket as well. He will mix scoring with a pass-first attitude (he nearly had a triple-double in Elba's 54-33 win over Barker in the season opener).
Both players have the ability to star each and every night out.
But that isn't all the Lancers bring to the table.
Forwards Max Torrey and Theo Tomczak and guard Adam Shuknecht all received quality playing time last season and will add depth to the squad.
Elba also has a couple of new editions that will help out.
Senior Cody Torpey did not play basketball last season, but returns to the court and brings a lot of speed to the squad. He isn't expected to do a lot of scoring, but will do the things that don't show up in the boxscore.
The other name to watch is sophomore Crosby Lamont, who is called up to the varsity squad because of his potential. He will come off the bench and provide a spark for coach Rick Pcionek.
Elba's record was just 13-11 last year, and the team lost stars Ian Woodworth, Rocco Zambito and Casey Hoover to graduation, but should be able to challenge some of the elite teams in the Genesee Region League this season because of a physical style of play that will frustrate teams that lack size.
