BY HEIDI ZENEFSKI
Sports Correspondent

High school basketball teams are readying for the start of the regular season in January with practices and scrimmages as they prepare.

Mountain View’s second year coach Spencer Lunger is looking to capitalize on the team improvements from last year. Lunger doubled the number of wins for the Eagles from the previous year, ending the season at 9-12.

Lunger said, “Our goal this season is to be above .500; be in the hunt for a division title; and also to win a playoff game. We have experience and depth at every position to give us a chance to win every night. We will continue to work hard each and every day to reach our goals.”

Returning starters Deon Faramelli and Chris White will lead the Eagles on the court. Other players on the roster are: Bryan Owens, Ryan Lavin, Robert Parry, Trystan Phillips, Gabe Fontana, Cody Hollister , Jesse Gerfin, Matt Lavin, Josh Johnson, Tyler Wakalowski, Mario Snyder, Lucas Larue, Josh Ella, Alex Macdonald, Alex Showalter, Nate Ransom, Cameron Hollister, and Anthony Neri.

The Eagles’ first game will be a Division 4 match-up against Lackawanna Trail on Saturday, Jan. 3.

Susquehanna Community returns three starters to the court: Luke Falletta, Austin Felter and Christian Miller with Coach Lawrence Tompkins at the helm.

Coach Tompkins expects to improve last season’s 6-16 record. “We have fantastic senior leadership on this team, as well as a group of younger players who have committed to working hard day-in and day-out on becoming better. It will be fun to coach this group of young men.”

The Sabers’ goal for the upcoming season is to “play our best basketball during the second half of the season.”

The Sabers’ roster also includes: Brady Towner, Kasey Burdick, Brad Sherman, Zachary Collins, Tyler Williams, Garrett Grausgruber, and Jack Avery.

Susquehanna’s season opener will be a Division 4 game against Forest City, on Saturday, Jan. 3.
The Elk Lake Warriors are coming off a 23-2 record and a fantastic season last year, but lost all of their starters to graduation.

Coach John Warnero isn’t worried about this being a rebuilding year for the Warriors who were the Division 4 Champions and the County Tournament Champions last year.

“We will focus on improving the things we can control with great emphasis on our effort and character,” Warnero said. “Our goals are to play hard, play smart, and play together on every possession. We plan to grow as individuals and a team and become the strongest version of ourselves.”

The 2014-15 Warriors’ roster is made up of Wyatt Warner, Dalton Sherman, Sheldon Vibbard, Seth Tewksbury, Bailey Newhart, Cole Tyler, Hunter Watkins, Jonny Baltzley, JJ Heft, Gavin Kelly, Ben Woolcock, Kyle Day, Evan Debonis, Chris Meaders, Alex Hewitt, Lionel Cardova, Rierdan Reyan, Drew Arnold, Carson Mack, Alex Hunsinger, Cam Welsh, Kobe Jayne, Adam Parrett, and Travis Tewksbury.

The Warriors’ first game is a crossover game with Division 3 Holy Cross on Saturday, Jan. 3.