NTL BOYS BASKETBALL: SAYRE'S SHAW BELIEVES TEAM UNITY A KEY TO SUCCESS IN 2021-22 (15 PHOTOS) (2021-12-10)
By TIM BIRNEYValley Sports ReportSAYRE "" Sayre boys basketball coach Devin Shaw is looking for his players to come together as a team in the 2021-22 season.
(Sayre opens play tonight at home against Susquehanna.)
The Redskin roster is absent four players Shaw was expecting to play.
"We had a few kids not come out," he said. "I thought our numbers would be a little higher, but I'm gonna coach the guys who are here.
"I want the guys who want to be here and want to play," added Shaw. "I'm not going to worry about who's not here."
Seniors Dom Fabbri and Josh Arnold, and juniors Jackson Hubbard and Zach Garrity return for the Redskins and are expected to start.
"They all got a lot of minutes last year," said Shaw.
Also returning and in the projected starting line-up is senior Kannon VanDuzer.
"Kannon played some last year. He'll get a lot more time this year," said Shaw.
Juniors Patrick Shaw and Wesley Kelsey "played a lot of JV minutes last year" will come off the bench, along with senior Donovan Wynn and first-year senior Cayden Firestine.
Also expected to see minutes off the bench is freshman Nick Pellicano.
"We need to come together as one team," said Shaw.
"We have a couple guys who are very good basketball players, but it's going to take an entire team to be successful.
"We have a couple guys who haven't played in a couple of years, and a couple of inexperienced guys," added Shaw. "We need to bring them up to speed, and bring them together with the veteran guys."
While working to create a cohesive team, Shaw is also implementing a new offense.
"We have some guys who can shoot the basketball.
"Everyone knows Dom (Fabbri) is a very good player," said Shaw. "We're hoping our new offense will allow us to spread it around, so opposing defenses can't key on one guy.
"The hope is we will have other guys being able to make plays with this new offense," he added.
Staying healthy and out of four trouble is Shaw biggest concern heading into the 2021-22 campaign.
"Our varsity depth is a little low," he said. "Hopefully, our veteran leaders can stay out of foul trouble, and stay on the court.
"Our depth is definitely a question mark as of now," Shaw added.
Shaw said his team is focused on getting better each day.
"We're going to take it one game at a time.
"Not knowing with the new offense, and with the inexperience we have, you can only look at one game at a time," said Shaw.
"We're going to scout everybody, and we'll be ready to go each game," he added.
AROUND THE NTL"The entire league is tough again," said Shaw.
"In the Small School, Canton has their big three back, and Wyalusing returns three or four starters," he noted. "CV has thePainter kid back, so they'll be pretty good, too."
"Hopefully, we'll be competitive and make a run at the Small School title," Shaw added.
Shaw believes the Large School Division will be competitive, too.
"Athens returns five starters, and Wellsboro has all five guys back," he said.
"And, Troy returns Ty Barrett, who is a dominant player and tough to guard," Shaw noted.
Shaw notes the NTL schedule will have his team ready for the postseason again.
"Just like the past two years, you can't take a night off.
"You have to bring your A-game every night, which has helped us when we get to Districts," said Shaw. "The league is so tough and competitive that when we get to Districts we're ready to go. We've seen that type of competition in the NTL all season."
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IN PHOTO 1: Dom Fabbri in action from scrimmage against Mountain View. ... PHOTOS BY TIM BIRNEY.
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