NTL BOYS' BASKETBALL: TROY HAS HIGH EXPECTATIONS GOING INTO 2024-2025 (2024-12-02)

BY CHRIS MANNING
Northern Tier Sports Report
It’ll be hard for Troy to follow-up last year’s undefeated run until the district final, but with the core of their team back, and plenty of help coming up from the underclassmen ranks the Trojans are looking to stay on top of the NTL, and get that district title they just missed out on last year.

Add on top of that the football team’s run to the state final, which means a late start for the boys’ basketball team as they’ve already nixed going to their season opening tournament at Sullivan County.

“It adds some extra adversity for sure, but hopefully, in our program, that when we’re faced with any sort of adversity, it makes us better,” said coach Bob Woodward. “Guys are in the gym getting reputations now that they wouldn’t otherwise, and whenever basketball starts for everybody, that’s when it starts.”

About half their team is with the football team, including all five varsity starters, but the coaches aren’t worried.

“Our ultimate goal is in the end, not the beginning,” Woodward said. “We don’t know what it’s going to look like, or what it’s going to feel like for a while, even when they come back, but the ultimate goal is to be at our best at the end.”

They return three of their top four scorers from a year ago, led by Jack Burbage (16.3 PPG). Lincoln Chimics (12.7 PPG) and Evan Woodward (8.7 PPG) will be back.

“It’s awesome,” Woodward said about those returnees coming back. “Off the court it’s awesome, too, because we’ve been around these guys since probably they’ve been five years old, and they’re awesome human beings. The more time we get to spend with each other, whether it’s in the off season or on the court, we’re really looking forward to it.”

The group will come in with a bulls-eye on their backs after running undefeated through the league a season ago.

“It’s a challenge almost because I feel like I have a lot on my back to back-up,” said Evan Woodward. “But I’m ready for the challenge, and will take it on head first.”

For Burbage last year was last year, and this year is a whole new team.

“It’s a whole new season so what we did last year doesn’t mean anything for this year,” said Burbage.

Burbage and Evan has been working on his game both mentally and physically in the off-season, but has also been a mentor to the younger players on the team, too.

“It was good to see them on the court, and fun to play with them,” Evan said. “They still have a lot to learn but it’ll come a long as we play more.”

Those younger guys will have quite the shoes to fill with Colin Loveland, Lance Heasley, and Jackson Taylor all gone - three players who’ve had big roles since they were sophomores.

“Those guys are superstars,” coach Woodward said. “They’re superstar humans, academically off the court, and on the court, it’s maximum effort. They’re irreplaceable, so hopefully we have some guys that are returning, and even some younger guys that got to experience that are really hungry, and want to be great teammates.”

Joseph Frye will be looking to step into a bigger role this season, along with 6-foot, 4-inch Eason Teribury.

“We lost some very key guys,” Burbage remarked. “But we’ve had to kind of learn to play without them, and work to improve our chemistry.”

Coach Woodward has liked what he’s seen this off season.

“Through the off-season we’ve had some guys step up and be super committed in an elite way,” coach Woodward said. “We’re really looking forward to that. We don’t know what it’s going to look like, but we can’t wait to step out on the court, and find out.”

The seniors are certainly hoping to leave a similar legacy on the basketball court that they’ve left on the gridiron.

“It’s fun because I feel like I have something to play to and a goal already set for everyone watching me,” Evan said. 

The Troy basketball program has been on a pretty good run over the last half decade and it doesn’t look like it’s going to end anytime soon.

“We’ve been back here for two years, and our standard, they keep rising,” coach Woodward said. “It doesn’t necessarily mean winning, it means how much are we giving and who are giving it too. Hopefully, that’s the right formula that we need to keep working on, to try to do something special, just like everybody else is trying to do.”

Their loss to Loyalsock in the district title game is a motivating factor to finish this year what last year started.

“We will have to use that loss as a learning experience, and turn it into motivation to improve our team everyday,” Burbage said.

ROSTER

Sam Roy (12)

Eason Teribury (12)

Lincoln Chimics (12)

Jack Burbage (12)

Evan Woodward (12)

Dylan Liberati (12)

Joseph Frye (12)

Cole Sterling (11)

Cameron Morey (11)

Aiden Lawerence (11)

Roland Smith (11)

Jayden Kutt (10)

Trey Teribury (10)

Spencer Martin (9)

Joey Lackey (9)

SCHEDULE

Dec. 10 at CV, 7 p.m.

Dec. 12 vs Canton, 7 p.m.

Dec. 17 at NEB, 7 p.m.

Dec. 19 vs Wyalusing, 7 p.m.

Dec. 21 vs NPM, 7 p.m.

Dec. 28 at Josh Palmer Tournament

Dec. 29 at Josh Palmer Tournament

Dec. 30 at Josh Palmer Tournament

Jan. 7 at Towanda, 7 p.m.

Jan. 9 vs Athens, 7 p.m.

Jan. 14 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.

Jan. 16 at NPM, 7 p.m.

Jan. 22 at Sayre, 7 p.m.

Jan. 24 vs Williamson, 7 p.m.

Jan. 27 vs Wellsboro, 7 p.m.

Jan. 29 vs NPL, 7 p.m.

Jan. 31 at Wyalusing, 7 p.m.

Feb. 5 vs Towanda, 7 p.m.

Feb. 7 at Athens, 7 p.m.

Feb. 8 at Jersey Shore

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