BY CHRIS MANNINGNorthern Tier Sports Report
Towanda boys’ basketball has been looking forward to a season like this for a while. With several teams across the league graduating a strong senior class the Knights return their core from last year’s playoff team as they set their sights high.
“It helps to have that experience and to be in those situations where you’ve played a playoff game before,” Towanda coach Landon Henry said. “But we’re very focused on taking it one game at a time this year, and trying to maximize the potential.”
They bring back one of the most talented backcourts in the league in Darrius Farrell and Boom Thompson, along with one of the top big men in Markell Garner.
“He’s a four star general,” Henry said about Thompson. “He’s the guy that we asked to be the extension of our coaching staff. We’re going to ask him to do even more this year, so I’m excited for him. But, like everybody, the emphasis for us this year is just playing together. I think that’s the thing we’ve been stressing.”
On the scoring side Farrell led the team in scoring a year ago thanks to his ability to get the basket.
“He’s a guy that could continue to only get better and better,” said Henry. “I think that he hasn’t even scratched his full potential yet, so I’m eager for guys like.”
For Farrell’s part he can’t wait to pair with his partner in crime as they look to have the run of the league in the open court.
“It was successful, but it’s going to be a lot more successful,” Farrell said.
He’s continued to work on his game as he prepares for his senior season.
“I’ve been working on shooting,” said Farrell. “I shot good last year, but I want to shoot better this year. I want less turnovers, to be smarter (with the ball) and be more mature with it.”
While they look to run and gun in the half court Henry is hoping Garner can give them a post presence to make things easier for their guards.
“Anytime you have a guy of his size, it’s just huge,” he said. “It’s rare to find that in high school, to have a rim protector of his size. Obviously, he brings a lot to the defensive side of the court, but hopefully we can get him a little more comfortable on the offensive end. He’s doing more things on that end, too.”
Other players for him to step up are Lucas Vincent - ‘he matured quite a bit over the summer’ - and senior Landon Clark as they look for shooters to space the floor.
“I’m working on my shot a little more, that’s a big piece of the work we’ve been doing,” Clark said. “I’ve been working on going to the rim, too.”
They’re hoping all the ingredients add up to their first league title in 11 years.
“It’s huge,” Clark said about coming in with expectations. “We’re motivated, everyone motivates each other - that’s a big part of the picture.”
Troy and NP-Mansfield will be trotting out plenty of new faces, though Wellsboro and Athens bring back quite a bit, while Wyalusing is looking to take a step forward this year.
“I would just say that I’m looking at this year no different than any other year,” said Henry. “Every year we approach it with a humble perspective, like it’s anyone’s league to win. We’ve just got to work harder than the rest of the teams, and let the chips fall where they may. But we’re excited, and I think it’s going to come down to how hard we push each other in practice.”
ROSTER (Grade)
Landon Clark (12)
Darrius Farrell (12)
Noah Dalton (11)
Graham Welles (11)
Lucas Vincent (11)
Markell Garner (11)
John Hemphill (11)
Hudson Stevens (11)
Ryan Maynard (10)
Boom Thompson (10)
Josh Maye (10)
Keegan Stroud (10)
Gabe Fuller (10)
Anthony Schuman (10)
Gabe Wolf (9)
Jayden Maloney (9)
Owin Stempel (9)
Harper Welles (9)
Patrick McPeak (9)
Hayden Blake (9)
Ryan Hemphill (9)
Alexander Clemens (9)
SCHEDULE
Dec. 5 vs Montrose, 7 p.m.
Dec. 9 vs Sayre, 7 p.m.
Dec. 12 at Muncy Tournament
Dec. 13 at Muncy Tournament
Dec. 16 at Williamson, 7 p.m.
Dec. 18 vs NPL, 7 p.m.
Dec. 22 vs Mt. Carmel at Hughesville Tournament, 7 p.m.
Dec. 23 at Hughesville Tournament
Dec. 27 vs Sullivan County, 7 p.m.
Jan. 6 at Troy, 7 p.m.
Jan. 8 vs Wellsboro, 7 p.m.
Jan. 13 at NPM, 7 p.m.
Jan. 15 at Wyalusing, 7 p.m.
Jan. 17 at Athens, 7 p.m.
Jan. 21 vs CV, 7 p.m.
Jan. 23 at Canton, 7 p.m.
Jan. 30 vs Athens, 7 p.m.
Feb. 2 vs Wyalusing, 7 p.m.
Feb. 4 vs Troy, 7 p.m.
Feb. 6 at Wellsboro, 7 p.m.
Feb. 10 vs NPM, 7 p.m.
