Girard YellowJackets
Boys
Coach (season, record): Darrin Mayes (13th season, 204-104)
2010-11 overall record: 10-13
2010-11 region record (place): 7-7 (fourth)
2010-11 playoff results: Lost 55-43 to Sharon in the District 10 Class AAA quarterfinals.
Top players lost: Anthony Stuart, Tyler Tome, Brandon Nicosia
Top returning players: Carl Lewis, Garrett Brown, Blake Byham, Joe Swanson
Assistant coaches: Chad Smith, Rob Beam, Bob Otis
Outlook: Girard went through an emotional offseason with the death of Brandon Nicosia. Coach Darrin Mayes and his team has dedicated this season to Nicosia’s memory. Girard will look to rebound this winter after losing in the first round of last year’s playoffs. Anthony Stuart and Tyler Tome have graduated but seniors Carl Lewis, Garrett Brown and Blake Byham are back to provide leadership for the YellowJackets. Junior Joe Swanson started coming on strong last winter and can be a force in the paint. Girard is a in a brutal region with a meaningful game almost every night the ‘Jackets step onto the floor. If Girard can build some depth and cohesion as the season goes on, the ‘Jackets should be back into the postseason.
Schedule
December
9-10 Jamestown tournament
13 McDowell 7:30
16 General McLane* 7:30
20 at Warren* 7:30
23 at Northwestern 7:30
28-29 Iroquois tournament
January
3 Corry* 7:30
6 at Central Tech* 7:30
10 Harbor Creek* 7:30
13 at East* 7:30
17 Fort LeBoeuf* 7:30
19 at General McLane* 7:30
21 Warren* 7:30
25 at Corry* 7:30
27 Cambridge Springs 7:30
31 Central Tech* 7:30
February
3 at Harbor Creek* 7:30
6 at Strong Vincent 8:30
14 East* 7:30
17 at Fort LeBoeuf* 7:30
Girls
Coach (season, record): Larry Seneta (26th season as girls coach, 34th season overall, 591-147 as girls coach, 692-247 overall)
2010-11 overall record: 22-4
2010-11 region record (place): 12-2 (second)
2010-11 playoff results: Defeated Greenville 41-22, lost to Sharon 51-41 and defeated Sharpsville 42-15 in the District 10 playoffs to qualify as the third seed from D-10. Girard then lost 52-38 to Seton-La Salle in the PIAA playoffs.
Top players lost: Chandler Moore, Missi Angerer, Aubree Fails, Cssidy Byham, Kelly Drushel, Katy Rickard
Top returning players: Erin Allen, Leslee DiFucci, Harlie Bolt
Assistant coaches: Jeff DiFucci, Bob Ryan, Stacie Bissell, Dan Agnello, Brittany Younkins, Brian Gimber, Jeff Bowen, Pat Wright
Outlook: It could be a historic season for Larry Seneta and the YellowJackets. Seneta is eight wins from 700 career wins and nine from 600 as the girls coach. Girard will need to develop some of the younger girls in camp with massive graduation losses from last year’s state-playoff team. Chandler Moore, Missi Angerer, Aubree Fails, Cassidy Byham, Kelly Drushel and Katy Rickard have graduated, leaving some huge holes for the ‘Jackets. Erin Allen (first team) and Leslee DiFucci (second) are returning all-region selections, while Harlie Bolt is a strong post player that averaged 7.6 points and 6.2 rebounds per game last winter. Girard has strong senior leadership in Allen and DiFucci but the ‘Jackets have a huge lack of experience to deal with. Girard has a tough schedule to begin the year and will need to use it to become better as the season goes on. The ‘Jackets could still get into the playoffs this year and be a tough team to beat.
Schedule
December
9 Strong Vincent 7:30
14 Harbor Creek 7:30
16 at Union City* 7:30
19 Northwestern* 7:30
21 at Iroquois* 7:30
23 Seneca* 7:30
28 Corry 7:30
January
4 General McLane 7:30
5 at Villa Maria* 7:30
9 Cambridge Springs* 7:30
12 Maplewood* 7:30
14 at Sharpsville 2:30
16 Sharon 7:30
21 at Farrell 2:30
23 Union City* 7:30
26 at Northwestern* 7:30
28 Kennedy Catholic 2:30
February
2 Iroquois* 7:30
6 at Seneca* 7:30
9 Villa Maria* 7:30
13 at Cambridge Springs* 7:30
16 at Maplewood* 7:30
– Tom Reisenweber
