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Carl Anderson

Senior Carl Anderson was one of the stabilizers of the Mercyhurst Prep boys basketball program.

After two coaches were fired in less than one year and first-year coach Sean Baer taking over right before Anderson’s sophomore season, the talented leader helped regroup the program, which led to 56 wins over the past three years.

Anderson, a 6-foot 2-inch forward, averaged 12.5 points per game this year and helped Mercyhurst pick up another PIAA playoff win over District 9 champion Brockway. The Lakers’ program is back playing at a high level each season and Anderson will leave Mercyhurst in the spring as one of the seasons why.

The Franklin and Mercyhurst Prep girls basketball programs have developed into powers on the district and state levels recently. The two teams have met seven times since the 2008-09 season and will play in the District 10 Class AAA semifinals on Wednesday. Here’s a look at their recent history.

–Tom Reisenweber

Chloe Wright

Mercyhurst Prep’s Chloe Wright looked like the future at the forward position for the Lakers coming into the season.

The 5-foot 11-inch sophomore was called into action early after an injury to senior standout Brenna Robbins.

Wright, the daughter of Gannon coach Cleve  Wright, filled in for Robbins with 15 points and 14 rebounds in a 51-44  win over Mercy (Calif.) in the Mercy (Md.) holiday tournament. She then  scored 12 points in a 40-36 loss to Mother of Mercy (Calif.).

Robbins is cleared to play, but Wright is an emerging star for the Lakers and their immediate future.

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Mercyhurst Prep Lakers
Boys
Coach (season, record): Sean Baer (3rd season, 38-15)
2011-12 overall record: 24-3
2011-12 region record (place): 9-1 (champion)
2011-12 playoff results: Defeated Wilmington 57-15, Saegertown 70-24 and North East 41-30 to win the District 10 Class AA championship. Mercyhurst then defeated Shady Side Academy in the first round of the PIAA playoffs before losing to Monessen 46-40 in the second round.
Top players lost: Dwayne Canady, Anthony Malone, Casey Shelton, Steve Wagner
Top returning players: Alex Borges, Carl Anderson, Sam Corritore, Alex Johnson
Assistant coaches: Dave Stolar, Nick Stolar, Bill Carideo, Dave Williams
Outlook: Mercyhurst Prep will need to find some leadership in camp this year. The Lakers were hit hard by graduation, including the loss of Dwayne Canady, Anthony Malone, Casey Shelton and Steve Wagner. Shelton was voted to the all-region first team, while Malone was a second-team selection. Mercyhurst came together and peaked at the right time to win the District 10 Class AA championship. The Lakers will have some experience back. Senior forward Alex Borges is one of the top big men in the area while classmate Carl Anderson is a solid complement. Both are three-year varsity players and will be counted on to lead a young team. Sam Corritore and Alex Johnson could also provide senior leadership for the Lakers. Mercyhurst could receive big contributions from Josh Bojewski, Rocco Agnello and Aaron Haas as well. Haas could step into a starting role at point guard. Mercyhurst found plenty of success last year with a strong defense and the Lakers may need to play at a high level defensively to repeat that success. Mercyhurst’s program is strong enough to stay competitive with the usual Class AA powers and the addition of West Middlesex, but the younger Lakers must adapt to the varsity level quickly.

Schedule
December
7-8 Neshannock tournament
11 at Sharon 7:30
15 McDowell 7:30
18 at Bradford 7:30
21 at Titusville* 7:30
27-28 North Allegheny tournament
January
3 at Northwestern* 7:30
5 North East* 7:30
9 Iroquois* 7:30
11 Fairview* 7:30
15 at Seneca* 7:30
18 at Union City* 7:30
22 Titusville* 7:30
29 Northwestern* 7:30
February
1 at North East* 7:30
5 at Iroquois* 7:30
8 at Fairview* 7:30
12 Seneca* 7:30
13 Central Tech 7:30
15 Union City* 7:30
*Region 4 games

Girls
Coach (season, record): Dan Perfetto (7th season, 146-25)
2011-12 overall record: 24-2
2011-12 region record (place): 14-0 (champion)
2011-12 playoff results: Defeated Grove City 48-26 in the District 10 Class AAA quarterfinals before losing to Franklin 39-33 in the semifinals. Mercyhurst then defeated General McLane 53-36 in the D-10 third-place game. Mercyhurst lost to Hopewell 51-23 in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.
Top players lost: Amanda Berchtold, Kayla Wilwohl, Alissa Robbins
Top returning players: Brenna Robbins, Elysha Chrzanowski, Erika Woll, Rachel Shopene, Annie Popoff, Emily Stoicovy, Madison Steiner, Chloe Wright
Assistant coaches: Jen Crawford, Jeff Orlando, Mashea Williams
Outlook: Mercyhurst Prep will be an interesting team to watch this season. The Lakers only graduated three players but all three provided strong leadership for Mercyhurst. Amanda Berchtold and Kayla Wilwohl led the Lakers at the guard position and Robbins was solid off the bench. Berchtold was voted the Region 6 Player of the Year and to the all-region first team. She was also named to the all-district team. Wilwohl was voted to the all-region second team. The three leave big holes to fill but Mercyhurst does have some experience back. Division I recruit Brenna Robbins, an all-region first-team selection returns. She provides senior leadership and has committed to Longwood. She is joined in the post by Elysha Chrzanowski while sophomore Annie Popoff is another returning starter. Juniors Erika Woll and Rachel Shopene will contend for playing time along with sophomores Emily Stoicovy, Madison Steinder and Chloe Wright. The Lakers have speed and a solid post presence but rebuilding leadership roles and guard play will be key. District 10 is down to two spots in the PIAA playoffs and the addition of Villa Maria in Class AAA makes for possibly three showdowns between the Lakers and Victors. If Mercyhurst can develop some leaders and build chemistry among a young team, the Lakers might turn into the team to beat in Class AAA.

Schedule
December
13 at Strong Vincent 7:30
16 East 6
17 Bradford 7:30
22 Blackhawk 3:30
27-29 Mercy tournament (Md.)
January
5 Central Tech 4:30
8 Harbor Creek* 7:30
10 at Villa Maria* 8:30
15 Warren* 7:30
21 Fort LeBoeuf* 7:30
25 at Corry* 7:30
26 at Montour 5:30
28 at Harbor Creek* 7:30
31 at Warren* 7:30
February
5 Villa Maria* 7:30
8 at Altoona 7:30
9 at Hollidaysburg 2:30
11 at Fort LeBoeuf* 7:30
14 Corry* 7:30
16 McDowell 7
*Region 6 games

Sunday: North East

–Tom Reisenweber

Mercyhurst Prep Lakers
Boys
Coach (season, record): Sean Baer (2nd season, 14-12)
2010-11 overall record: 14-12
2010-11 region record (place): 7-3 (tied for second)
2010-11 playoff results: Defeated Lakeview 48-47, lost 41-37 to North East and defeated Fairview 40-36 in the District 10 playoffs to be the third seed from D-10 in the PIAA playoffs. Mercyhurst then lost 53-42 to Monessen in the first round of the PIAA playoffs.
Top players lost: Phil Wilcox, Shane Saginak
Top returning players: Dwayne Canady, Casey Shelton, Steve Wagner, Anthony Malone, Alex Borges, Carl Anderson
Assistant coaches: Dave Stolar, Bill Carideo, Bob Amendola, Nick Arrigo, Tim Shaloiko
Outlook: Mercyhurst Prep was behind last season with the resignation of its new coach and a late hiring of Sean Bear. The Lakers still managed to make the District 10 Class AA playoffs and even make their way to the PIAA playoffs. Mercyhurst lost some production in the graduation of Phil Wilcox and Shane Saginak, but the Lakers are pretty experienced. Dwayne Canady has been and up-and-coming standout for the past few years, while Casey Shelton, Steve Wagner, Anthony Malone, Alex Borges and Carl Anderson could all be big-time contributors this season. Mercyhurst has a veteran group back with a year of experience with Baer’s system. The Lakers should contend in a region that could be a little down this year. North East will be the biggest hurdle while Fairview and Seneca could struggle with inexperience early in the season. Mercyhurst has another tough non-region schedule this winter, including games against Warren, Strong Vincent, Central Tech and McDowell to name a few of the toughest games. The Lakers have the talent and chemistry to win D-10 but like the past, it could come down to them against North East for the title.

Schedule
December
9-10 Neshannock tournament
13 Warren 7:30
17 at West Middlesex 4:30
21 Bradford 7:30
23 Strong Vincent 7:30
27-29 Windermere Prep tournament
January
3 at McDowell 7:30
10 Conneaut (Ohio) 7:30
13 Northwestern* 7:30
17 at Fairview* 7:30
20 North East* 7:30
24 at Seneca* 7:30
27 Iroquois* 7:30
February
3 at Northwestern* 7:30
7 Fairview* 7:30
10 at North East* 7:30
14 Seneca* 7:30
17 at Iroquois* 7:30
18 at Central Tech 7:30

Girls
Coach (season, record): Dan Perfetto (6th season, 122-23)
2010-11 overall record: 27-3
2010-11 region record (place): 14-0 (champion)
2010-11 playoff results: Defeated Grove City 63-18, General McLane 50-46 and Franklin 51-41 to win the District 10 Class AAA championship. Mercyhurst then defeated Hopewell 55-47 in overtime, Indiana 47-40, New Castle 66-54 and Villa Joseph Marie 58-46 in the PIAA playoffs before losing 53-41 to Archbishop Wood in the state championship.
Top players lost: Lindsay Stamp, Ally Burke, Florie Fournier
Top returning players: Amanda Berchtold, Kayla Wilwohl, Brenna Robbins, Alissa Robbins,
Assistant coaches: Jenn Crawford, Jeff Orlando, Shanna Gabbard, Jack Ziacik
Outlook: Mercyhurst Prep will be an interesting team to watch this winter. The Lakers rolled to the D-10 Class AAA title last year and were one strong second half from winning a state title. Mercyhurst lost Lindsay Stamp, Ally Burke and Florie Fournier to graduation and will have some injuries to deal with. Alissa Robbins and Kayla Wilwohl could be out until January with injuries but both could be back for the Lakers’ showdown with Villa Maria on Feb. 4. The two are huge pieces to this year’s team along with Gannon-bound Amanda Bercthold and talented forward Brenna Robbins. Berchtold and Wilwohl have been with the varsity their entire careers, while the two along with Brenna Robbins are returning starters. While the Lakers get healthy, Allie Moore, Elysha Chrzanowski and Erika Woll could be key contributors this season. The Lakers have will have a mix of experienced players and underclassmen this season, making camp and each practice important as the season goes on. Mercyhurst has a tough non-region schedule, including games against McDowell, East, Strong Vincent and Villa Maria, as well as a trip to the Cactus Jam tournament out west. The Lakers’ biggest hurdle at repeating in D-10 could be Franklin once again, but Mercyhurst has three months to build chemistry and depth.

Schedule
December
14 at McDowell 7:30
17 at Strong Vincent 3:30
20 at East 7:30
22 Fort LeBoeuf* 7:30
27-29 Cactus Jam tournament
January
6 Central Tech 7:30
9 at General McLane* 7:30
12 at Harbor Creek* 7:30
16 Corry* 7:30
18 at Warren* 7:30
24 Fairview* 7:30
26 at North East* 7:30
30 General McLane* 7:30
February
2 Harbor Creek* 7:30
4 Villa Maria 7:30
7 at Corry* 7:30
9 Warren* 7:30
11 at Fort LeBoeuf* 7:30
14 at Fairview* 7:30
17 North East* 7:30

Wednesday: North East

– Tom Reisenweber