Continuously serving Kosciusko County since 1854
MENTONE - Gregg Sciarra is not prone to exaggeration.
Never has been. Probably never will be.
So when he puts the words team and best into the same sentence, you sit up and take notice.
"This is the best team I've had," Sciarra, in his sixth year as Valley head coach, said.
Beg pardon?
"The best team I've had," he repeated.
He didn't say it once. Didn't say it twice.
Sciarra said it three times. And the season hasn't even started.
The source of Sciarra's optimism? Players. More importantly, returning starting players. He has more of them than any of the other five area teams.
Back are Jeff Brown, Darren Parker and Nick Stutzman, who all started last year. The two starters Sciarra lost to graduation were point guard Quentin Law and center Jason Cumberland.
Parker will be the point guard on this year's team. The two new starters will be Eric Love at shooting guard and Scott Cooksey at the post. Brown and Stutzman are the forwards.
Andy Young will be the first guard off the bench. Bryan Lenfestey, after he serves a four-game suspension, will figure into the guard rotation. JayDee Parker and Aaron Hart are the top frontcourt reserves.
Sciarra is confident in these nine players. Their talent is what has him optimistic about this year's team.
By the end of last year, Brown was one of the best players in the area, averaging 15 points, 8 rebounds and 3 assists per game. Stutzman averaged 13 points and 4 rebounds a game, while Parker provided 12 points and led area teams with 4 steals per game.
Everybody knows about those three. But Sciarra believes he has a few others who will surprise some people, especially Cooksey.
"With people trying to stop Brown and Stutzman and putting enough pressure on Parker, things can open up a little bit for him," he said. "He's very capable. I'm not putting too much on his shoulders, but I think he will be a nice complement to that group."
Love will give Valley an outside threat. He hit two three-pointers at the jamboree.
"Love gives us a different look offensively," Sciarra said. "He does a nice job of hitting three-pointers, so that will spread some people out."
The problem is after the first nine. If Valley has one glaring weakness, it's depth. Those nine are the only players listed on Sciarra's varsity roster.
"If some of our guys get a couple of fouls (early), that changes us drastically on our talent level," Sciarra said. "If we get Brown in foul trouble early - and he is very, very aggressive - we (coaches) will have ulcers on the bench."
Many of the problems will be solved when Lenfestey returns. Sciarra has no backup point guard, so Lenfestey could solve that problem. The Vikings also need him back for his ability to penetrate the lane, something Law did so well for Valley last year. Lenfestey is the only Viking who will do that consistently.
The Vikings unveiled a new style of play at the jamboree. They plan to play a full-court game.
"Our game plan, starting out, is we'll press you from the time you get out there on the floor," Sciarra said. "It will be a change. I don't know how successful we'll be at the beginning, but once we get more comfortable and in better shape ...
"We have a lot of options. They'll be able to play a half-court game, but we'll do a lot of running. The defense will - hopefully - make the transition work a little better and allow us to get a lot of points off of it.
"How long it will take, I don't know. We go to Glenn and come back and play Warsaw, and we don't have one of our better players (Lenfestey). JayDee is getting better and better each day.
"Like I said, this is the best team I've had."
There.
He said it again.
The third time.
Tippecanoe Valley Vikings
Coach - Gregg Sciarra (6th season)
Last year - 11-10 (5-2 TRC); lost in sectional first round
Key returners - Jeff Brown, Nick Stutzman, Darren Parker
Key losses - Quentin Law, Jason Cumberland
1996-97 Valley Roster
Name Pos. Ht. Yr.
Jeff Brown F 6-2 12
Darren Parker F 6-1 12
Bryan Lenfestey G 5-10 12
NIck Stutzman G 6-0 12
Eric Love G 5-11 11
Aaron Hart F 6-1 11
Scott Cooksey F 6-2 11
JayDee Parker C 6-3 11
Andy Young G 5-10 11
1996-97 Valley Schedule
Nov. 23 at Glenn
Nov. 27 WARSAW
Dec. 6 COLUMBIA CITY
Dec. 7 at North Miami
Dec. 13 WHITKO
Dec. 20 WAWASEE
Dec. 27 at Plymouth Tour.
Dec. 28 at Plymouth Tour.
Jan. 10 SOUTHWOOD
Jan. 11 ARGOS
Jan. 17 at Northfield
Jan. 18 at Caston
Jan. 24 at Rochester
Jan. 25 at SB Washington
Jan. 31 at Manchester
Feb. 7 WABASH
Feb. 14 BREMEN
Feb. 15 at Triton
Feb. 21 OAK HILL
Feb. 22 PLYMOUTH
