Sports - Basketball season has officially begun

In his 11th year at the helm, coach Mitch Snyder has signed on once again to lead the Saratoga Springs High School boys basketball team as they begin their season competing in the Suburban Council Division.

“The Suburban Council is a tough division to play in,” Snyder said, but was sure his team could rise to the challenge.

Coming off of a 6-15 record last year, the team is off to a good start after winning their first conference game of the season against Shaker last Tuesday.

Although three key players have graduated from last year’s team (Mike McCarthy, Ryan James, and Don Allen), most of the team remains intact, with senior Jordon Stevens leading the team in his fifth consecutive year as a starter for the Streaks. Stevens has recently accepted a scholarship to play Division I Holy Cross next fall.

“He just signed on a week ago,” Snyder said, “after verbally committing in September. He’s a very intelligent kid, in the classroom and on the court.”

The month spent practicing in the offseason has taught the team how to work together as a unit, with several players stepping forward to help lead the younger players.

“The seniors are good leaders,” Snyder said. “The kids play very intensely, but they also play with composure.”

Snyder said there are always many different areas he’d like to see his team improve in - it comes with the territory - but his main focus right now is on free throw shooting and defense.

“We need to make sure we can keep up a tough defense all game,” Snyder said.

With that in mind, Snyder is very excited about this year’s team. What surprised both he and assistant coach Doug Leninger was how, “we’ve seen this team improve so much in such a short time frame.”

Such a drastic improvement from the offseason is rare, Snyder indicated, and bodes well for the Streaks’ run this season.

This Friday at 7 p.m., the team looks to compete in a weekend tournament, starting with a game against Washingtonville High.

Saratoga Girls Basketball

The Saratoga Springs girls team is looking strong this year, with head coach Rich Johns and volunteer veteran coach of 31 years, Damian Fantauzzi, leading the team this season. Fantauzzi, a long-time coach for Saratoga, has returned to help out the team after a two year hiatus following his retirement.

“It was kind of unexpected,” Fantauzzi said. “I love basketball, I love coaching it. It was a surprise of course, but I’m happy to do it.”

Although two key players, Kathleen Conley and Jenna Eddy, have moved on since last year, nine other girls have returned for the season. Among those returning is Staci McElroy, the senior forward at 5’10.”

“She’s outstanding,” Fantauzzi said of McElroy. “She had 13 points the first night, and 18 on the second night, and totaled 21 rebounds.”

Fantauzzi is also excited by the guards on this year’s team.

“Our guards are very, very strong players,” Fantauzzi said.

Seniors Marie Davison and Cara O’Connor are two return players filling the guard position, with juniors Kathleen Allen and Kayla Crawford all providing key points from the outside. Victoria Wilson, another important junior guard, “was hurt during the beginning of the season. But we’re working with her and looking forward to getting her back up to strength,” Fantauzzi said.

Fantauzzi indicated that the team also boasts some good size on the inside. Kathleen Hannan, 5’11” and Brigid Clare, 6’, share the center position on the team, helping to pull down key rebounds. Casey Harkins, the 5’10 senior forward, also adds some height to the roster, and is a “good outside shooter,” as well, Fantauzzi said.

Rachel Eddy, the junior forward, “can do a lot of good things. We have a lot of high hopes for her,” Fantauzzi said.

Melissa Barney, Savannah Campbell and Meredith Farley also share the forward position for the Streaks, adding not only speed and strength, but some good outside shooting.

“I’m impressed with their determination,” Fantauzzi said about the team. “They’re not quitters, and they don’t back down.”

Currently the team is focusing on their rebounding and defensive game, trying to perfect their man to man coverage. For Fantauzzi, developing the defense is a process, where you add on to your tactics as the season progresses.

“It’s my kind of game,” said Fantauzzi. “A chess game, that just keeps on going.”