La Plume, PA (11-9-09) – Last season two points was all that separated the Keystone College men’s basketball team from a berth in the Colonial States Athletic Conference (CSAC) championship game.
Although a heartbreaking loss such as that can be tough on a team, the Giants have used that as inspiration as they prepare to kick off their 2009-10 campaign. With a roster that was void of any seniors last season, Keystone welcomes back their whole team, including the CSAC Rookie of the Year.
Head coach Jason Leone begins his third year as the top man on the Giants’ bench, as Keystone looks to build on last season’s 18-9 mark, which included a 10-6 record in conference play.
While the Giants did not lose any of their core to graduation, they will enter this season without one of their workhorses in Mike Kelly. Kelly, who led all CSAC freshmen in scoring (9.6ppg), assists (2.48apg), steals (2.1spg) and minutes played (863), suffered a torn ACL prior to the start of practice and will be unavailable to the Giants.
However, the loss of Kelly does not mean that the Giants will suffer from a lack of firepower. Averaging 71.1ppg as a team last season, the Giants welcome back leading scorer Tercel Taylor (Jackson, MI/Jackson) and his 13.5ppg average. The junior, who was a Second Team All-Conference selection last season, was second on the team in assists (63) and steals (50).
The versatile duo of Steve Hardnett (Plant City, FL/Plant City) and Malcolm Boone (Sugar Loaf, NY/Warwick) are expected to be big contributors this season. Hardnett, last season’s CSAC Rookie of the Year averaged 7.7ppg and 6.4rpg, while Boone chipped win with 7.4ppg and 5.5rpg. Shot selection was an important part of the game for this talented duo, with Hardnett shooting 55.9% from the field and Boone 56.7% from the floor.
Boone was also a force on the defensive end of the floor making would be shooters think twice about driving to the hoop, as Boone led the team with 38 blocked shots.
While the sophomore duo of Hardnett and Boone provides the Giants with versatility and athleticism on
both ends of the court, the team will look to a pair of seniors for their long range threat. Spencer Lunger (Lake Winola, PA/Tunkhannock) and Ryne Luce (Cohoes, NY/Cohoes) combined to record 120 of the team’s 177 three pointers last season. Lunger, who was second on the team at 12.4ppg, comes into his senior campaign with 896 career points and 161 career threes. A career 74% free throw shooter, he spent most of last season ranked among the nation’s best in that category. Luce was fourth on the squad in scoring last season at 9.0ppg and second on the team in accuracy from the stripe hitting at a 75% clip.
The Giants have added a pair of freshmen this season that will be looked upon to contribute both on the perimeter as well as the inside. Guard Tim Benedix (Mission Viejo, CA/Capistrano Valley) and center Mark Musumeci (Fulton, NY/G. Ray Bodley) bring their double digit high school output to the Giants.
Chances are those who come out and see the Giants play this season will have the opportunity to get a good look at many of the players on the roster. Coach Leone has instituted a fast paced pro-style offense to go along with a pressuring man-to-man defense, which should not only have the Giants in every game, but should be exciting to watch.
“I am very excited about coaching this particular team,” commented coach Leone. “They have really paid a price this off-season and (they) have been a team with excellent practice habits thus far. They have shown great ‘basketball character.’ If we can handle the season the right way in terms of handling the success we had with a young team last year, I think this can be a special year for Keystone basketball,” added coach Leone.
While every game is important in a 25-game regular season slate, the Giants’ staff has circled a few games on the schedule that they feel will test their team and be an accurate measuring stick.
It is important to get off to a good start, so the team’s season/home opener on November 16 against Delaware Valley College will gage just how good the first month of practice went. Another first semester game at home against Marywood University on December 5 will provide an early test in CSAC play.
Coach Leone and his staff (assistant coaches John Leone and Tom Parry) believe that the conference
crown will once again go through Gwynedd-Mercy College. The high powered Griffins will make the trip to La Plume on Monday January 25, while the Giants will make a return trip to Gwynedd-Mercy on February 18 to close out the regular season.
Cabrini College, the team that ended Keystone’s 2008-09 season with a 64-62 semi-final win, will appear twice on the schedule in a 10-day span in January (home on the 4th/away on the 14th). Another highlight of the January slate will be the season’s first renewal of the ‘backyard brawl’ on January 23 when the Giants visit Baptist Bible College. The teams will stage round two on February 15 at Keystone.
Keystone’s full 2009-10 schedule is available by clicking
here.