Lake boys basketball team ready to rise up

When you’re at the bottom and ready to make a move, there’s only one way to go — and that’s up. The question is how you’re going to do it.

For Lake, Tom McBride and the boys basketball team are plotting to vacate the basement of the Federal League standings. McBride, who is entering his 27th year at Lake, sees a team that returns its top scorer and rebounder from last season receiving an infusion of new blood in an incoming group of players.

Mix it together and the Blue Streaks, who finished 3-20 overall with a 1-11 mark in the Federal League last season, should be much improved offensively.

“This team has the ability to shoot the three at a much better percentage,” McBride said. “We look to be more of a motion offense team that will push more in transition. Defensively, we will need to change more due to the lineup on the floor.”

McBride could find some gig work as a psychic as Lake, in its home and season opener against Ellet on Nov. 28, outshot the Orangemen 48% to 38% overall — and that included a blistering rate of 47% from downtown.

Returning for Lake are four key letterwinners who paid their dues last year and are now ready to enjoy that experience paying off. First up is 6-foot-3 point guard and leading scorer Zach Novak, followed by 6-2 forward and leading rebounder Gavin Salzwimmer, 6-1 guard Nick Geyer, and 6-4 post player Luke Fredmonsky.

Incoming is a group of new faces that will give the Blue Streaks some much-needed depth. They include 5-10 senior point guard Dom Maricocchi and 6-5 junior forward Logan Miller, who McBride refers to as a “great scorer and shooter.” Coming off the bench for Lake will be 6-4 backup post Brody Dyrlund and 5-9 backup point guard Devon Moore, both juniors.

The sophomore class is represented by 6-0 guard Lucas Dreher, a three-point shooting specialist; 5-10 Mason Fritz; and 6-1 guard Peyton Putnam, a “great leader, motivator, scorer and playmaker,” according to McBride. Freshmen shooting guard Taden Coblentz and point guard Cohen Coblentz, both 6-0, round out the newcomers.

Speaking of Taden Coblentz, he’s already made quite an impression. With Lake trailing Ellet 59-56 with seconds remaining in the fourth quarter, he coolly drained a trey from several feet beyond the arc to send the game into overtime. The Blue Streaks — who led 33-17 in the second quarter and by 10 in the third before Ellet stormed back — outscored the Orangemen 12-6 in overtime to provide their hometown fans with a thrilling 71-65 victory.

Despite the improved firepower, McBride acknowledges that there are some areas his squad will have to work on, opining, “Defense and rebounding are a concern, especially in the Federal League.”

So far, so good for the rebounding, which held up against Ellet. The Orangemen, coming off a 15-8 campaign last season, were dominated 36-25 on the boards by Lake. That being said, the seven-team Federal League is a different animal altogether. Still, McBride counts on his team’s improved cohesiveness and offense to help Lake work its way out of the basement, an address where the Blue Streaks have toiled the last two seasons.

“I believe a top-three finish is attainable,” McBride says of his team’s odds.

Looks like a moving van may be in order in Uniontown.