New Skipper for CM Boys’ Basketball

BALD EAGLE TOWNSHIP – Will it be a reload, a rebuild or something in-between? That’s what Central Mountain boys’ basketball fans want to know as the Wildcats prepare to open a new season this Friday night, a7:30 home game with District 5A foe Bellefonte.

The new season will see a new coach in former Wildcat player Tyler Bardo. But he knows the program, having worked up through the ranks over the previous six seasons. Bardo, a 2007 graduate of Central Mountain, got his first coaching experience at Berwick in 2008. Since then his hoop experience has included personal and group training of players at all levels, in addition to his coaching work.

Bardo was assistant last year to longtime head coach Scott Baker who stepped down after a 17-9 mark which saw the Wildcats securing their first-ever District 6 title. Bardo told The Record there will be some revisions in the system: “There are some things that are similar to Coach Baker. With five seniors back to lead us, it’d be unfair to flip it upside down on them. However, the system will feature some changes as we have different strengths and weaknesses than previous seasons.”

The team lost a lot of its point-producers to graduation a year, but Bardo likes the traits he is seeing in the returnees: “Our greatest strength is in the athletes we have. The roster has length, speed, quickness, and agility. Issiah McCann, Trevor Hanna, and Matthew Storeman are leading with their experience they bring back. Collin Jones will step into a larger role for us this season, as will Tyler Adair, JT Pentz, and Jake Skrtich. Our staff is optimistic about the development of some other players as well.”

Top returning scorer is the senior Storeman (5-11, 133) with his 7.3 points per game a year ago. A player to watch will be the junior Jones (6-5, 222); he pulled down 93 rebounds last year, blocked nine shots and averaged 4.5 points per game.

Asked about potential concerns, Bardo said the team at this point does not have the all-around skill of the past few seasons. “We have the ability to shoot the ball, but it won’t be what we’re known for. Size will not be kind to us either. We will look to balance that with how we do things on the floor.”
This Friday’s home foe in Bellefonte will be among the teams to be reckoned with in District 6. Bardo mentioned the Red Raiders and Hollidaysburg as expected to be strong this year; they were the two teams the Wildcats downed en route to their district crown.
As for the District 4-oriented Heartland Conference, Bardo looks for more than a few challenges: “As for the Heartland, it’s a conference of well-coached opponents from top to bottom. In previous seasons it was top-heavy with Shamokin, Selinsgrove, and Shikellamy being the most consistent challenges. However, this season looks like it could very competitive across the board. A lot of teams have improved.”