Recordpub.com - Coaches share in basketball's holiday cheer

As we roll into the mid-way point of the Portage Trail Conference season, it's pretty clear that some of the league's best teams are on Santa's nice list this year.

From a Mogadore team with a number of familiar faces to a reloaded Streetsboro roster, there's plenty for Portage County basketball fans to be thankful for during this holiday season.

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REFUEL, RESTOCK AND RELOAD -- Streetsboro boys coach Todd Muckleroy is no-doubt thankful that senior guard Jay Lugo found his way to the Rockets lineup. A transfer from Field, Lugo has wasted little time establishing himself as a premier player in the County Division.

With the loss of superstars like Robert Wilson, Carrington Hanna and Cory Lanterman to graduation, last year's Regional qualifier weren't lacking in talent, but they were lacking in big-name players that could keep an opposing coach up at night.

Enter the diminutive Lugo.

Although only 5-foot-7, the senior has unmatched quickness and a fearless nature about his game that fits right into Muckleroy's high-tempo offense.

In an early-season win over Windham, Lugo dropped Lugo 17 points, four assists, four rebounds, and three steals -- his first, and probably not last, big game as a Rocket.

Playing alongside talents like Malcom Brooks and Leon Hedgepeth, Lugo only makes the Rockets' attack that much more of a nightmare to defend.

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ONE MORE SHOT -- Mere seconds were all that stood between the Mogadore girls and an upset victory over state-ranked Lutheran East during last year's Division III Regional Semifinals. I covered that game and I think an unheralded, unhyped and unappreciated team opened some eyes on the state level that night.

Those Cats finished 22-3 and were more than capable of winning in a big way, but they might not have much on the team that Mogadore and coach George Tompkins are trotting out this time around.

I've talked to a number of coaches around the area throughout the early portion of the season and the one thing I keep hearing is that the core group of Jordan Poth, Amanda Sidwell, Presley Destro and Lauren Hunt have found a way to improve.

Maybe it's god-given talent, maybe it's maturity, or maybe it's the knowledge that seniors like Poth, Sidwell and Hunt only have one more shot at this, but Mogadore's come out fast in 2009.

In wins over teams like Ellet, Waterloo, Streetsboro and East Canton, the Cats have displayed their ability to quickly put up points. Only a loss to Metro co-leader Ravenna stands between the Wildcats and a perfect 7-0 start.

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SHARING IS CARING -- The ideal scenario -- at least for the fans -- played out Saturday evening as Ravenna and Roosevelt victories tied things up atop the Metro Division standings.

Ravenna went on the road to drop previous league leader Norton while Kent Roosevelt pulled out an overtime thriller against defending champion Field.

What this means for you and me is that the second half of the season will provide a steady stream of marquee match ups as each of these teams battle down the stretch for the top spot in the division.

What this means for coaches Rod Chlysta (Ravenna), Craig Foreman (Kent Roosevelt) and Brian Miller (Norton) is that Christmas will probably be spent dreaming up "if this happens, then that..." plans rather than taking a well-deserved breather.

All anyone can ask for is a second chance and after each team slipped up during the first half of the season, that's exactly what Christmas will bring for the Metro's top teams.