By: Kyle Moylan
Kevin Gardner can’t believe what he is seeing.
The first-year coach of the Allentown High School boys’ basketball team was told his team went 1-25 last season. When he actually saw the returning players in practice, however, Gardner thought he was watching something completely different.
"They looked so much better than that record in practices," Gardner said. "I don’t know what happened last year. They seem like better than 1-25. I heard they were a very young team last year. We’re still young, but I see a lot of promising things."
Allentown does have four seniors this season. They are Greg Amatrudo (a 6-foot guard), Chris Katzman (6-foot-2 guard), Jeff Duymich (6 foot forward) and Armando Davis (a 6-foot-1 guard).
Other members of the team are Will Moreo (5-foot-10 point guard), Logan Gallagher (6-foot-3 guard), Kyle Nieliwocki (6-foot-3 forward), Joe Pepitone (5-foot-10), Brandon Search and Dan Westfall.
Gardner, a former coach at Howell High School, already is working on certain changes with this group.
"I heard they played a lot of zone in the past," Gardner noted. "I like to get up in your face. I like to get up and go. The kids are working hard and they are getting it."
To Gardner, defense is the key to Allentown’s success.
"Defense wins games," Gardner said. "The word is we didn’t score a lot last season. Some nights your offense might not be on. If the offense isn’t on, the defense is. If you play defense every night, you win."
Allentown’s defense will be tested in the opener 7 p.m. Friday night when it hosts Steinert. That will be followed by a game 2 p.m. Saturday afternoon at Spotswood. Allentown will also host Robbinsville 7 p.m. on Tuesday. Gardner offers no predictions, just an understanding.
"If we could get a couple of wins at the beginning, it would be great for the kids," Gardner said. "I think we can get seven or eight games, but let’s get two wins and go from there. They have to experience winning. The hardest task is to get them to realize they can be winning."
A 1-25 record last season and a schedule dominated by Colonial Valley Conference games doesn’t make winning easy. Then again, winning isn’t easy. It isn’t easy for anyone. No one ever said it was.
"There will be a learning curve with a new coach, but the kids are working hard," Gardner noted. "They’re a great bunch of kids. They’re very respectful and fun to coach.
"I want them to play hard. I want them to play defense. Win or lose, I want them to bring it every night."
If that happens, the wins will come and Gardner will have no trouble believing what he is seeing.
NEHS
The New Egypt High School boys’ basketball team will open the season at home 7 p.m. when it hosts a talented Florence team.
New Egypt is coming off a 17-11 season in which it made its first appearance in the playoffs.
Jon Corby is back for his sixth year as coach. He’ll be assisted by Tom Corby and Rick DeMarco. Also returning are Josh Howard (6-foot-3 senior), Rick Mackesey (6-foot-1 senior), Steve Dey (5-foot-8 senior), Dan Knotts (6 foot senior), Dakota Havens (6-foot-1 sophomore) and Dylan Rowley (6-foot junior). Howard averaged 10 points and 8.5 rebounds a game. Mackesy is a three-year starter.
New members of the team are Dan Leutwyler (5-foot-8 junior), Davion Clanton (5-foot-9 junior), Steven Panasuk (6-foot-2 junior), Kevin Janowski (6-foot-6 sophomore) and Cody Shields (5-foot-9 sophomore)
"We lost three starters and our sixth man," Corby noted. "We believe we have enough talent. We just need to gain experience together on the varsity level. Our goal is to get back to the state playoffs again."

