Boys basketball: Shaker, Bethlehem among favorites in Suburban Council

As of Wednesday, December 5, 2012 -4:35 p.m.

Last year’s division winners are among the favorites in this year’s Suburban Council boys basketball field.

North Division champion Shaker and South Division champion Bethlehem each return several key players from last year’s respective rosters, which several coaches said gives them the edge over the rest of the league.

Reader poll

Which boys basketball team will have the best record in the Suburban Council?

Bethlehem 50%
Guilderland 6%
Shaker 38%
Shenendehowa 6%

32 total votes.

“I would think Bethlehem should be strong again. They’ve got some good size and some good shooters back,” said Colonie coach Doug Kilmer. “And Shaker in the other division has several players back.”

“I see it being very tough,” added Mohonasen coach Ken Dagostino. “Everybody’s good this year. I think a couple of teams are going to be improved over last year.”

Here is a closer look at the Suburban Council field.

North Division

Ballston Spa Scotties

Head coach: Jon Lea

Key players: Jon Bingham (senior forward), Jesse Flynt (senior guard), Dan Kaplan (senior forward), George Kernochan (senior guard), Andre Edgerton (junior forward)

Outlook: Lea is hoping his second year at Ballston Spa will go better than his first, when the Scotties managed only five wins.

“One of the things we’re hoping to do is be a better defensive team,” said Lea. “We gave up an average of 64 points per game last year. We can’t do that in the Suburban Council.”

BH-BL Spartans

Head coach: Gary Bynon

Key players: Max Batty (senior forward), Robert Knightes (senior guard/forward), Austin Nydeggar (junior forward/guard), David Wellington (junior guard/forward)

Outlook: Before he resigned Tuesday (see related story here), coach George Dudas found himself in the familiar position of having to integrate several football players into the basketball team after the football team played in the state championship game for the fourth time in the last five years.

“Just getting the chemistry and getting those guys together takes time,” said Dudas. “Most of the other teams are about four weeks ahead of us.”

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