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When Mike DeStazio took over as head basketball coach at Genoa, he had many goals in mind, but his ultimate goal for this season was to win a league championship.
Now, nine games into the regular season, DeStazio still has that same goal which will be put to the test on Friday night in a battle of unbeatens when Genoa (9-0) travels to Lake (9-0) for the first time this season.
“I have never put wins and losses as a goal as a coach,” says DeStazio. “I’ve always felt our goal was never to be second in the league. We want to win the league. That is our goal.”
Genoa has looked impressive in the early going behind solid guard play from seniors Julie Swartzmiller (11.1 ppg, 4.7 rpg, 4.4 spg, 4.1 apg) and Brandi Schimming (7.8 ppg). Coach DeStazio has also had the luxury of tough inside play from Jessica Feller (13.2 ppg, 10 rpg), and the versatile Alysa Meis (9 ppg, 8.4 rpg). Emily Mock has also provided added scoring and excellent free throw shooting (83.3 percent) off the bench for the Comets through the first nine games.
This isn’t any ordinary game for the Comets. Genoa had dominated Lake for years under former head coach Tom Kontac, but Genoa’s struggles against Lake began during the 2008-09 campaign when Denny Meyer took over the head coaching duties at Lake.
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Genoa 5'9" senior wing, Julie Swartzmiller, who
averages 11.1 points, drives to the basket.
(Press photo by Harold Hamiton/www.HEHphotos.
lifepics.com) |
Since Meyer, ironically a Genoa High graduate, took over the helm of the struggling program, he has seen nothing but success. The Flyers have won two consecutive league titles, finished two regular seasons unbeaten and, much to the dislike of Comets’ fans, have had the better of Genoa the past two seasons.
Not to mention, the Flyers have a 53-game winning streak in regular season play. Meyer declined to talk to The Press for this article.
The Flyers defeated the Comets twice during the 2008-09 season, twice during the regular season a year ago, and followed with a huge win in the sectionals last season. Lake has won the five meetings by a whopping average of 13 points a game.
One thing those Lake teams had in the past was depth. Now, it seems that Genoa has a very deep bench and Lake does not. After all, the Comets have two players scoring in double figures (Swartzmiller, Feller) and many not far behind.
“Our success is due to a combination of things,” says DeStazio. “We’ve played very hard. We share the ball well, everyone is contributing, and we have two kids in double figures and several not far behind. We truly play as a team and if you play as a team, you will be successful.”
DeStazio has heard all about Lake’s lack of depth but doesn’t believe it because he has seen the Flyers play. Lake has continued to win games behind star senior guard Kaysie Brittenham and the Flyers haven’t had to rely on their thin bench because Brittenham, point guard Hannah Cox, and senior forward Carly Huston have stayed out of foul trouble and played fundamentally sound basketball.
“I’ve heard that Lake doesn’t have much depth but after watching them play a few times, I’m not sure that is the case. I may have more depth on paper but I couldn’t honestly tell you if I do because I haven’t seen them have to go to their bench.”
DeStazio also understands that his team cannot solely focus on Brittenham, the reigning SLL player of the year. Cox and Huston have stepped up big for Lake and the Flyers are playing well as a team.
“Brittenham is very talented and very athletic,” DeStazio says. “She will be very difficult to stop. She has some good players around her — (Carly) Huston, point guard (Hannah) Cox — and I don’t think you can beat Lake by just taking Brittenham out of the game. She has good people around her and their supporting cast will be able to beat you if you only focus on her.”
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