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Thoughts

They should be very competitive for the TVC Hocking championship this year. Lost a lot of good Seniors last year, but return a boatload of young talent. Nearly every team in the Hocking will be a young team this year, but I feel that just after watching games around the Division last season that the Lancers have more size and depth than the other teams. When you have 6'11'' Saylor in the middle, that definetly makes it tough on the opposing offenses to get inside buckets. FH is my pick to win a very close Hocking Division this year.

Federal Hocking brings alot of size in the paint. Junior Austin Russell is a bear on the boards and is a nice compliment and important post player along with Chris Saylor who brings intimidation with his size and good offensive showing last night against Athens. Sr. Ryan Rex brings back experience, Skidmore and Parsons at guards bring the ability to penetrate and 3 point shoot from Parsons and he is just a sophomore. They will need their bench to back them up and the talent is there. They just need to stay focused.

Alot of maturity and growing pains will occur. Perhaps their best season could be in 11-12 but I expect them to be in every game this year. They bring a tenacity that the 09-10 team seemed to lack on many occasions despite their talent and is a crucial element for success. But in all due respect those kids had 4 coaches in 4 years and that has a tendancy to dampen any program.

Go Lancers! Lancer Pride!

Federal Hocking is going to continue there trip down hill from the 08 year once again not winning the TVC. This is due to a lack of a coach, point guard and talent in the post. Chris Saylor is a big kid but not up to thee varsity level.

Knowing this group of young men Poncho and Lefty, you just supplied them with motivation. A gritty bunch who when they go down it will be fighting, just wait and see!

I'm just surprised that they are actually being picked in the polls to win the TVC. What are people basing this on? I don' se this happening.

It is not that surprising.

Poncho- I will tell you what they are basing it on. First of all they are going to be one of the biggest teams in the Hocking across the board. When you have Saylor who is 6'11'', (which again I don't know what you're talking about when you say he's not ready for the varsity level seeing that he got significant and valuable playing time last year), Hatfield is around 6'4'', Russell is strong and 6'2'', Dixon is 6'2'', (and there are others I'm sure I've forgotten to mention), you are going to competitive. Secondly, the TVC Hocking is going to be way down this year anyway. Eastern lost a lot of talent, Belpre lost a lot of talent, and Southern lost a lot of talent. Miller and South Gallia will most likely struggle, so that leaves Trimble, Waterford, Wahama and Federal Hocking. In the Hocking, if you have size and athleticism you will compete, and I feel the Lancers definetly have that this year.

dont know to much of federal hocking but in my time nobody likes to see them win

I guess I can see your point. I also heard that Chris Saylor is 7ft tall now. I do see Saylor doin well this year but as for the other kids with size on the Federal team I dont see them doing much. Trimble has Noah Guthrie who is a very big physical player who I feel will be POY it the TVC. And Trimble has coaching now that Koon is out of the picture. Coaching is something that federal does not have.

Poncho and Lefty wrote:I guess I can see your point. I also heard that Chris Saylor is 7ft tall now. I do see Saylor doin well this year but as for the other kids with size on the Federal team I dont see them doing much. Trimble has Noah Guthrie who is a very big physical player who I feel will be POY it the TVC. And Trimble has coaching now that Koon is out of the picture. Coaching is something that federal does not have.

why dont they?

Why dont they? From what I hear they shot 9-49 from 3 in 4 quatrers of play. And the 7ft Center never left the high post and got 0 post touches. This was in a Scrimmage this year. And did you watch them last year? I'm sorry but the coaching staff doesnt have common basketball knowledge if you ask me.

gymrat88 wrote:Poncho- I will tell you what they are basing it on. First of all they are going to be one of the biggest teams in the Hocking across the board. When you have Saylor who is 6'11'', (which again I don't know what you're talking about when you say he's not ready for the varsity level seeing that he got significant and valuable playing time last year), Hatfield is around 6'4'', Russell is strong and 6'2'', Dixon is 6'2'', (and there are others I'm sure I've forgotten to mention), you are going to competitive. Secondly, the TVC Hocking is going to be way down this year anyway. Eastern lost a lot of talent, Belpre lost a lot of talent, and Southern lost a lot of talent. Miller and South Gallia will most likely struggle, so that leaves Trimble, Waterford, Wahama and Federal Hocking. In the Hocking, if you have size and athleticism you will compete, and I feel the Lancers definetly have that this year.

I noticed you didn't mention Rex, is he playing? I thought last year he was second best player on the team next to Thompson.

From what I saw Friday night at the Athens High School, Federal Hocking has the potential to be a very good basketball team. They went toe-to-toe with a very solid Athens team, and this was only a "scrimmage". The Lancers have speed, size, shooting, and depth.

Coach Murray is young, but is finding his way, and will continue to improve. The Lancers can go 9-11 players deep, which is a luxury that most TVC-Hocking teams will not have. The Lancers will also be match-up problems for every team they play. In my opinion, the Lancers will get the most production from the following players:

Seniors

Ryan Rex - A very crafty player who will quietly get his points and rebounds game in and game out.

Brent Deter - The Cowboy - A lockdown defender and good jump shooter. He is the Lancers wildcard...

Juniors

Chris Saylor - The dude is 7 ft tall, and is really finding his game.

Jon Skidmore - Lightening fast guard who brings the intensity every game.

Austin Russell - Solid defender and good rebounder

Josh Coen - A total hustle player with a rainbow 3-point shot

Tyler Hatfield - A strong rebounder who will continue to improve

Sophomores

Shawn Parsons - An excellent 3-point shooter and reliable guard

Corey Rex - Tall and lanky with good shooting and ball handling skills

Terrrence Mayle - I dare anyone to try to draw a charge on this cat...Ouch!

In the rumor mill they are playing a quality man to man defense ? any truth to that ?

Poncho and Lefty,

Are you talking about the Meigs scrimmage?
I heard Meigs won 8 of 9 quarters. Is that accurate?

Is the Saylor kid okay? Looked like he hit his head pretty hard.

Saylor is okay! He did take a hard fall, but he is a trooper and he is doing very well. Look for Chris to be back in about 2 weeks.

Poncho and Lefty wrote:Why dont they? From what I hear they shot 9-49 from 3 in 4 quatrers of play. And the 7ft Center never left the high post and got 0 post touches. This was in a Scrimmage this year. And did you watch them last year? I'm sorry but the coaching staff doesnt have common basketball knowledge if you ask me.

Poncho, I do not know where your information is coming from because from what I have seen the Fed Hock Varsity basketball team is very well coached. They have 2 young guys that have a true love for the game and care deeply about the kids success. Every practice, day, week, game, and year is a learning experience. The coaching staff wants to win and they will this year.

Hardwood, I didn't mention Rex mainly because I consider him more of a forward than a post. But yes Ryan is playing and is the most valuable player on this year's addition of the Lancers IMO. He is an intense, hard working kid who hates loosing, and he puts forth great effort in about every game I have ever seen him play.