http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/
FROM KEITH GROLLER
Stopped in to see Doug Snyder and his Allen Canaries as part of our 18 teams in 18 days tour, but this was not at Sewards Gym. That gym has been out of commission since July.
Instead, I checked out the Canaries at Trexler Middle School.
Unlike most other stops where I saw teams just shooting around, I actually watched the Canaries scrimmage for about a half-hour and what struck me was how much the team was enjoying just playing the game.
And it also struck me that Snyder was having a lot of fun watching and stopping the action to offer some instruction. The kids respond to him. They want to get better and there's no better way than to listen to Snyder.
The last couple of years Snyder
(seen below surrounded by his team) has not had as much fun after that great District 11 championship team in 2010-11 led by Jalen Cannon. There have been a variety of internal problems and disciplinary issues, but that seems to be all gone. Snyder talked about having good kids in the summer and that has carried over into the start of the season.
Whether that harmony translates into wins remains to be seen. With Tyler Kohl enrolling at Dieruff, and both CCHS and Emmaus loaded with talent, the LVC West is clearly the league's best division.
Regardless, Allen is going to be competitive and win its share of games and should at the very least qualify for districts.
ALLEN
Coach: Doug Snyder (17th season, 232-180)
Last year: 11-12 overall, 6-8 LVC.
Postseason: Lost to Easton 55-50 in the first round of the District 11 4A tournament.
New to staff: After 16 seasons loyal assistants Bob Freed and Mark Smurda have retired. Dave Peters, a fifth-grade teacher at Washington Elementary School who played for Brad Pensyl at Pocono Mountain when it was one school and then at Kings College, has come aboard as the varsity assistant. Justin Rupelli has been promoted from freshman to JV coach and Randy Atiyeh has joined the staff as the freshman coach.
Scrimmages: Have already scrimmaged Norristown and will travel to Conestoga at 5 p.m. Monday for a tri-scrimmage with Constitution.
Openers: Play Northampton at 3:30 Sat., Dec. 7 at Freedom in the Yasso-Rothrock event; host Pocono Mountain West on Dec. 7; host Emmaus on Dec. 14 at 3:30 in the Donmoyer floor dedication ceremony.
Players to watch: Sr. G Daiyon Barnett; Sr. G J.J. Davis; Sr. G H.R. Smith; Sr. F Isaiah Palmer; Sr. F Kobe Texter; Sr. F Edwin Gonzalez; Jr. F Bryson Walton; Jr. G Jameire Myers; Jr. F Isiah Gray; Jr. F Rico Santana; Jr. F Jahi Shepard; Jr. G Koi Kostic. Freshman Taleek Williams transferred to Becahi after spending the summer at Allen, but has since returned. Williams is considered one of the best incoming freshman players in the area, but Snyder has yet to promote him to the varsity.
What's to like: The fact that Allen is finally supposed to get in its own gym on Friday morning. "I've had open gyms and now practice here at Trexler and I have had to carry around three bags of balls," Snyder said. "I've had three bgas of balls in my car, and then it gets cold, so I have to bring them into my living room and then lug them back into the car. I've been like a nomad." The new Sewards floor costs $370,000 and is the result of leaky roof that revealed its holes during a major July storm.
What's to worry about: Looking at the Canaries on the floor the other night, there's plenty of quickness, shooting ability and unity. However, there's not an abundance of size and bulk inside. The Canaries are going to have to be fundamentally sound to get rebounds because there's no Jalen Cannon there to sweep everything off the glass. Williams will undoubtedly be joining the team at some point and it's going to be interesting to see how his return affects chemistry.
Quotable: "I have six seniors and six juniors, so I have some experience and leadership," Snyder said. "I have no real big names and I have no marquee players, but there's a certain camaraderie, a certain amount of chemistry and a level of intensity. That comes with having a good number of juniors and seniors. It is a really nice group of kids and we've got a good group of guards and guards are so important in this league."
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