Stop No. 2 on the preseason boys basketball tour: A look at the defending Colonial League champs

http://blogs.mcall.com/groller/

FROM KEITH GROLLER

The 18-for-18 series previewing 18 boys basketball teams entering the 2013-14 season continues with a look at the Bangor Slaters.

BANGOR

Coach: Bron Holland (seventh season at Bangor, 91-54; 163-89 overall).

Last year: 19-6 overall, 13-3 Colonial.

Postseason: Beat Wilson 51-47 for Colonial League title; lost to Parkland 63-51 in District 11 4A tournament.

New to staff: Colin Kessler, who was at Northampton last year, replaces Steve Panczer, who is now assistant athletic director.

Scrimmages: Saturday at St. Joe's Prep, 10 a.m.; Nov. 30, vs. Holy Cross at Bangor, 11:30 a.m.

Opener: Dec. 6 host East Stroudsburg North.

Key date: Jan. 11 at Central Catholic, 5 p.m.

Players to watch: Sr. F Jeremy Ringland; Jr. G Shavaughn Morris; So. G Mike Martino; Sr. G Shane Reider; Sr. F Colton Freeman.

Key loss: Alex Colton.

What's to like: Holland says this is the quickest team he's ever had, including the teams he coached at Pocono Mountain East. The quickness will be evident on defense where Holland plans to press and trap with his guards pressuing the ball and Ringland serving as a shot blocker. The Slaters will go about eight deep and Holland said the team possesses a hungry attitude on the first day of practice.

What's to worry about: Replacing the leadership of Alex Colton, an all-area player a year ago. (Seen in photo below).

Quotable: "Notre Dame, Wilson and a couple of other teams are going to be very good, but our goal every year is to be one of the top four teams at the end of the league and then you have to win two games in the tournament. We'll be there hopefully. I like our chances. We just don't want to be complacent with last year's success."  

Four months from now: Holland will be winding down his first fully year as Bangor's athletic director in a good mood. After going 25 years without a league championship, the Slaters could go back-to-back. But a run at the District 11 4A championship is highly unlikely.

PHOTO AT LEFT:

Jeremy Ringland (left) stood tall against Wilson in the Colonial League title game and will have to do so all season for the Slaters in 2013-14.

Complete Bangor schedule:

11/23/2013 Sat.	10:00 AM	(A)	St. Joseph's Preparatory School Varsity Scrimmage
	11/30/2013 Sat.	11:30 AM	(H)	Holy Cross HS (Dunmore) Varsity - JV Scrimmage	BHS Gym
	12/06/2013 Fri.	7:00 PM	(H)	East Stroudsburg Sr H S North	BHS Gym
	12/10/2013 Tue.	7:00 PM	(A)	Northern Lehigh
	12/13/2013 Fri.	7:00 PM	(H)	Palmerton Area
	12/17/2013 Tue.	7:00 PM	(H)	Catasauqua H S
	12/19/2013 Thu.	7:00 PM	(A)	Northwestern Lehigh H S
	12/21/2013 Sat.	7:00 PM	(H)	Pen Argyl
	12/23/2013 Mon.	1:00 PM	(H)	Louis E Dieruff H S	BHS Gym
	12/27/2013 Fri.	7:00 PM	(A)	Stroudsburg
	01/03/2014 Fri.	7:00 PM	(A)	Salisbury
	01/07/2014 Tue.	7:00 PM	(H)	Palisades
	01/09/2014 Thu.	7:00 PM	(A)	Saucon Valley
	01/11/2014 Sat.	5:00 PM	(A)	Allentown Central Catholic H S
	01/14/2014 Tue.	7:00 PM	(H)	Notre Dame GP
	01/17/2014 Fri.	7:00 PM	(A)	Wilson Area
	01/18/2014 Sat.	7:00 PM	(H)	Pleasant Valley	BHS Gym
	01/21/2014 Tue.	7:00 PM	(H)	Southern Lehigh
	01/24/2014 Fri.	7:00 PM	(H)	Northern Lehigh
	01/25/2014 Sat.	7:00 PM	(A)	Pocono Mt. East
	01/28/2014 Tue.	7:00 PM	(A)	Palmerton Area
	01/31/2014 Fri.	7:00 PM	(A)	Catasauqua H S
	02/04/2014 Tue.	7:00 PM	(H)	Northwestern Lehigh H S
	02/06/2014 Thu.	7:00 PM	(A)	Pen Argyl