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For this year's installment of the Hampton boys' basketball team, it's not a question of whether the Talbots will be good, it's a question of how far they will go.
John Heller, Post-GazetteHampton junior Joe Cangilla looks to score around Mars' Charlie Jaicks during a Section 1-AAA game last season.
Click photo for larger image.
Considering that Hampton returns the nucleus of a team that finished 18-7 and was co-champion of Section 1-AAA last season, expectations are understandably high. Despite those lofty achievements last year, however, the Talbots' season ended on a low note as they lost in the first round of the WPIAL playoffs.
Don't expect Hampton to let that premature departure dim its hopes for this season, though, as it has only made the Talbots hungrier.
"We set the same expectations year in and year out," coach Joe Lafko said. "That is to go undefeated at home, win our section [title], win the WPIAL [title] and win a state championship. Those goals never change.
"I think that perhaps losing in the first round of the playoffs last year will be an added incentive for this year's team to accomplish those goals."
So far, it looks like added incentive has been just what the doctor ordered, as the Talbots have sprinted to a 4-1 record after a blowout non-section victory against Keystone Oaks. Included in that start is a win at Pine-Richland, a team expected to be among the best in Class AAAA this season.
"Our guys are confident," said Lafko. "They've been there before. They've been in some big basketball games. There are high expectations to do well, among the players and coaches.
"We have a lot of areas that we need to tweak, but the early season victories have created a positive practice environment. We just need to continue to improve and build on it."
The well-balanced Hampton attack is led by the senior guard tandem of Brian Dandrea and Zach Ingoldsby. Dandrea has been the team's leading scorer in the early going, including a 27-point performance in the Talbots' opening win against Erie McDowell in the North Hills tournament. Ingoldsby is the team's leading returning scorer, tallying 10.2 points per game last season.
Lafko said that both players will be counted on heavily.
"Brian is a good penetrator," he said. "He scores well off of the dribble. He also shoots the ball well from the perimeter. He's one of our guys who's a veteran. This is his third year lettering, so he's experienced as well.
"Zach has experience playing point guard and wing guard. Defensively, he often guards a team's best offensive player. He improved his physical strength tremendously in the weight room this year. I think he's going to be a major contributor in a lot of areas."
Also involved in the Talbots' main rotation is senior forward Mike Bittner, junior forward Bob Bartley, junior forward Joe Cangilla and junior guard Asa Braxton. Junior forward Chris Tanski has been providing quality minutes off the bench. Senior forward Pat O'Mara is out with a back injury.
Hampton lost just one starter to graduation last year -- all-section guard John Ward. They lost another, however, as junior forward Steve Paskorz, a standout football player, opted not to play basketball this season.
Lafko points to several key areas as being the strengths of this year's team.
"I think our overall strength is our defense and athleticism," he said. "Across the board, this is one of the quickest teams that I have had. I think we can send six guys on the floor who can play 90 feet. I think that's one of our advantages."
Hampton will be tested by a section that features Knoch and Mars, both of which are expected to field solid squads this season. Knoch finished tied with the Talbots atop the section last season.
The Talbots hope that this season extends a little longer than last.
"I think that a motivating factor for this team is to make it further into the playoffs," said Lafko. "If we're able to score from our defense and shoot better from the free-throw line, with our team's athleticism, I think accomplishing our goals that we set are obtainable."
First Published: December 15, 2005, 5:00 a.m.
