Raiders' Youth Movement Continues Faith, Talent Carries Buck To
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The County Times Thursday, November 20, 2008 Raiders’ Youth Movement Continues By Chris Stevens that they can go on to college Staff Writer Barthelmes Plans to Teach Players Hockey Basics and enjoy the sport the rest of their lives.” Rob Barthelmes smiles Two players he doesn’t when talking about the youth have to teach much are Bon- of the Leonardtown ice hock- nel and Yates, who use their ey team. With the talent that speed and quickness along lies within that youth, he has with superior stick work to good reason to. baffle MSHL Southern Divi- “One thing we really sion opponents, as perennial wanted to work on last year powerhouse Thomas Stone was playing together as a got a taste of Friday night. team,” The Raiders’ coach The sophomore sensa- said of a 2007-2008 season tions accounted for three first that found the freshman- period goals as the inexperi- heavy team among some enced Raiders shocked the of the Maryland Scholastic Cougars by hopping out to a Hockey League big dogs in 3-0 lead. Stone did rally for the semi-finals of the yearly a 4-3 win, a prime example Chesapeake Cup in Waldorf. of Leonardtown’s youth, but “We were able to do that.” considering the skill level Even with returning of Stone, Barthelmes was players such as the tag-team pleased with the level of play offensive force of sophomore in the regular season opener. center Gordy Bonnel and “With that talent over winger Charlie Yates and there, we should have been goaltender Brett Kibler, the crushed,” he plainly said. Raiders got even younger this “I’m very happy with how year, with just two seniors, we played.” defensemen Kyle Wood and Photo By Chris Stevens Bonnel meanwhile, a Nick Corey. Sidney Morgan Gordy Bonnel leads the charge to contender status for the Leonardtown Ice Hockey team this season. player with unflappable con- and James Pankiewicz are fidence in himself and his the lone juniors on the squad. man and sophomores, which of the game and prepare his “It’s rare that you’re go- II college hockey,” he admits. team, feels Leonardtown The rest of the Leonardtown gives Barthelmes a chance players for a lifelong involve- ing to get players in this area “My goal as a coach is to roster is stocked with fresh- to teach the fundamentals ment with the game. that will play above Division teach the skills of hockey so See Ice Hockey page B-2 Seahawk Champion Seahawks Relish Women Pressure By Chris Stevens Bouncing Staff Writer ST. MARY’S CITY – Last year, Back the St. Mary’s College men’s bas- ketball team was a squad that went through a season of finding them- For ‘09 selves as individual players and as a team. Bausch Expects As the 2008-09 season tips off tomorrow night at the annual Pride Continued Success Of Maryland tournament, the Se- Photo By Chris Stevens ahawks are the defending Capital By Chris Stevens Center Tiara Hurte returns to the Seahawks, Athletic Conference champions Staff Writer who look continue their improvement from and participated in the Division III a year ago, when they won 18 games. Sweet 16. With that stunning transi- ST. MARY’S CITY – It’s been first-round home game against Salis- tion behind him, head coach Chris a long haul for St. Mary’s College bury University, a 79-78 loss that left Harney is pleased with the team he women’s basketball coach Barb Bausch disappointed but undaunted. has put together and looks forward Bausch. “That loss left a bad taste in the to seeing them in action. Inheriting a team that fielded program’s mouth,” she admitted. “I “The challenge is to keep look- seven players for most of 2007-08, knew it was going to be hard for us, ing above and beyond what we did Bausch coaxed 18 wins out of the playing them the third time around.” last season,” Harney said of the mag- Lady Seahawks last season, and de- The 2009 Lady Hawks will have ical season that saw the Hawks rise spite losing three players this past a familiar, yet different look to them, from the abyss of the CAC standings season, the coach feels that SMC starting with the backcourt. Point to a nationally recognized force in can still compete with some of the guard Megan Uglik, who Bausch small college basketball. “We need top teams in the Capital Athletic credited with getting her acclimated to remember where we came from; Conference. to CAC basketball, graduated as the we were considered one of the bot- “People know what my expecta- school’s all-time assist leader and tom teams in the league. Now, we’ve tions are for the program,” Bausch scored her 1,000th point in January. climbed the mountain and we have said before practice last Thursday Also, leading scorer Steph Saint-Au- to defend it.” night. “Everyone is going to have bin, an all-CAC pick in 2008, trans- Defending the mountain falls to step and provide more numbers ferred to an undisclosed college. on the rugged shoulders of senior and provide more quickly than last With that in mind, Bausch will center Alex Irmer and forward Cal- year.” place an emphasis on frontcourt play, vin Wise. Irmer, considered one of Last season saw St. Mary’s im- which is led by senior forward Allie the best pivot players in the CAC, comes off a 07-08 season which saw prove tremendously under Bausch’s Scott. Scott averaged 17 points per File Photo leadership, as the team won the most him average 13 points and seven re- games in school history and earned a Center Alex Irmer is one of many returning players for the St. Mary’s College men’s bas- See Womens’ Hoops page B-2 See Seahawks page B-3 ketball team this season. Faith, Talent Carries Buck to Scholarship Ryken Basketball Star Headed to North Carolina A&T By Chris Stevens “I anticipate great things from R.J.,” Knights head Staff Writer Coach Dave Tallman said. “He is truly a model student athlete; never once has he gotten into trouble here and Coming from a deeply religious and positive up- he’s been our leader since his freshman year. bringing, it is no surprise that St. Mary’s Ryken guard “He’s going to be a star, no doubt in my mind.” R.J. Buck was all smiles and thoughtful as he signed a Tallman pointed out that Buck became the third letter of intent to play basketball at North Carolina A&T Knight, after West Virginia’s John Flowers and Navy’s State University last Wednesday evening. Greg Brown, to sign on to play NCAA Division I bas- “I saw how the school did a lot for students, in terms ketball, and feels that Buck’s success will carry a long of helping them graduate,” Buck cited as part of his deci- lasting impact on Ryken hoopsters for years to come. sion to attend the historically black university in Greens- “R.J. has touched so many people here, his leader- boro, NC. “I went there for my official visit, had a great ship and determination will be remembered for a long connection with the coach [Jerry Eaves], and I liked how time.” the guys on the team really got along, did everything For R.J.’s parents, mother Cece and father Roger, together and bonded with each other.” their son becoming the third child in the immediate fam- Buck, a 6’1” senior with boundless leaping ability ily to attend college was an affirmation of faith and a and competitive intensity, led the Knights in rebound- source of paternal pride. ing last season, a remarkable feat for a guard in a league “We are a praying family,” Cece Buck explained. Photo By Chris Stevens like the Washington Catholic Athletic Conference, “I’ve always told him to seek God’s faith in what he was Seated with his mother Cece and father Roger along with family members and Ryken where guards at least four inches taller than Buck are shown, and I don’t want him to settle. I want R.J. to go staff, R.J. Buck signs his letter of intent to play basketball at North Carolina A&T State the norm. University. See Scholarship page B-3 The Section B - County Times Thursday, November 0, 008 Seahawks Fall in NCAA First Round McDowell Sets Lynchburg, Va. – The historical 2008 and making the school’s first trip to the With 26 seconds left in regulation, campaign of the St. Mary’s College of NCAA tournament. Wahr connected on a pass from senior Record in 400 Maryland women’s soccer team came to Emory’s attack struck early as junior defender Whitney Briggs (Alpharetta, an abrupt end Saturday afternoon as the midfielder Talia Dweck (Washington, Ga./Centennial) to make the final, 3-0. IM in Loss Seahawks suffered a 3-0 setback at the D.C./Wilson) put back the rebound from Emory fired off 19 shots with eight hands of Emory University in the NCAA her own shot that hit off the crossbar at on goal, while the Seahawks were held to St. Mary’s City, Md. – Se- (Baltimore, Md./Notre Dame Division III women’s soccer first round 4:17. just two. The Eagles also posted an 8-2 nior captain Brie McDowell Prep) was third in 1:03.47. hosted by Lynchburg College. Two minutes later, senior midfielder margin in corner kicks.