Lackawanna Trail’s Matt Decker is surrounded by defenders during a Lion scrimmage with North Pocono on Saturday. PHOTO COURTESY OF ALICE STUFFLE

BY KEVIN WOODRUFF

Wyoming County Press Examiner

Lackawanna Trail’s boys’ basketball team, under coach Andrew Kettel, look to compete in a competitive Lackawanna League Division III this season.

The team, which finished off with a 12-12 overall record last season, will look to some underclassmen to fill holes left by graduation.

The Lions lost seven-footer Steve Miller, along with Lyle Sweppenheiser, Matt Lochen and Nick Sujkowski.

However, Lackawanna Trail returns experienced ballplayers in senior Dalton Mecke, junior John Kwiatkowski and sophomores Tyler Rzucidlo and Ross Fauquier, who will look to provide a spark for the Lion offense.

With plenty of returning talent hitting the floor for the Lions, Kettel hopes the team will be successful.

“We hope to compete for a league championship,” Kettel said.

However, the Lions will have to compete with division powerhouses Susquehanna and Elk Lake to achieve their goals.

He will look to his returners along with newcomers Dylan Harris, Matt Decker, Devon Walsh and Aidan Holmes to provide a solid lineup for the team.

Lackawanna Trail gets its season underway at home on Friday, Dec. 7, at home against Tunkhannock at 7 p.m.

Full schedule:

Nov. 24, North Pocono, H, 11 a.m.

Nov. 27, Carbondale, A, 6 p.m.

Dec. 7, Tunkhannock, H, 6 p.m.

Dec. 11, Wyoming Seminary, A, 6 p.m.

Dec. 14-15, LT Tournament, H, 6 p.m.

Dec. 19, Western Wayne, H, 6 p.m.

Dec. 22, Valley View, H, 1 p.m.

Dec. 27-29, Riverside Tournament, A, 6 p.m.

Jan. 3, Riverside, H, 6 p.m.

Jan. 5, Susquehanna, H, 6 p.m.

Jan. 8, Mt. View, A, 6 p.m.

Jan. 11, Forest City, A, 6 p.m.

Jan. 15, Elk Lake, A, 6 p.m.

Jan. 18, Blue Ridge, H, 6 p.m.

Jan. 22, Montrose, A, 6 p.m.

Jan. 28, Riverside, A, 6 p.m.

Jan. 30, Susquehanna, A, 6 p.m.

Feb. 2, Mt. View, H, 6 p.m.

Feb. 5, Forest City, H, 6 p.m.

Feb. 8, Elk Lake, H, 6 p.m.

Feb. 11, Blue Ridge, A, 6 p.m.

Feb. 13, Montrose, H, 6 p.m.