SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - Penn State Schuylkill's men's basketball team should be feeling fortunate when its season resumes Dec. 3.
Few of its future rivals will bring the ability displayed by its first opponent this season, Central Penn.
The Knights ran over the host Lions 101-66 last Monday in a non-league game, showing Penn State Schuylkill and its coaches the tough task that lies ahead.
"All coming together and making a cohesive team is always the task of the coach," Penn State Schuylkill's fourth-year head coach Travis Williams said. "This year, I feel we carry ourselves more together as a team, as opposed to last season."
Last year's Lions posted a 9-12 record, including 8-9 in the Penn State University Athletic Conference. At season's end, one of those seniors, Blue Mountain graduate Patrick Killian, received honorable mention honors from the PSUAC coaches.
But the departure and three other seniors who scored the bulk of the Lions' points have forced Williams to rebuild.
"Whoever showed up tonight is definitely going to show up the rest of the season," Williams said after last Monday's season opener against Central Penn.
If so, Penn State Schuylkill will be paced by another Blue Mountain graduate, Nate Yost. The sophomore guard, the lone returning starter on the squad, canned all three of the Lions' 3-pointers against Central Penn and finished with 18 points.
In addition, the Lions also gained 10 points each from juniors Kenford Lynch and Michael Stewart. Stewart and junior Thomas Tinsley served as reserves on last season's team, but may be counted for a greater contribution in 2013-14.
"We wanted to see a lot of team chemistry," Penn State Schuylkill assistant coach Mark Mamrosh said about the season opener. "Being a pass-first offense, everybody got a look and everybody had an opportunity to score."
The development of that chemistry is a challenge that the PSUAC coaches recognized by ranking Penn State Schuylkill 10th among the conference's 14 teams in the preseason poll.
"A lot of the guys are raw. They're just pure athletes ... So we have our work cut out for us this week until our conference opener," Williams said, pointing out the goals will be greater intensity and development of skills to handle obstacles such as Central Penn's pressing defense.
"I did like how our team did keep fighting," Williams continued. "They didn't give up. They kept their heads up. They have tremendous heart."
Williams said he is hoping for continuing effort from players such as Jalen Thomas, Genaro Epifanio and Blue Mountain graduate Matt Greene.
In addition, senior Davon Gaskins did not play against Central Penn because of injury, and Williams said his return as a swing player will help the Lions as they find their footing with a squad that lacks great height.
"I've tried to explain to them at the beginning of the season, it's not a sprint, it's a marathon. You know, you've got to get used to playing winning basketball," he said. "You've got to give yourselves a chance to win at the end of the game. That also goes to making foul shots ... and even rebounding, but even then we've got to fight hard to get those boards."
Central Penn head coach Dave Baker feels Williams will find a way to develop the Lions into a PSUAC contender.
"They've got a lot of new guys, but Coach (Williams) does a great job with this group," Baker said. "We love competing with him because of what he brings and what his team represents."