By Matt Youngfrau
GRAHAMSVILLE — April 2, 2002 – The 2001-2002 season was a rebuilding one for the Tri-Valley boys’ basketball team.
The team only had one starter from the previous season return. In fact, the team featured four sophomores.
“This was definitely a building year,” T-V Coach Jason Semo commented. “The team is very young. We were building toward next year.”
The Bears ended their season with a 7-13 overall record and a mark of 1-9 in OCIAA Division IV play.
Many of the season’s highlights featured Kyle Humphrey, who scored 387 points over the season – an average of 20 points per game. Nearly half of Humphrey’s points came from outside shots, as he converted 61 three-pointers.
In his varsity career, the junior shooting guard has 687 points. Semo expects Humphrey will break the 1,000-point plateau at some point during his senior year.
Semo noted that other players had good seasons as well. Eli Felder averaged eight rebounds a game. Other players that stepped up and did well included J.R. Rennison, Danny Weisberg, and Martin Henry-Lester.
“Going into this season, I did not expect much,” remarked Semo. “We stuck in every game. No team had a guaranteed win when they played us. Our guys played with a lot of heart.”
The highlight of the season for Semo was when the Bears took first place in the Sullivan County Community College’s Annual High School Holiday Tournament. It is something he looks to build upon next year.
“It was a real accomplishment,” Semo stated. “We will continue that success next year.”
T-V is only losing two players next year – seniors Andy Hadden and Jeremiah Solomon. Next year, Semo expects that eight players will be vying for those two spots.
“This team never gave up,” Semo said. “Next year we will be the team to look at. We will be very strong. I look forward to next year.”
Last month, the team awards – selected by the players themselves – were handed out. Humphrey received Offensive Player of the Year and Most Valuable Player awards. Felder was named Defensive Player of the Year, and the Most Improved Player accolade went to Weisberg.