Liam Kane was a key player on Council Rock North’s golf team that captured the state title last fall. This winter, the Rock North senior is a reserve on the basketball team.
If it seems as though that might create some problems, guess again. Kane is more than happy to play a supporting role.
“Both teams had a lot of talent, but I served more of a role directly in competition on the golf team,” Kane said. “Here my role is more in practice.
“I try to prepare the more talented kids as much as I can because I know I’m not going to get that much playing time. My role comes more so in practice and competing against the guys every day. I just try and make sure they’re as prepared as possible.”
A state champion who is willing to serve in a back-up role is not all that common these days, and coach Derek Wright knows he has something special in Kane and his fellow senior reserves.
“Nowadays, it’s not for better or worse,” the Indians’ coach said. “Nowadays, there aren’t that many kids that take a lot of pride in being part of a high school program.
“They either want to be the man, or they don’t want to be part of it at all. You can’t have a great team without having guys that not only understand their role but fulfill it and take pride in it.”
Guys like Kane and Kevin Bogucki and Jordan Chernin.
“It’s not what they do for us on the floor in games, it’s what they do for us on the floor in practice every day,” Wright said. “They usually have to play the role of the other team’s best player, and they really get us prepared.
“They have done a really nice job of making sure that our guys are pushed every day, and most importantly, they really enjoy the success of the team, which is what makes high school basketball fun. That’s the enjoyment.”
And there’s been plenty of enjoyment to go around so far this season for an Indian squad that is 7-0 out of the gate (12-1 overall).
“We have a lot of fun with each other,” Kane said. “It’s definitely the most fun we have had because whenever you win you’re going to have fun.
“It’s a riot for sure. We get fired up after every game – the kids that don’t play and the kids that do play. It’s a ball. We hang out in school and out of school. We’re all pretty much best friends.”
“It’s been an amazing experience,” Chernin added. “All these kids are my friends, and we have played together for so long.
“During the summer, we were with each other. To have this success as a senior, it’s a great feeling.”
Chernin has seen some valuable minutes off the bench recently, and the senior guard found himself defending Neshaminy high-scoring junior Ryan Arcidiacano in Tuesday’s big win.
“Matt McCloskey got in foul trouble, and Jordan came in and did a terrific job,” Wright said. “He also had four rebounds in the first half and really made things difficult for Ryan.
“Jordan is a great kid. He comes to work every day in practice and really prepared himself for when he was going to get minutes. I’m really happy with the season he’s been having for us.”
In Rock North’s 63-58 season-opening win over Neumann-Goretti, Chernin entered the game when Charlie Anastasi fouled out down the stretch and, according to Wright, delivered a clutch free throw as well as a rebound that all but sealed the win.
“I’m obviously just happy to be part of this team,” Chernin said. “When I get in there, I play as hard as I can and back up my teammates when they need help.
“In practice, (coach) really gets us prepared. He knows when he needs me I will be ready, so that gives me a lot of confidence when I get in there.”
Defense – according to Chernin – is a point of emphasis for the Indians.
“During practice, that’s our thing,” he said. “That’s what is going to win us games, that’s what will win us championships.
“We know that’s what we need to go to when our shots aren’t dropping. We just need to go back to that, and we’ll be fine. That’s what we did against Bensalem, and we were fine.”
Kane, according to Wright, is a solid defender and quick around the ball.
“Offensively, he’s good at getting to the rim and can make some plays for other people out in the open floor,” the Indians’ coach said. “What I really love about him is he’s a great team guy.
“He’s our team jokester, he really keeps things loose and fun in the locker room.”
Kane - who has been accepted at Notre Dame - transferred from Holy Ghost Prep to Rock North after his freshman year, and he acknowledges that this year’s basketball season undoubtedly will mark the end of the line for his athletic career.
“At this point, I just want to win more than anything,” he said. “I want my team to advance as far as possible.
“A dream come true would be two state championships. That would be pretty historic.”
Bogucki, meanwhile, had the misfortune of breaking his wrist the second week of practice. He was cleared to begin practicing on Jan. 6 and saw his first game action one day later against Pennsbury.
“It was a shame because he really put a lot of hard work in the offseason and got a lot better,” Wright said. “He went from being somebody that we didn’t know if he’d be good enough to be a varsity player to probably – if he didn’t get hurt earlier in the season – to someone who may have been in our rotation.
“He’s a good student and a great kid as well. Hopefully with some more practice and playing time, he can get come more minutes.”
According to Wright, it’s impossible to have a successful season without players like Bogucki, Chernin and Kane.
“When you have kids that are just concerned about themselves and can’t see the greater picture, it can really hurt a team – we call it the ‘disease of me,’” the Indians’ coach said. “Part of what makes this team special is the fact that everybody is in this together.
“(These three guys) are great in the locker room, they’re happy for the guys that succeed. When they get in the game, guys that are normally playing really want to see them play well. They’re very humble and grateful for the opportunity they have. They’re kind of the heart and soul of what we try to do here.”
That says all you need to know about three players whose names might not stand out in the box score but are significant contributors on a team that stands alone atop the SOL National Conference standings.
Just the Facts
This year’s record: Council Rock North 7-0 SOL (12-1 overall), William Tennent 0-6 SOL (4-9 overall)
Last year’s record: Council Rock North 22-6, William Tennent 10-12
Last meeting: Dec. 17, 2010 – Council Rock North 56, William Tennent 39 (CR North : Arron Goodman 26 points, Matt McCloskey – 10 points. William Tennent: Cole Weber – 12 points, Shakat Kofa – 10 points)
Last game: Council Rock North 55, Neshaminy 43 (Aaron Morgan – 20 points; Charlie Anastasi – 16 points, Arron Goodman - 12 points)
Abington 74, William Tennent 70 (Cole Weber – 28 points, Jack Rauchut – 26 points, Shakat Kofa – 10 points)
Council Rock North
Projected starters and season averages through Jan. 12, 2011:
#2 – Matt McCloskey (6-1, Jr., Guard) 6.4 PPG, 1.8 assists
#5 – Aaron Morgan (5-10, Jr., Guard) 13.5 PPG, 4.4 assists, 2.8 rebounds
#10 – John Raymon (6-6, Sr., Forward) 9.7 PPG, 7.6 rebounds, 1.6 assists
#22- Arron Goodman (6-4, Jr., Guard/Forward) 18.5 PPG, 7.5 rebounds, 2.4 assists
#23-Charlie Anastasi (6-6, Sr., Forward) 9.8 PPG, 8.4 rebounds, 3 assists
The rest of the Indians:
#3 – Liam Kane (5-0, Sr., Guard)
#4 – Kevin Bogucki (6-1, Sr., Guard)
#12 – Owen Rice (5-8, Jr., Guard)
#14 - Brandon Knotts (5-10, Soph., Guard)
#21 – Alex Corry (6-0, Jr., Guard)
#24 – Alex Jordan (6-2, Soph., Guard/Forward)
#31 - Kyle McCloskey (6-5, Soph., Guard)
#32 – Sam Ryan (6-3, Jr., Forward)
#42 – Jordan Chernin (6-0, Sr., Guard) 2 PPG, 2 rebounds
#50 – Hunter Stevens (6-7, Sr., Forward) 2.7 PPG, 2.4 rebounds
William Tennent
Projected starters:
#5 – Shakat Kofa (5-10, Sr., Guard)
#25 – Mike Wasserleben (5-10, Soph., Guard)
#32 – Tyler Wuensche (6-2, Sr., Forward)
#33 – Jack Rauchut (6-4, Jr., Center)
#41 – Cole Weber (6-1, Sr., Guard)
The rest of the Panthers
#2 – Chris Moore (5-9, Sr., Guard)
#10 – Ryan Smith (5-10, Jr., Guard)
#12 – Matt Alden (5-10, Fr., Guard)
#13 – Vinnie Case (5-9, Fr., Guard)
#15 – Tim Compton (6-2, Sr., Center)
#30 – Connor Geiger (5-10, Jr., Forward)
#34 – Isaac Marc (6-0, Fr., Center)
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