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By ED LOOMAN
STEUBENVILLE -- Steubenville Catholic Central's boys basketball team is in an "all for one and one for all" mode as it prepares for the season.
"We have 15 guys all working as one this year and that's just a huge step forward," Chris Tarquinio, who is entering his second season as Central's coach, said. "In my first year, we laid the foundation and the guys are really buying into the philosophy we installed. They now have a better grasp of what we are trying to accomplish both offensively and defensively.
"We have great unity with this squad. The guys are coming in and working extremely hard. Everyone is playing as a team."
In his initial season, Tarquinio, a 1993 CCHS graduate, guided the Crusaders to a 12-11 mark. Gone from that squad are Jake Bolger, Austin Fowkes, Nate Kilonsky and Lucca DiMichele. Bolger, Fowkes and N. Kilonsky all were starters.
Returning for their senior campaigns are letterwinners Donnie Vandeborne, A.J. Connor and Geno DiBiase. The sweet-shooting Connor averaged 13 points per outing last season to lead the Crusaders. He was a third team All-Valley selection for his efforts. He and Vandeborne both were starters as juniors.
The other senior on Central's roster is Josh Costello, who moved to the area when his father, Tom, became principal at the school.
"I'm totally comfortable with the senior leadership Donnie and A.J. are providing this team as returning starters," Tarquinio said. "I know they can get this team going in the right direction. They re just those kind of kids.
"We had a great summer. With us losing three starters and having a lot of new faces seeing playing time, we really need our seniors to step up and be the leaders of this group."
The three other players Tarquinio is looking to have in his "eight-man varsity rotation" are juniors Matt Kilonsky and Jake Stoll, who's out for basketball again after sitting out his sophomore campaign, and sophomore Luca Connor.
Cole Maragos is the other sophomore on Central's roster. Freshmen include Ryan Gorman, Toby Lesnefsky, Jack Rook, Vince Carapellotti, Michael Rook and Issac Hough.
Tarquinio is assisted by Dave Connor.
Dec. 1: at Harrison Central 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 5: East Liverpool 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 9: Bellaire 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 15: Madonna 7:30 p.m.
Dec. 19: at Oak Glen 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 22: at Weir 7:30 p.m.
Jan 27: Lisbon * TBA
Jan. 30: at Steubenville 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 3: at Union Local 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 5: at Edison 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 9: Bridgeport 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 12: Steubenville 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 19: at Madonna 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 23: Edison 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 24: Wheeling Central 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 27: at Bellaire 7:30 p.m.
Jan. 30: at Bridgeport 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 2: Oak Glen 7:30 p.m.
Feb. 6: at St. Clairsville 7:30 p.m.
* at Steubenville High School