BERNE — The Berne-Knox-Westerlo boys’ basketball team will be able to score from the outside and inside this winter.

The Bulldogs return a group of players that have shown improvement in Andy Wright’s two years as coach, and three players moved up from a successful junior-varsity team.

Wright is carrying nine players on the roster this year.
"Every kid is going to contribute," the coach said. "It’s not a situation where we have 12 or 15 kids and seven of them play."

The Bulldogs will be able to shoot the ball from the outside and also be able to pound it inside.
"We’ll shoot a lot from the outside," Wright said. "And when teams come out to guard us, we’ll be able to dump the ball into the big kids. We have five kids that can shoot three’s accurately and two big kids that can do things inside."

Returning for the Bulldogs are the inside tandem of seniors Andrew Elderd and Ricky Ragone.
"Elderd and Ricky Ragone will be the key inside players," Wright said. "We’ll have a real inside presence on this team. Both are 6’4" and over 200 pounds. They are big high-school kids."

Wright will rely on Elderd, who is in his third year on the varsity team, to provide scoring down low.
"He’s in his third year and knows the level of physicality of varsity basketball," Wright said.

Wright has also been impressed with Ragone’s improvement.
"Ricky has come a long way," Wright said. "From his sophomore to junior to senior years, the difference is night and day. He’s improved a great deal."

Also returning is Tom Houck. He was one of the top scorers for the Bulldogs last season and is also a great rebounder.
"Tom Houck by is the far the most talented player on the team," Wright said. "He is a super athlete."

Also returning are seniors Brandon Motchmann and Dwayne Rockenstyre.
"They are second-year varsity players," Wright said. "They’ll have increased contributions on a small team."

"Gym rats"

Joining the team this year is junior Josh Stoodley, Houck’s cousin.
"They play as much as any kids," Wright said. "I call them gym rats. They are always playing. They travel to play pick-up games. They love the game.
"Josh is in his first year on the varsity," Wright added, "and he doesn’t have much junior-varsity experience. He’s a superior athlete. He’s got natural talent. He’s the fastest kid on the team, an excellent shooter, and he can defend man-to-man. He’ll help the team."

Moving up from the junior varsity team are Rich Giest, Josh Skinner, and Matt Lounsbury.
"Rich Giest will be my point guard for the next two years," Wright said. "He’ll probably have the hardest job on the court, running my offenses. He needs to become a leader among his peers. He’s an itelligent kid. He’s capable of being really good at basketball."

Skinner and Lounsbury are the only sophomores on the team.
"I expect a lot of contribution from those two boys," Wright said.

"A progression"

Wright thinks that this year’s team will be comparable to last year’s and be in the middle of the pack in the Western Athletic Conference. The Bulldogs will have a tough time come sectionals as they move up to play Class CC instead of Class C due to an increase in enrollment.
"The best way I can tell you is that we’re starting to get over the hill in terms of the program," Wright said. "A couple of years ago, we were bad and last year we got better. Hopefully, this year we can get a little better, yet.
"It’s still going to be a progression," Wright added. "When I first came here, I said it would take three years to see its effect. It’s the third year and we are starting to see it and I think you will in the next couple of years."

Wright said that he expects the Bulldogs to be similiar to last year with some slight improvements.
"I think we’ll be in the middle of the pack," the coach said. "They are working hard and they are starting to learn how to get it done."

The Bulldogs opened the season on Wednesday at the Rensselaer Tournament against Heatly High School. They will play in the championship or consolation game on Friday.