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SAINTS TO HELP HOST ‘HOOPS FOR HANK’

Oct. 1: St. Lawrence University, in conjunction with SUNY Canton, Potsdam State, and Clarkson University, are organizing ‘Hoops for Hank’, a fundraiser in honor of Canton High School basketball coach Henry “Hank” LaQuier, which will take place Sunday, October 19th at both St. Lawrence University and Potsdam State.

 
LaQuier was diagnosed with Metastatic Seminoma, a cancer that affects the Lymph system earlier this year.  He has been recently undergoing chemotherapy treatment and has seen his cancer shrink by nearly a third since beginning the three five-day, five-hour-a-day sessions.  His battle has forced the long time basketball coach to leave the sport he loves in order to recuperate.  All proceeds from the clinics will go to LaQuier and his family to help offset medical costs and bills that have accrued while he’s been out of work.


“Henry has been an integral part of North Country basketball for over twenty years,” says St. Lawrence Head Coach Chris Downs.  “Through this ordeal, he has continued to be an inspiration to all of us, talking to students, coaches, and friends about his condition.  It’s time we rally around this great man and give something back to Henry for his hard work over the years.”


The four institutions will help conduct three-hour basketball clinics for boys of all ages from 1-4pm on Sunday the 19th.  The clinics will include stations, lectures, games and competitions, with college coaches and players from all schools participating.  Coaches and players at local schools and programs, as well as individuals, are all invited to take part in the event.  The cost is $10 per player.

 
For details on how to get involved or information about making a donation, please contact Saints Head Coach Chris Downs (229-5836), Potsdam State Head Coach Sherry Dobbs (267-2308), Clarkson Head Coach Adam Stockwell (268-3766), or SUNY Canton Head Coach Keith Sullivan (386-7418).

 

 

KELLY NAMED MEN’S BASKETBALL ASSISTANT COACH FOR 2008-2009 SEASON

Sean Kelly, a 2007 graduate of The Catholic University of America, has joined the St. Lawrence University men’s basketball staff as the Saints’ assistant coach for the 2008-2009 season.


"Sean is one of the most mature, polished and intelligent young coaches in the game," Head Coach Chris Downs said.  “He is a great recruiter and possesses a strong work ethic that is coupled with an attention to detail.  Sean is poised to make an impact on St. Lawrence basketball and has the ability to build relationships with everyone he comes in contact with.”

 
Kelly spent the last year serving as the assistant coach for Hartwick College’s men’s basketball team, where he was responsible for several aspects of the program, which included being the in-game special situations coach, assisting in daily basketball operations, overseeing the in-season conditioning program, and serving as the primary recruiter.  He has also worked as a counselor and administrator at Hartwick’s summer camps, as well as at LeMoyne College.


At The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Kelly’s accolades extended both on and off the court.  He was the recipient of the Senior Male Athlete Role Model of the Year Award and was named to the National Association of Basketball Coaches’ Honor Court.  Kelly, who was a politics major with a concentration in world politics, maintained high academic standards throughout his tenure at CUA, as he was named to the Dean’s List and the Capital Athletic Conference All-Academic Team. He helped guide the Cardinals to a 64-23 overall record, as well as two Capital Athletic Conference tournament championships, which earned them two consecutive NCAA tournament berths, in his three years on the squad.  

 

 

WOPPERER LEADS CENTRAL TO BRONZE

AT EMPIRE STATE GAMES

Jul. 31:  Rising senior Tom Wopperer found himself playing with and against some of the best Division I and Division II basketball players in New York State last weekend at the 31st Empire State Games in Binghamton, NY, but that didn’t stop him from showing his teammates and competitors how strong of an asset he is to any team he plays for, as he led the Central squad to a bronze medal and was one of the team’s top scorers throughout the weekend.

 

Overall, the guard and Saints’ co-captain, who is a native of Manlius, NY, had 62 points in four games for Central, the second most points of any of his ten teammates, while also making a team-high 12 three-pointers.

 

The week began with a loss to Hudson Valley, the silver medalist in 2007 and the 2006 champion, 97-84, but Central rebounded and defeated the Adirondacks team 91-89.  The squad then faced a tough opponent in New York City, but Wopperer rose to the challenge as he led a comeback with a team-high 19 points that almost got the squad into the gold medal game, but fell in the final minutes, 107-99.  Central then faced Hudson Valley once again to contend for the bronze medal, where Wopperer scored a game-high 22 points to lead his team to a 78-76 victory.

 

Central’s bronze medal was unexpected, as the region had not even won a Men’s Open basketball game since the 2004 Empire State Games and had only medaled twice since 1993.  In years past, Hudson Valley, Long Island and New York City are usually deemed the top contenders as they have several Division I players on their rosters.

 

As for the Central team, Wopperer was one of two Division III athletes competing for Central, while two of his teammates are Division I athletes and four of them compete at the Division II level.  The other two were from Onondaga Community College, a member of the NJCAA.

 

In his junior campaign, Wopperer led the Saints in total points for the second straight season, scoring 323 in 26 games, averaging 12.4 per contest, leading St. Lawrence to their first Liberty League regular season title since 2003-2004. A consistent starter for the Scarlet and Brown, Wopperer tallied the most points of any Saint in nine contests, including four conference games. He was named conference Co-Guard of the Week in January for guiding St. Lawrence to two wins against Oswego and Elmira and was also named to the Babson All-Tournament Team after leading St. Lawrence to a 72-63 win over Bates College with 25 points, a season-high. Wopperer was rewarded for his efforts by being named a conference honorable mention this season. His guidance extended off the court as well, as he was the only Saint to be named to the conference All-Academic Team in 2008.

 

 
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