With four returning starters and a healthy lineup, Cardinal’s boys’ basketball team is optimistic about its chances in the 2024-2025 season.
The Huskies battled through an injury-plagued 2023-2024 season and finished 5-19 overall and winless in the Chagrin Valley Conference Valley Division.
“Last year, we fought the injury bug all season. This year we are doing more things to get stronger and teaching our athletes to take care of their bodies better,” said second-year head coach Kyle Deckerd. “Practices have been competitive and full of energy. We are excited to have more experience this season and hoping to lean more on a collective group of guys rather than one scorer.”
The Huskies graduated their top scorer from a season ago, but with a deeper lineup, Deckerd is confident his squad can fill those shoes.
“I think this group is coachable and they will do what the coaching staff asks of them,” he said. “We are going to try and capitalize on having some depth on the varsity team.”
Cal Ciminello, a 5-foot-11 senior guard, earned honorable mention All-CVC honors last winter after scoring seven points with three assists per game.
“Cal led us in minutes played last season,” Deckerd said. “We are counting on him to be a senior leader as well as initiate the offense this season.”
Seniors Dominic Naples and Chuck Soltis also return to the starting lineup.
Naples, a 6-foot-1 forward, averaged 4.5 points and 3.0 rebounds per game while Soltis, a 5-foot-10 guard, averaged 3.6 points and 2.3 rebounds per contest.
“Dom is super athletic and has put a lot of time in the weight room for this season. We are excited for Dom to have a healthy campaign this season,” Deckerd said. “Chuck is a great leader and even better teammate. We are excited for Chuck to rain some threes from the corners this season.”
Seniors Zach Caldwell and Carter Tucker round out the projected starting lineup.
Caldwell is a 6-foot guard while Tucker is a 6-foot-1 forward.
“Zach is a transfer from Bristol, and we are excited for him to have a solid senior year. Zach is one of our best shooters and we are counting on him to help lead the younger players,” Deckerd said. “Carter is a good on-ball defender and throughout the season we will be counting on him on both ends of the floor.”
Junior Landon Gallagher will come off the bench after starting last season.
The 6-foot-2 forward averaged 4.8 points and 5.1 rebounds per game last season.
“Landon is our returning rebounding leader, and we will be counting on him to limit offensive opportunities and affect shots around the basket,” Deckerd said.
Providing depth for the Huskies are seniors Carter Sindelar, Nicholi McDaniel, junior Blake Strever, and freshmen Joey Komandt and Kannon Strever.
Sindelar is a 6-foot guard and McDaniel is a 6-foot-1 forward.
“Carter has put a lot of time in this offseason to improve his game,” Deckerd said. “Nick has gotten into great shape, and we look forward to him excelling in his role.”
Strever is a 5-foot-8 guard who averaged 3.5 points and 2.3 rebounds per game last season.
“Blake continues to level up his game by getting craftier, making shots, and being a pain for ball handlers,” Deckerd said.
Cardinal hopes to make some noise in its final season in the Chagrin Valley Conference.
“We would like to win a few CVC games before going to the (Northeast Athletic Conference),” Deckerd said. “Overall, we want to be playing our best basketball in February and make a tournament run.”
