Geibel Catholic boys preview: Tarbuk takes over Gators鈥� coaching reins
Jim Downey | 蘑菇视频
The Geibel Gators are forced to do this season what all teams eventually face.
Rebuilding.
Last season the Gators made a deep run in the WPIAL playoffs and qualified for the PIAA playoffs, where they were eliminated.Graduation has taken away four-year starters Jaydis Kennedy and Tre White.
Also, coach Don Porter retired.
New head coach Gary Tarbuk takes over the program and looks forward to making his own way.
“It’s a great atmosphere for home games, that made this opportunity very enticing,” said Tarbuk. “Geibel Catholic has always been a good basketball school. Don Porter did a great job during the last four years at Geibel. I want to continue that.”
Tarbuk is playing catch up with the Gators because he didn’t get hired until late. He says because of that the boys missed out on playing in summer league and some practice time. He did have a chance to see the kids in game conditions, getting them involved in the Greensburg Central Catholic fall league.
“It was basically the first time the kids were able to play together,” said Tarbuk. “I think they finally had a chance to get their feet wet and try to get a feel for each other. I was pleased with what I saw.”
Tarbuk said he liked their overall attitude during that time, and saw them working to mesh their talents together, which was very encouraging. Tarbuk said the Gators will be a very inexperienced team this year with only one senior, one junior, two sophomores and a freshman as his starting five at this point.
“My one senior is Tom Kolencik, who was a letterwinner and a spot starter on that playoff team,” said Tarbuk. “Tom has stepped up to be the leader we need at this point. He’s been through the playoffs and is someone the kids can lean on.
“He will be playing some heavy minutes to try to provide us some scoring in the paint.”
Tarbuk said the other returning letter winner is junior Mike Miller, who is expected to move into the point guard role .
“The kids at Geibel have been great and very welcoming,” Tarbuk said. “They are very receptive to what I’ve been trying to teach and are anxious to get the season started.”
Tarbuk went on to explain his team will be a victim of the success the program has had in the last few years. He said he told the kids there is a big target on their backs.
Despite their youth, Tarbuk said their goal is to still compete for the section title. He thinks with a little more work, Geibel will be very competitive and could surprise a few teams this year.