NILES, Ohio (WKBN) – Niles finished last season by winning just three games; however, expectations are high in Dragon Town with four returning senior letter winners back in the fold this year (Sam Perrone, Matt Kozak, Robert Strickland, Keshon Talley). Those four are paired with juniors Nate Coot, Stefan Dorsey and Anthony Bubak along with sophomore Avon Fryer.

Perrone averaged 10 points and 1.9 assists per game as a junior. Number 5 made 40.3% of his shots from long distance (48-119). Talley and Kozak scored 6.4 and 5.2 points per game respectively. Kozak hauled down 4.8 boards in the 2021-22 season.

Coach Doug Foster points to the need for his group to play team basketball. “We have several returning lettermen that will need to step up for us to have a successful season. We’ll play hard, play smart, and play together working to take high percentage shots, and have players that understand their roles.”

“We want to see our team leave everything they have out on the court,” says Foster. “We want to be competitive in each and every game [this year].”

A year ago, Niles was involved in twelve games that were decided by 10-points or less (3-9).

The Red Dragons will welcome Salem for their opener on November 29.

Niles Red Dragons
Fast Facts
Head Coach: Doug Foster
2021-22 Record: 3-19 (1-13), 8th place in Northeast 8
2021-22 Post-Season Finish: Lost in Sectional Semifinal to West Branch (67-30)
Last 5-Years: 27-81 (25.0%)

2021-22 Team Stats
Scoring Offense: 41.5
Scoring Defense: 55.7

2021-22 Individual Leaders
Scoring: Sam Perrone, 10.0
Rebounding: Matt Kozak, 4.8
Assists: Sam Perrone, 1.9
Steals: Robert Strickland, 2.2
Free Throw Percentage: Sam Perrone, 85.7%
Three-Point Percentage: Sam Perrone, 40.3%

2022-23 Schedule
Nov. 29 – Salem
Dec. 2 – Champion
Dec. 6 – at LaBrae
Dec. 9 – at Girard
Dec. 13 – South Range
Dec. 16 – Struthers
Dec. 20 – Poland
Dec. 27 – Mineral Ridge
Dec. 29 – at Campbell Memorial
Jan. 3 – at Mathews
Jan. 6 – Hubbard
Jan. 10 – at Jefferson
Jan. 13 – Lakeview
Jan. 17 – Girard
Jan. 20 – at South Range
Jan. 24 – at Struthers
Jan. 27 – at Poland
Jan. 31 – at Hubbard
Feb. 3 – Jefferson
Feb. 7 – at Lakeview
Feb. 14 – Newton Falls
Feb. 17 – at Howland