Catholic Central High School boys varsity basketball head coach Rich Foglia talks to his team during a timeout in Tuesday's scrimmage against Ballston Spa. He coaches his first official game Friday afternoon against Lansingburgh in the Crusaders' annual Roundball Tournament. (Photo by J.S. Carras - The Record).

Believe it or not, the high school basketball season kicks off Friday afternoon when a number of schools host Tip-Off tournaments.

We'll have full previews running in the paper in the coming days, but here are some rough drafts on preseason Dream Teams to get the conversation started.

BOYS
Large Schools
Starting five
Derrick Millinghaus, Jr., G, Schenectady
Matt Miner, Sr., G, Shenendehowa
Kameron Ritter, Sr., G/F, Christian Brothers Academy
Chris Jeffers, Sr., F, Bishop Maginn
Tyler Hammett, Sr., C, Lansingburgh

Millinghaus and Ritter were two of the area's most exciting scorers a season ago and they will remain two of the best during the 2009-10 seasons. It looks like CBA and Schenectady should be battling for the top spot in the Big 10 Conference, but expect Shenendehowa, led by Matt Miner, to be one of the favorites in the Suburban Council.
Jeffers was a tough-nosed player on a talent-packed Maginn team last year, but I expect he'll be relied on much more heavily this season to score and be a defensive rebounding presence.
Hammett played limited minutes a season ago but has focused exclusively on basketball lately, and he has all the potential in the world to wreak havoc on smaller Colonial Council opponents.

Small Schools
Starting five
Austin Bateman, Sr., G, Schuylerville
Alex Heffern, Jr., G, Heatly
Griffin Kelly, Soph., F, Watervliet
Kevin McMahon, Sr., F, Hoosick Falls
Ethan Mackey, Sr., C, Voorheesville

Bateman will be one of the top sharpshooters in the Wasaren League, as will McMahon, who at 6-foot-6, also has a great height advantage.
Heffern led the Hornets to the Section II Class D title game this year, and I'm sure he spent all summer honing his game at the park around the corner from the school. I wouldn't be surprised to see Heatly, Germantown and Loudonville Christian all fighting for the top spot in the CHVL this seaosn.
Kelly was a freshman sensation for the Cannoneers in 08-09 and should be more confident and relaxed in a leadership position this year. Mackey is an experienced post player and gives the Blackbirds a tremendous advantage on the boards.

GIRLS
Starting five
Large Schools
Katie Duma, Sr., G/F, Averill Park
Kierra Moore, Sr., G, Holy Names
Brittany O’Shea, Sr., PG, Averill Park
Ariana Youngs, Sr., G, Lansingburgh
Maria Foglia, Sr., F, Catholic Central

Duma and O'Shea will write the final chapter on their wonderful high school careers this season, and the expectations will be high for a very talented and experienced Averill Park team. Duma will be playing D-II ball at Holy Family University next fall.
Moore has already made a commitment to Saint Anselm, a Division II school, and she will battle with Lansingburgh's Youngs to be the Colonial Council's top scorer.
Foglia is one of a few returning players for the Lady Crusaders this year and she'll have to add a bit of offense to her defensive-minded game to lead CCHS to a top finish in the Big 10.

Small Schools
Starting Five
Dani DeGregory, Soph., G, Greenwich
Tierney McGlynn, Sr., G, Watervliet
Abbey Hanehan, Sr., G, Stillwater
Jackie Sorensen, Sr., G, Waterford-Halfmoon
Katie Roth, Jr., C, Maple Hill

DeGregory was a sparkplug in the Witches backcourt last season and she, along with reigning League MVP Hanehan, will make for an exciting Wasaren League season. How will Hoosic Valley regroup after the loss of Houston, Anderson, Moore, Davidson and Chapko?
McGlynn will look to guide the Cannoneers to a fourth consecutive Section II title and Watervliet should be the favorites with a heavy influence of returning talent.
Roth dominated the Patroon Conference a season ago and looks to finally guide the Wildcats past the Section II Class CC/C playoff game, which has been a hang-up in recent years.
Sorensen has already eclipsed the 1,000-point mark and will lead the Lady Fordians through another season in the CHVL with an eye toward the Section II tournament in February.

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Those are just a few of the players who should have big seasons this year and plenty more will emerge in the coming weeks. Check back in the coming days as we add a second team, honorable mention players and stories and notes to fully preview the 2009-10 season.

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Friday, Nov. 27
BOYS BASKETBALL
Non-league
CCHS Roundball Tournament
Albany Academy vs. Kingston, 4 p.m.
Lansingburgh vs. Catholic Central, 6 p.m.
Hoosic Valley Tournament
Loudonville Christian vs. Galway, 6 p.m.
Hoosic Valley vs. Duanesburg, 7:30 p.m.

Saturday, Nov. 28
BOYS BASKETBALL
Non-league
CCHS Roundball Tournament
Consolation game, 4 p.m.
Championship game, 6 p.m.
Hoosic Valley Tournament
Consolation game, 6 p.m.
Championship game, 7:30 p.m.

(Watervliet also hosts a Tip-Off tournament with the same schedule as Hoosic Valley's - Schoharie, Waterford and Tamarac will participate)