A small red-and-white sign above the bleachers in St. Lawrence University's Burkman Gymnasium pays tribute to the university's vocal fans - the school's ‘sixth man' presence during Saints' basketball games.
Photo Provided
Auburn High School graduate Andy Hoercher is the first man off the bench at St. Lawrence University as a freshman.
Auburn High School graduate Andy Hoercher is the first man off the bench at St. Lawrence University as a freshman.
For former Auburn High School standout Andy Hoercher, the sign has a more literal meaning. Only a freshman, he was first off the bench and became instrumental in St. Lawrence's successful 2006-07 season that ended with a second-round loss in the NCAA Division III Tournament.
“Coming off the bench this year as a freshman, I didn't want to take a lot of shots,” Hoercher said. “I just wanted to put other people in position to score and just run the offense, run the show.
“That was my main goal - trying to help the team to win any way I could.”
The Saints have become a fairly tough obstacle for their opponents in recent years and won their first Liberty League title this season. St. Lawrence was seeded third in its bracket and won its first-round game against Elms before losing to Brockport in the second round.
Hoercher played in all 29 games for St. Lawrence, which finished the year with a 23-6 record. The point guard was second on the team in assists, and fourth in steals. He shot 42.6 percent from the field. The team average is 46.1 percent.
Saints head coach Chris Downs was impressed with Hoercher's shooting percentage in practice, and said he thinks Hoercher will improve on it during games his career continues. “He had days in practice where he'd make 90 out of 100 shots; he set the record here for makes in drills that nobody here has ever done,” Downs said. “We know he can really shoot it. We're going to expect him to take on that role next year - maybe as our two-guard.”
While Hoercher may need to make some adjustments when he shoots from the field, his technique from the line doesn't need any fine-tuning. He leads the team in free-throw percentage (91.7 percent) - which won't come as a surprise to Auburn fans with sharp memories. As a senior Hoercher shot 73 percent from the line. He also led the team in scoring (14.9 ppg), assists (108) and shot 60 percent from the field.
“He did everything but sell popcorn,” said Auburn coach Al Giannone. “He was phenomenal for us.”
After graduating from Auburn High School, Hoercher chose to attend the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, a school noted for academics and influential alums that include former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent, Pulitzer Prize winners, ambassadors and diplomats.
Hoercher was instrumental on the basketball team from the start, scoring the winning basket in the 2005-06 season opener and leading the team with 22 points. Before his season ended prematurely due to a broken left foot, Hoercher had games of 28 and 26 points.
“It gave me an extra year to really develop,” he said. “I got a lot of one-on-one attention from my coach.”
After one season at Hotchkiss, he decided to attend St. Lawrence - a team that needed a point guard. Downs had been after Hoercher since he was a Maroon.
“I kind of started recruiting guys that are just basketball players,” he said. “Guys that love to play. He is a guy who loves to play. He likes to watch basketball on TV, he likes to read about basketball - he likes to play. I wanted guys who are gym-rat basketball guys, and Andy was that.”
Hoercher is enjoying his time in Canton, where he is undeclared but is leaning toward a degree in business or a related field.
He is looking forward to a bright future at St. Lawrence. The Saints only loose one player to graduation, guard Matt Blue. Downs said Hoercher will probably alternate between point guard and a two-guard with Josh Sharlow next season, replacing Blue.
For now, Hoercher, who is listed at 6-foot-1, 160 pounds on the Saints' roster, acknowledges that he has to bulk up for next season.
“I kind of took a beating during the season by a lot of bigger and older guys,” Hoercher said. “That's going to be my main focus - to get bigger,”
Downs agreed.
“The way he plays, he's got to bulk up if he doesn't want to get hurt,” he said. “He puts himself into tough situations and he gets knocked down a lot and he gets run into a lot.”
Giannone believes the former Maroon MVP will continue to shine.
“He's only a freshman, and he's going to have three more good years there,” he said. “They're very fortunate to have him.”
“Coming off the bench this year as a freshman, I didn't want to take a lot of shots,” Hoercher said. “I just wanted to put other people in position to score and just run the offense, run the show.
“That was my main goal - trying to help the team to win any way I could.”
The Saints have become a fairly tough obstacle for their opponents in recent years and won their first Liberty League title this season. St. Lawrence was seeded third in its bracket and won its first-round game against Elms before losing to Brockport in the second round.
Hoercher played in all 29 games for St. Lawrence, which finished the year with a 23-6 record. The point guard was second on the team in assists, and fourth in steals. He shot 42.6 percent from the field. The team average is 46.1 percent.
Saints head coach Chris Downs was impressed with Hoercher's shooting percentage in practice, and said he thinks Hoercher will improve on it during games his career continues. “He had days in practice where he'd make 90 out of 100 shots; he set the record here for makes in drills that nobody here has ever done,” Downs said. “We know he can really shoot it. We're going to expect him to take on that role next year - maybe as our two-guard.”
While Hoercher may need to make some adjustments when he shoots from the field, his technique from the line doesn't need any fine-tuning. He leads the team in free-throw percentage (91.7 percent) - which won't come as a surprise to Auburn fans with sharp memories. As a senior Hoercher shot 73 percent from the line. He also led the team in scoring (14.9 ppg), assists (108) and shot 60 percent from the field.
“He did everything but sell popcorn,” said Auburn coach Al Giannone. “He was phenomenal for us.”
After graduating from Auburn High School, Hoercher chose to attend the Hotchkiss School in Connecticut, a school noted for academics and influential alums that include former MLB Commissioner Fay Vincent, Pulitzer Prize winners, ambassadors and diplomats.
Hoercher was instrumental on the basketball team from the start, scoring the winning basket in the 2005-06 season opener and leading the team with 22 points. Before his season ended prematurely due to a broken left foot, Hoercher had games of 28 and 26 points.
“It gave me an extra year to really develop,” he said. “I got a lot of one-on-one attention from my coach.”
After one season at Hotchkiss, he decided to attend St. Lawrence - a team that needed a point guard. Downs had been after Hoercher since he was a Maroon.
“I kind of started recruiting guys that are just basketball players,” he said. “Guys that love to play. He is a guy who loves to play. He likes to watch basketball on TV, he likes to read about basketball - he likes to play. I wanted guys who are gym-rat basketball guys, and Andy was that.”
Hoercher is enjoying his time in Canton, where he is undeclared but is leaning toward a degree in business or a related field.
He is looking forward to a bright future at St. Lawrence. The Saints only loose one player to graduation, guard Matt Blue. Downs said Hoercher will probably alternate between point guard and a two-guard with Josh Sharlow next season, replacing Blue.
For now, Hoercher, who is listed at 6-foot-1, 160 pounds on the Saints' roster, acknowledges that he has to bulk up for next season.
“I kind of took a beating during the season by a lot of bigger and older guys,” Hoercher said. “That's going to be my main focus - to get bigger,”
Downs agreed.
“The way he plays, he's got to bulk up if he doesn't want to get hurt,” he said. “He puts himself into tough situations and he gets knocked down a lot and he gets run into a lot.”
Giannone believes the former Maroon MVP will continue to shine.
“He's only a freshman, and he's going to have three more good years there,” he said. “They're very fortunate to have him.”
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