|
It’s Basketball Time At Haldane
by Robert Thorpe
The turkeys have been eaten, we have seen some traces of snow and some have started to decorate for Christmas- so that could only mean one thing - it’s basketball time!
This time of year around Haldane is always very exciting, as both the boys and girls Varsity Basketball teams are preparing for their 2001 seasons. Both teams have high expectations, and if the winter could be half as thrilling as the fall was, it will still be awesome. The boys’ team only lost one player from last year, which means the fans are in for another great season. So take your seat by the fire and listen up to what is in store for this coming season.
This year’s boys’ basketball team has both speed and ability. What they lack is center David Owens. Owens will be missed, but the Sectional Champions from two seasons ago look to gain back their title. Coach Todd Simms is back for another season and is very optimistic about the team’s chances in 2001. The Devils have a slight edge over most of their opponents this season, with their big-time experience. Between the starters, they have seven years of starting under their belts. For Joey Virgadamo, this will be his fourth straight year as a varsity starter. Brendan Hackett will not be able to play the first game due to an ankle injury he suffered during football, but he will be starting the following week for a second straight season. Tommy Virgadamo, who played six man last year because of a knee injury, will be starting, although he did start his first two years with the team. Junior Thomas Ladue will be the fifth starter; he too will be on the first team for the second straight season. Coach Simms has a dangerous starting team, but he also has a lot of weapons on the bench. Matt Steltz and Dylan Griffin add a lot with their talent and knowledge for the game, and the two of them are back. JP Percacciolo and Ryan McConville, who moved up from the Junior Varsity team to help out in the sectionals last year, look to contribute any time they are needed. The Blue Devils made a big pick-up over the summer. Junior Pat Moroney moved to Cold Spring from California. Pat adds size and ability; he will be a big help for the boys’ team. The boys this season have had two scrimmages. They blew both Ketcham and New Paltz out of the water, winning both by more than thirty points. The team has a clear strength of quickness. They move well on the court and both their offense and defense should benefit from that. Their offense this season will be a little more open; they want to take advantage of their athletic ability. Their defense will be the same "in your face, going to have to work real hard to beat me" defense. Last year’s League Co-Champions will have to work just as hard to retain the title. North Salem, Dover and the co-champions (Croton) all have good teams and are a serious threat to the title. The section will be even harder. Last year the team lost to Tuckahoe in the Sectionals and they are back again. Dangers are also presented from Blindbrook, Hamilton, Gould and Graham. Winning the Section will not be easy, but it is the goal for the 2001 team. Hopefully the Varsity boys will be well prepared for the Sectionals because they have a very difficult regular season. They take on nine different Class "A" or "B" schools and they face off with eleven different "C" schools. They do not meet up with one school their size until the Sectionals. The boys take on teams like Poughkeepsie, Pleasantville and Dobbs Ferry, all very good basketball teams. The tough regular season schedule should help out nicely come playoff time. "We are looking one game at a time this season," said Tommy Virgadamo. "We are not going to look down the road, we are not going to look at Sectionals, just one game at a time." The boys open their season this Wednesday at Woodlands and they play their first home game Thursday at 6:00 versus Eastchester.
If you went to watch any of the girl’s basketball scrimmages, you might have had to do a double take, because a lot has changed in Lady Blue Devil Land. For the first time in 13 seasons, Coach Ken Thomas will not be seen on the bench. Coach Thomas retired after winning the State and Federation Championship last season and after making his 10th appearance in the State Final Four. For the first time in two seasons you will not see Emily Perpich and for the first time in six seasons you will not see Aaron Nastasi. The team has changed a lot but they are far from letting that effect the pre-season practices. This year’s Lady Blue Devils might look different but they still have high expectations. Coach Bill O’Neill, fresh off coaching the Football team to the State Final Four, takes over as head coach. He brings a lot of experience and a different look to the team. Before taking teaching/coaching positions at Haldane he also coached girls basketball at the College of New Rochelle.
"I am excited about taking over but right now I have mixed emotions," Coach O’Neill said. "I know I will have to deal with the comparisons to Coach Thomas all season, but I knew that coming in. I have stepped into a great opportunity, a winning tradition has been established and some of the players are already developed. On the other side, it is a very different team this season, we are going to have to focus on working together and building our confidence."
When asked about the loss of two of the state’s best players, Aaron and Emily, Coach O’Neill had this to say, "They can not be replaced, there is no question about it. But I can use them as ways to motivate my team; we can no longer put the games in their hands. We need to improve and step up in specific areas."
With older sister Aaron gone, Ryan Nastasi has a difficult task of taking over the leadership of the team. Ryan has proven herself in the past, she is an All-State player with a great shot. Ryan is also probably the best defender to step on the court in any game she plays. "Ryan is a great competitor, she is a leader by example," quoted her coach. She will take control when she needs to."
Senior Denise Hunt will also need to step it up this season. Denise was a starter last year, with a great perimeter game. In addition, Kelleigh King helps this team a lot, with her shooting ability and quickness on defense. With Ryan, Kelleigh and Denise on the court, teams are going to have to guard against the long ball.
Down low starting will be Stephanie Spear for the second season in a row. Stephanie found her groove with the Lady Blue Devils last season and she will need to continue to grab more boards and control the post. Helping her out in the paint will be Ashley Giachinta. Ashley brings height and speed to the table. Both Stephanie and Ashley will be a huge factor in the team’s success.
Coming off the bench will be Lauren Thorpe, Alexis Lyons and Brittney King in the guard spots. Down low will be Ali Gunn, Erin Rodino and Jen Scozzafava. Coach O’Neill plans on using his bench even in key situations early on in the season. " I want to utilize all of my bench. I want them to be ready and not waiting. I need to be able to rely on them in critical times if I have to."
So far the Lady Blue Devils had three scrimmages this season and in each one they showed improvement. As far as a prediction this year, no one knows, only time will tell that. January 16th could be a very good indication of the future. That day the girls take on Blind Brook, who is one of the Section’s top teams. The Lady Blue Devils kick off the season this Wednesday at 6:00, they are home versus Woodlands.
What a season is in store for both the boys and the girls. I know, I can’t wait to see how the stories unwrap. So come and show your support at every game, and check each PCN&R for dates and times.
| Click ads below
for larger version
|
