As the cold winds of December blow through the streets, scholastic sports action shifts inside to the squeaky sound of sneakers pivoting on gymnasium floors.
Another basketball season is upon us with sharp elbows contesting for space in the post and the snapping sound of jump shots finding nothing but net. December is a time of optimism when every team has a fresh slate and the possibilities are limitless. Below is a look at the prospects for the teams in our area.
Poughkeepsie
In local hoops, the Pioneers are synonymous with excellence, and last year’s 20-3 season was no exception. Coach Brian Laffin expects his squad to be highly competitive, but also acknowledges the loss of experience from last year.
“We lost five seniors, so there’s going to be an adjustment. We have some very good talent, but we also have a lot of inexperience at the guard position. We return most of our big guys, so it’s going to be a challenge to make sure we can jell together.
The returning frontcourt is versatile and include 6’6’’ junior Brandon James, 6’5’’ junior Malik Dennard, 6’5’’ junior Darryl Charles and 6’5’’ senior Antonio Williams. This quartet is quite interchangeable.
Williams can step outside and shoot from the perimeter as well as assume ball-handling responsibilities. Charles is a slasher with a long wingspan, allowing him to play inside and out. Dennard is a post power player, whose assets are strength and defense, while James is just as comfortable with his back to the basket as he is shooting from the perimeter.
According to Laffin, the guards will be a “backcourt by committee.” Sophomore Dayvone Whitatker is adept in the transition game and is able to play above the rim. Senior guard Moquan Dickens has long-distance range on his jump shot and is an excellent defender.
“We’re starting to come together. It’s a feeling-out process. We have no set starting lineup. “I want to make it as competitive as possible,” said Laffin.
Roosevelt
Coming off an 11-9 season which ended with a first-round sectional loss to Kingston, coach Kevin Hart graduated five seniors. Although some might call this a rebuilding year, Hart is optimistic that his guard-laden squad can outrun the opposition.
“We have to play up-tempo for four quarters and get a lot of our offense from the transition game,” said Hart.
The Presidents have some outstanding seniors to help them achieve this goal. Senior guard/forward Shareef Taylor is a key to the team’s success. An athletic player, Taylor is an accurate shooter who can slash to the rim. He is complemented by Connor Hart, a 6’2’’ senior guard, who possesses lightning quickness.
Senior point guard George Dallas is a transfer from New York City. Dallas is quick with a natural ability to penetrate to the basket. The bench also features quick guards with senior Sharief Warfield and junior guard David Josiah, known for his glove-like defense.
Hart is optimistic about the upcoming campaign, with the expectation that his team’s experience will prevail.
“I expect us to be as good as our seniors will lead us to be.”
Ketcham
The Indians are looking to rebound from an 8-13 campaign last year and coach Matt Paino is counting on a roster of swingmen to help them do it.
“Our strength is our length and athleticism. We have guys with long wingspans. We need to get out and defend and try to use our length to our advantage,” said Paino.
Junior Michael Cummings was a junior varsity call-up last year and according to Paino can play everything from point guard to center. Shooting guard/small forward Kyle Bender has a nice outside stroke and works well with Cummings.
Center Nick Leerdon has a powerful inside game, but can take the ball to the perimeter as well.
“We don’t have a true center, but we’re going to get up in people’s faces and create offense off our defense.
Anchoring that defense will be junior guard Mike Orefice. “He’s a heady player who understands basketball very well. He’s very aggressive, the captain of our defense,” said Paino.
Also in the backcourt is junior Howard Johnson, a physical and tenacious defender.
Paino’s goal is to contend for a league title and host a sectional game for the first time in over a decade.
“We have the pieces that can fit into the puzzle and allow us to do some special things,” said Paino.
Spackenkill
The Spartans are coming off an 8-13 season, but return 11 players from last year’s squad.
“We hope they’re a year wiser, a year older, a year stronger and maybe a year more mature,” said coach Terry Feeley.
The undersized Spartans are going to use perimeter plays as their calling card. Not one player is over 6’2.’’ “We’re not going to out-physical teams, but we definitely have some kids on the perimeter that can do things with the basketball,” Feeley said.
“We have decent size in our guards, so if we play hard we should be OK. The thing the kids have to understand is there is not a 6’10’’ guy to clean up defensively. If we play hard as a group we should be in good shape. I’m not going to reinvent the wheel because we don’t have a big guy,” said Feeley.
The focal points of the team will be senior Kyle Roys, an athletic slasher who knows how to get to the rim. Joining Roys in the frontcourt is junior Kevin Davis, a player who is strong off the dribble, with the ability to draw defenders.
The penetration of Roys and Davis should open up some space for guards Matt Perez and Sean Feeley, who both possess three-point range.
Feeley is looking at the season as a marathon, not a sprint.
“My approach has been the same for 20-plus years. You sacrifice some things earlier in the year, because when it comes down to sectional time, you’ve got to be ready.”
Arlington
Graduation is a milestone in the life of a student, but a millstone for a high school basketball squad.
Take Arlington, for example. The Admirals went 16-6 last year, winning the league title and advancing to the second round of sectionals. However, there is a downside to success.
“We lost four of our five starters and 95 percent of our scoring. We have some talent with some of the juniors who are now seniors. They were just behind a strong senior class last year,” said coach Matt Hoyt.
The Admirals will try to create offense through their defense. Senior guards Andrew Ziemens and David Newman are quick and tenacious.
“They’re good on-the-ball defenders. Our guards can do a nice job of putting some pressure on people,” said Hoyt.
Arlington will have a front court by committee with five players rotating in and out. Because they are undersized, the Admirals will have to utilize their work ethic to compete.
“I think all five guys will do a good job because they work so hard at. We might not be the most talented group, but we’ll be one of the hardest-working teams in the league,” said Hoyt.