The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
A new season comes with sense of unknown
This particular high school basketball season comes with a sense of the unknown.
John Pinone at Cromwell and Todd Salva at Coginchaug have been coaching for a combined half-century and aren’t entirely sure what to expect next week when the 12-game, five week regular-season begins.
The same feeling is had by veterans Rick Privott at Middletown and Mike Kohs at Xavier, and moreso by a rookie varsity coach like
David Bradbury at Portland. We should note that games are “scheduled” to be played. In the pandemic, there is no such thing as a sure thing.
Coaches cannot scout their opponents this winter. Many feel as if they will be flying blind at tip-off.
“I think it is going to be a challenge in the first couple of weeks from a game perspective,” Pinone said. “That’s a big thing for us — preparation. We like to be well prepared, know what the other team is doing offensively, defensively, in special situations. That’s a new wrinkle this year, no scouting. We will have to do more adjustments on the fly and do a better job coaching and making changes at halftime.”
In addition to players wearing masks and having mask breaks, COVID-19 health and safety restrictions bar locker rooms being utilized. Some have noted how odd it is that teams do not have this traditional gathering spot.
“So there are no clippings or motivational messages to
see on a wall, no posters,” said Morgan’s Frank Rossi, coach of Shoreline Conference favorite Huskies. “So it’s ‘Let’s just show up and play basketball.’ If we do get to show up, if everything goes well, our mindset right now is, ‘Let’s just be ready to go.’ Our goals of a Shoreline championship, a 12-0 record, all those things — if it’s meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
Season previews MIDDLETOWN
Coach: Rick Privott
Last year’s record: 15-6
Postseason: Qualified in Division II, did not play
Scheduled opener: Feb. 8 vs. Wethersfield
Top returning players: Elijah Wilborn, Jr., 6-8 C; Mekhi Toler, Jr., 5-11 G; Matt Steuerwald, Jr., 5-7 G.
Other returners/newcomers: Chace Petgrave, Jr., 5-10 G; Marshall Butler, Soph., G; Quincy Rhodes, Soph., 6-5 F.
Outlook: Middletown lost three-fifths of last year’s lineup, including top scorer Donte Pope (Emmanuel College). Wilborn, a shotaltering force, and Toler are the returning starters, and Steuerwald is ready to run the offense. Petgrave will contribute as well after not playing last season because of a football injury. Butler has developed as a backcourt player and should get a good chunk of varsity minutes. “Our three juniors are a nice nucleus and great kids,” said Privott, who is eager to see if others get to a varsity comfort zone. “I want to see them improve. There will be a lot of opportunities for young guys with our limited roster. This will be a season for getting experience.” COVID-19 impacted the team’s numbers — between the varsity and junior varsity, Privott has just 15 players at his disposal, with a freshman roster of about 14. “That’s good, but usually we have around 18 to 20,” the coach said. Middletown will play 12 regional CCC teams. The conference plans to provide a tournament experience.
XAVIER
Coach: Michael Kohs
Last year’s record: 14-8
Postseason: Qualified in Division II, did not play
Scheduled opener: Feb. 10 vs. Cheshire
Top returning players:
Parker Hunter, Sr., 6-1 G; Ryan Gazzillo, Sr., 6-4 F. Other returners/newcomers: Justin Menard, So., 6-1 G; Anthony Parker, Soph., 6-1 G; Malcolm Wilson-Toliver, Sr., 6-3 F/C; Nick Beaulieu, Sr., 6-4 F. Outlook: The Falcons are short on varsity experience after losing four two-year starters, including big man Andrew Brown (Eastern Connecticut State), so they will feel their way around a bit as the games go by. “You play the games to win and that’s important,” Kohs said. “But you also understand where our kids have been (many missing spring and fall sports), and with ours being very inexperienced, I want to see improvement throughout the year, that they’re executing the things we want them to execute.” Hunter, the lone returning starter, has moved back to guard. Parker has an injury and Kohs hopes to get him back in March. “I’m expecting him to be a major contributor,” he said. Beaulieu saw varsity time as a junior. WilsonTolliver got varsity minutes as a sophomore, wrestled last winter and returns to give the Falcons a big body in the middle. Menard, a “basketball junkie” whose father and uncle played for Rich Magner, Kohs’ predecessor, should be fun to watch. “He handles it well, shoots well from the perimeter, and we’re working with him on the defensive end. We will get point production from him.”
COGINCHAUG
Coach: Todd Salva
Last year’s record: 5-15 Postseason: None
Scheduled opener: Feb. 10
vs. Old Lyme
Top returning players: AJ
DeFilio, Sr., 5-10 G; Tyler Garretson, Sr., 6-5 C; Terence Murphy, Sr., 6-3 F.
Other returners/newcomers: Jayson Penney,
Soph., G.
Outlook: Coginchaug resumes practice Sunday after a two-week quarantine. The Blue Devils had six seniors depart the roster. DeFilio has matured into a leadership role. “He really wants to make it work,” Salva said, “and he’s really helping to guide some of the younger players.” DeFilio and Garretson got the most varsity time of any returning player. Along with size, Garretson (University of New England for football) brings a mid-range game. “He’s
really worked hard at it,” Salva said. Murphy was a first-time player who advanced to the varsity midway through last season. “The quintessential junkyard dog. He’s worked really hard to catch up and I think he’s going to be a factor.” Another factor: Penney, whose brother Justin was the best player on last year’s squad. “He’s got the skill and confidence and has been showing signs of progress,” Salva said.
CROMWELL
Coach: John Pinone
Last year’s record: 12-10 Postseason: Qualified in Division IV, did not play
Scheduled opener: Feb. 10 vs. H-K
Top returning players: Justin Valentin, Sr., 5-11 G; James Grodzicki, Sr., 6-4 C; Gianluca Albert, Jr., 6-1 G.
Other returners/newcomers: Mike Morgan, Sr., 5-11 G; Malcolm Mention, Sr., 6-0 F; Zykarie Wilborn, Sr., 6-0 F; Matt Pepe, Sr., 6-0 F.
Outlook: Pinone has eight seniors in all, making the Panthers a Shoreline contender on experience alone. Cromwell had a strong finish to last season and was ready to make a state tournament run, so that provides additional motivation. Pinone’s teams get after it defensively, and the offense likely will be a balanced attack. The coach wants to see consistency at both ends after three weeks of acclimation to masks and hard conditioning. “It’s important that we constantly get better,” he said. “I don’t want to see us go back up and then down. We have to maintain some semblance of consistency. Our offense may be great some nights, or average, or poor. We have to be consistent from a conditioning and defensive standpoint to help keep ourselves in games.”
EAST HAMPTON
Coach: Parker Strong
Last year’s record: 14-6 Postseason: Qualified in Division IV, did not play
Scheduled opener: Feb. 10 at Morgan
Top returning players: Ted Zhao, Sr., 5-9 G; Jye Lynch, Jr., 6-1 F; Grant Arcidiacono, Sr., 5-10 G/F; Jack Blakely, Jr., 6-6 C; Drew DiStefano, Jr., 6-0 G/F; Ethan Palma, Jr., 5-7 G; Dan Cascio, Jr., 6-2 G/F/C.
Other returners/newcomers: Max Karrenburg, Sr., 5-9 G; Darren Way, Sr., 5-10 G; Nate Ireland, Soph., 6-3 F; Chris Progano, Jr., 5-8 G.
Outlook: Other than graduating First Team All Shoreline/All-State guard Stephen Brady, the Bellringers’ core is intact, with last year’s strong sophomore class a year older and experienced. Zhao and Lynch can shoot the 3 and there is versatility on the wings with Arcidiacono, DiStefano and Cascio (back injury last year). Cascio can fill any of the five spots. “It’s nice to have depth,” Strong said. “I like to think we can attack teams in different ways, but our focus is defense and rebounding. If we do that well, we should be in pretty good shape. We had issues on the glass at the end of last year.” The Bellringers moved up to the large-school side of the Shoreline, replacing Coginchaug, and have a challenging first four games (Morgan, Valley, Cromwell and H-K). “Hey, we’re lucky to have a season,” Strong said.
PORTLAND
Coach: David Bradbury (1st season)
Scheduled opener: Feb. 12 at Old Lyme
Last year’s record: 5-15
Postseason: None
Top returning players:
Cody Daggett, Sr., 6-0, G; Peter McNickle, Sr., 6-1 G/F; Mason Piersall, Sr., 6-3, G/F; T.J. Reddington, Sr., 6-0, G; Noah Charpentier, Sr., 6-3, F; Zach Thomas, 6-2 F; Luke Francesco, 5-8 G.
Other returners/newcomers: Eli Evison, Jr., 6-5; Evan Johnson, Jr., 5-11, G.
Outlook: Bradbury, who won a state championship as a player at Valley Regional and coached that school’s freshman team a year ago, brings high expectations to Portland. The Highlanders have a lot of senior leadership and will try to make gains with their size, especially on the defensive end. The team got a late start to practice (Jan. 25), but Bradbury says the first week was productive. “As a new coach, I feel I’m bringing a new culture and a new atmosphere to this team. Not only do I love how hard they work, it puts our mindsets on a similar track. I want them to achieve their own personal goals, which are very important, and at the same time have common goals.”