Saints happy to be back out on the court with new leadership
SARATOGA SPRINGS, NY » The Spa Catholic boy’s basketball team has a new look and it’s not just the masks.
The Saints come into their 2021 condensed season with a new coach who’s trying to change the defensive culture, but maintain their confidence with the threepoint shot.
“This being my first year as a head coach, I got to know them a little bit last year and I’m just happy for them,” said Bill Haskell, the new coach at Saratoga Catholic. “They’re playing well and this keeps them together and helps build on their experience here.”
Haskell was an assistant for the boy’s team during the 2019-2020 season under Brett Simpson, who has now moved on to Duanesburg Central Schools.
“I spent a lot of time at the
lege level, working as an assistant and a head coach. Coming into this season, we’re working a lot on fundamentals and trying to change the defensive culture a little bit by trying to be more aggressive with a lot of man-toman,” Haskell said. “We’re learning, they’re accepting it and I think we’re coming along pretty well.”
Before his most recent stop, Haskell was the head coach at SUNY Adirondack for 19 seasons. He also spent time at Corinth High School and Skidmore College.
“Coach Haskell’s been here for two years, but he’s definitely changed our offense and defense,” said Saint’s senior Hayden Day. “I think he’s adapted really well to the school.”
Day acknowledges that the condensed nature of this season has been tough on his squad and has perhaps taken away time in the gym to practice due to playing so many games per week.
“We have games on Tuesday and then Friday and Saturday - I mean it’s tough, but we’re working through it,” Day said. “We fought well against Mechanicville during the first game, but a game after another game, it kind of gets tiring.”
On February 26, the Saints fell to the Red Raiders 60-52 in a well-fought game. The following day, February 27, the score was a bit more lopsided, though Spa Catholic did have their three-point-shooters out. The fell last Saturday 6642. Since they started playing games on February 12, they have gone 3-5.
“Monday at practice we’re definitely going to work on our transition defense and our ball-screen defense,” Haskell said. “I also thought that we were really tired. We spent a lot of energy on Friday just keeping the game close. We’re thin, as far as our players go and we don’t have much size and we’re battling hard against other team’s bigger players. Every team is bigger than us, so we have to expend more energy.”
The biggest player the Saints have on their roster comes from sophomore Matt Murphy, who is listed at 6’4”. Aidan Lambert, a senior, is at 6’1” and Day is at an even 6’.
At the end of the day, Haskell is just happy this his guys are able to get on the court.
“This is great that they’re able to play. Coach (Phonsey) Lambert has done a great job of getting us games and putting the Saratoga County League was fabulous. We’re just thrilled to be able to get out here and play.”
Traditionally in the Wasaren League, this season the Saints have been scheduling games against nearby schools like Stillwater, Waterford, South Glens Falls, Corinth, Mechanicville, Schuylerville and a few others.
“It’s definitely really different with COVID, wearing the masks and it’s more tiring. Things are a lot different, but I’m glad to be here,” Day said, who also bowls and runs track and cross country at Saratoga Catholic.
In the three-point shooting game, they are led by Anthony Barile, who’s
made 15 in eight games. Robbie Bolen III and and Lambert have each made 12 from beyond the arc. Day has also been a standout defender, with 16 blocks and 12 steals.
The Saints team consists of six juniors, one sophomore (Murphy) and three seniors. Those seniors include Day, Lambert and Will Fizer.
“I’m just glad to have a season and able to be playing. It’s my senior year - I was hoping to play and luckily we did. I’m just glad that we’re able to play games with my teammates,” Day said, who spoke about what having a senior night means to him.
“It means a lot. It’s on March 12 and it’s going to be good to be able to celebrate with my two fellow seniors, who I’ve known the past four years. It’ll be fun.”