Novans vie for berth in state final
Glue guys have Novans dreaming of state title
Woonsocket faces Cumberland in semifinal round
WOONSOCKET — A large part of the success of the Woonsocket boys’ basketball team stems from the high- volume scoring load that seniors Dwayne Robinson-O’Hagan and Denzel Lyles have shouldered this season.
This is about the “Next 2” … two Villa Novan seniors who have played vital roles as well. In many ways, seniors Justo Colon and Jossue Hernandez represent the backbone of this year’s WHS edition.
“These are guys who embrace what their job is,” noted Woonsocket head coach T.J. Ciolfi. “They are key.”
Woonsocket finds itself just one win away from an appearance in the final of the Open state tournament. When the
“We try to take some of the pressure off Dwayne and Denzel because they score the most, whether that includes setting screens to make sure they have open looks, or making sure we get it done on defense.” — Woonsocket senior guard Justo Colon
Villa Novans take the court at URI’s Ryan Center today for a 4 p.m. Final Four matchup against rival Cumberland, the smart money is on Robinson-O’Hagan or Lyles emerging as the game’s top point producer for Woonsocket.
Scoring stats get all the attention, yet what Colon and Hernandez bring to the table, practice after practice, game after game … Woonsocket would not be knocking on the door of a state title without them.
Colon and Hernandez may play differ- ent positions, yet in many ways, they are cut from some the same basketball cloth.
Colon is a determined and dogged point guard who generally draws the opposing team’s top perimeter threat on defense. Hernandez is a hard-nosed forward isn’t afraid when it comes to mixing it up down low. Together, they allow Robinson-O’Hagan, Lyles, and the Novans’ third-leading scorer, junior Ousmane Kourouma, to keep a firm eye on their primary objective – scoring.
“We try to take some of the pressure off Dwayne and Denzel because they score the most, whether that includes setting screens to make sure they have open looks, or making sure we get it done on defense,” said Colon one day earlier this week before practice, with Hernandez sitting next to him in the high school locker room.
Added Hernandez, “I take a lot of pride in grabbing as many rebounds as I can and helping Dwayne and Denzel have room to operate. To me, that’s what counts.”
In basketball, you can’t have five guys on the court where everyone craves the glory of achieving the highest possible point total. For reasons largely having to do with chemistry and synergy, it’s imperative the personnel features willing members like Colon and Hernandez, proud owners per Ciolfi of a mindset, “where they embrace what their job is.”
Colon, a slot receiver on the Woonsocket football team that captured the Division II Super Bowl, refuses to give an inch despite standing at 5-foot-8. He’s keenly aware that per his defensive duties, he’s walking straight into the lion’s den as far as encountering a height disadvantage. In Colon’s eyes, it’s about making sure that Robinson-O’Hagan and Lyles can save their energy for the offensive end, which is where they’re needed more.
If the defensive assignment for Colon includes facing Mount Pleasant’s Chaynce Trottman or La Salle’s Elijah Perry, two of his taller orders this postseason, it’s about digging in and refusing to budge an inch. When the Novans survived an overtime thriller at Mount Pleasant in the Division I quarterfinals, Trottman finished with 23 points, yet it was a quiet 23. In the first game of the open state tournament against La Salle, Colon wasn’t intimidated despite Perry having five inches on him. Normally, Perry is the straw that stirs La Salle’s drink. On that particular night, he wound up with just 10 points.
“I like to get annoying on defense. If guys want to back me down, I get low and take a charge. After that, maybe they won’t want to come right after me,” Colon said.
Performing the duty of point guard in Ciolfi’s fast-paced, up-and-down offensive system can prove quite demanding. As hard as the coach can be at times when he talks shop with Colon, Ciolfi also reminds himself that he’s dealing with an 18-year-old kid who never complains and never misses a practice. Therefore, lapses are often quickly forgiven, especially when a nfoul is called on the Novans and Colon raises his hand if he happens to be standing near either ,Robinson-O’Hagan or Lyles. y Call it one the tricks up Colon’s sleeve, munderstanding that a foul whistled on either yRobinson-O’Hagan or Lyles is far more detri
mental than one called on him. It’s also another nreminder that when it comes to his place within othe Woonsocket hoop hierarchy, Colon gets it. t “I saw Justo score 30 points at least a dozen stimes when he played JV,” Ciolfi said, “but he knows that’s not his job. His job is to get the ball up the floor. When he’s out there, he’s playing hard all the time.”
“If I see one of my guys complaining about a foul, I’ll go up to the referee and say, ‘Don’t worry, I’ll talk to him,’” Colon said.
Hernandez didn’t start playing organized basketball until high school. Like Colon, he’s got a knack for doing the little things that never show up in the box score. Hernandez will use his body as a human shield, witnessed by his jersey getting ripped when Woonsocket eliminated La Salle from the open state derby.
“Being physical … I feel that’s a good trait to have,” Hernandez said.
To Ciolfi, Hernandez is an old soul locked in an 18-year-old’s body. Hernandez is the de facto leader of Woonsocket’s group of bigs, which, besides Kourouma, also includes sophomore Eric Agyemang. Hernandez is a little more reserved than Colon, yet when the former speaks, his fellow forwards make sure to listen.
“I want to be able to show them how to get it done … grab every possible rebound and play strong,” Hernandez said.
“Our bigs definitely look him to him,” Colon said.
Style-wise, Woonsocket prefers to score in transition. In these playoffs, they’ve taken on an approach that’s akin to taking a baseball bat and repeatedly hitting their opponent over the head with it. Defense has been their calling card on their way to becoming one of four teams left standing.
In many ways, Colon and Hernandez are largely responsible for setting a tone where getting stops has taken on an even greater emphasis. Sunday against Barrington, Colon notched a steal near midcourt and went in for a layup that gave Woonsocket a four-point lead with two minutes left. It was a play that saw one of the Novans’ less-heralded contributors take a well-deserved bow.
To Ciolfi, there’s no question that Colon and Hernandez embody selflessness.
“They defend as part of their calling card, meaning they’re working twice as hard as everyone else,” Ciolfi said. “Neither one of them would have it any other way.”