East Rockaway Rocks

EAST ROCKAWAY

Health key to Rocks turnaround

By BRIAN KACHARABA

Covid ravaged East Rockaway boys’ basketball season in 202122 and the result was a forgettable 2-17 record. But the Rocks are ready to put that campaign in the rearview mirror and focus on a team that, when healthy, could be a playoff contender in a competitive Class B. A season-opening six game losing streak featured two games 12 days apart because of the disease, which caused another lengthy gameless drought from Dec. 28 and Jan. 12. “We never got our footing,” head coach Paul Collins said. “We were in a lot of games, but we could never get over that hump that we wanted to. I went through two weeks with only four players.” Collins is optimistic about his team this season, noting that the boys are quickly grasping his system while displaying good chemistry on and off the court. “The speed that we’re getting up and down the court has been very good,” Collins said. “Overall, the chemistry of the team is ridiculous.” Senior Tyler Hyland averaged 12.4 ppg last season – bolstered by his 23-point performance against Oyster Bay on Feb. 5 – and could again be the team’s leading scorer. “He defi nitely looks for the shot a lot more,” Collins said. “I need him driving and get to the line, therefore he would open himself up to the outside and [those] shots will be a little more open.” Chris Vertuccio is dependable at both ends of the court and he and fellow senior Colin Sharkey will be the key rebounders. Athletic senior John Gionatti is a vocal leader who can get a big basket at the most opportune time. Pat McLaughlin completes the Rocks’ three-guard set and always shows aggression on the court and Collins has been pleased with the high basketball IQ and improved shooting of junior twins Nick and Kyle Pollakov. A new-look Class B includes Malverne, Wheatley, Seaford and Carle Place.

EAST ROCKAWAY’S YOUTH MOVEMENT

East Rockaway’s girls’ team, a playoff semifi nalist last winter, will be noticeably younger after seven seniors graduated, two decided to pursue other interests and two others suffered injuries that will likely sideline them for the season. That shrunk the roster to 11 players, with more than half of them being JV callups. But if the underclassmen-laden roster gels quicker than expected, a return to the postseason could again be a real possibility in the four-team Conference B2. “I defi nitely think it’s going to be a learning process with the remaining group,” head coach Cheri Poland said. “I have six JV players that are coming up that are really solid athletes, but basketballwise, they’re new to the game. But I am hopeful.” Junior Emma Poland and freshman Maya Motherway are the top returning players and will likely be the team’s biggest offensive threats. Poland averaged around eight points a game last year and her 6-foot frame makes her effective on defense, while Motherway fl ashed her potential with four double-digit point games, including a 14-point fi ve-assist effort off the bench in a win over Malverne on Jan. 4. “They have experience and are ready to come back and really put the team on their back,” coach Poland said of the pair. After that, Poland is hoping that a new group of sophomores can make an immediate impact the way Motherway did. Six-footer Sophia Pappas and Nora Rose are both athletic and likely to be in rotation and Sofi a Tizio is a dependable outside shooter who could be a big presence in the lineup as she hones her defensive skills. Speedy Nicole Buzzetta and Erin Lynch provide depth at guard and Ashley Wilkerson plays like her older sister Natalia – a senior on the team – as both use their height on the glass. Defending county and L.I. champion Locust Valley heads the list of Rocks’ rivals.

senior John Gionatti is a vocal leader who can get a big basket at the most opportune time. Pat McLaughlin completes the Rocks’ three-guard set and always shows aggression on the court and Collins has been pleased with the high basketball IQ and improved shooting of junior twins Nick and Kyle Pollakov. A new-look Class B includes Malverne, Wheatley, Seaford and Carle Place.

EAST ROCKAWAY’S YOUTH MOVEMENT

East Rockaway’s girls’ team, a playoff semifi nalist last winter, will be noticeably younger after seven seniors graduated, two decided to pursue other interests and two others suffered injuries that will likely sideline them the roster to 11 players, with more again be a real possibility in the four-team Conference “I defi nitely think it’s going to be a learning process with the remaining group,” head coach Cheri Poland said. “I have six JV players that are coming up that are really solid athletes, but basketballwise, they’re new to the game. But Junior Emma Poland and freshman Maya Motherway are the top returning players and will likely be the team’s biggest offensive threats. Poland averaged around eight points a game last year and her 6-foot frame makes her effective on defense, while Motherway fl ashed her potential with four double-digit point games, including put the team on their back,” coach

Emma Poland

Schedule

BOYS December

14 Seaford 7:00 p.m.

January

3 West Hempstead 7:00 p.m. 6 @ Locust Valley 7:00 p.m. 9 @ C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m. 11 Wheatley 7:00 p.m. 13 Malverne 6:30 p.m. 20 @ Seaford 7:00 p.m. 31 Oyster Bay 7:00 p.m.

February

3 @ West Hempstead 5:00 p.m. 8 @ Malverne 7:00 p.m. 11 Carle Place 12:00 p.m.

GIRLS December

14 @ Seaford 7:00 p.m. 17 C.S. Harbor 7:00 p.m.

January

3 @ West Hempstead 7:00 p.m. 6 Locust Valley 7:00 p.m. 11 @ Wheatley 7:00 p.m. 13 @ Malverne 6:30 p.m. 20 Seaford 7:00 p.m. 31 @ Oyster Bay 7:00 p.m.

February

3 West Hempstead 7:00 p.m. 8 Malverne 7:00 p.m. 11 @ Carle Place 12:00 p.m.