2016-17 HERALD High School Basketball Preview
Clarke Seniors hold key to Rams’ success By JOSEPH KELLARD
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larke looks to improve on last year’s 4-15 boys’ basketball season with five seniors slated for starting roles after earning valuable minutes off the bench last winter. Shooting guard Austin Widing and his brother, Ryan, a small forward, along with center Eric Sathue, point guard Jimmy Posillico and power forward Matt Boyko are motivated for larger roles in their final season. The Rams’ top player, Austin Widing will look to build on his 11-point scoring average. “Austin is pretty good as a spot-up shooter and gets to the basket,” said rookie head coach Joe Hasbrouck. While Ryan Widing excels in man-to-man defense, Posillico moves the ball up court quickly and gets to the basket. Boyko can stretch the floor and has a reliable jump shot, and the 6-foot-4, 205-pound Sathue has a soft touch around the rim and a 10-foot jumper. “Our offense is going to come from playing a little more space and guard than last year,” Hasbrouck said. The big man off the bench is junior Kyle Kandel, a 6-4, 225-pound center who is the team’s main rebounder and will substitute for Sathue. Other key contributors are brothers Besnik and Arton Dalipi. Besnik, a shooting guard and small forward, while good at the defensive end of the floor, is valued more for the senior leadership he brings to the 13-man roster. “Besnik has a good head for the game; he helps to settle us down a little bit,” his coach said. Arton is an energetic sophomore whose intangibles include plenty of pass deflections and rebounds. TO ADVERTISE CALL 516-569-4000
Up-and-coming players include Jesse Goodman, Samir Pejcinovic and Josh Dawson. Clarke will face North Shore and Valley Stream South, newcomers to the realigned Conference A4. But Hasbrouck is more concerned with familiar foes such as Island Trees and Friends Academy. He believes his players will need to focus on the defensive side. “We like to push the ball in transition when we can,” he said. “But also stay consistent within our offense and not get spread out and rattled and sped up.”
Lady Rams eye coveted playoff spot Lady Rams head coach Shaun Fean is expecting a lot from certain players this season to help his team finally break through the door to the postseason. At 7-12 last winter, the Lady Rams were two conference wins short of a playoff berth, a similar finish to the season before. Junior guard Sonia Iacoboni, who averaged 11 points per game, is among the starters Fean expects will improve considerably. During the offseason, Iacoboni worked on using her athleticism and speed to attack the basket instead of settling for jumpers. “We’ll definitely ask Sonia to step into an even larger role,” Fean said. Emily Carman, a sophomore power forward, is looked on to be more of a post threat, having generated a couple of double-doubles last season. “That’s something we’re hoping she can take a step forward and show that more often,” Fean said. Junior center-forward Kayla Famillette is expected to bring even greater toughness in the post, and junior shooting guard Nicole Zappala must be a steady force
in the backcourt and knock down some outside shots. The fifth starter is Graceann Murphy, a freshman point guard who her coaches believe can create opportunities for teammates as they look for her to develop a more consistent jump shot. “We know that we’re kind of throwing Graceann into a roll as a young player that is a tough spot to play,” Fean said. “But she’s done nothing to make us think that she can’t handle it.” Forward Michelle Barahona, the team’s lone senior and best defender, brings flexible matchup abilities off the bench. Other contributors include sophomore guard Haley Singer, a lefty who is a top shooter, and junior Jes-
Michelle Barahona
Schedule
Matt GuilfOyle
BoyS December
19 @ Mineola 22 North Shore
6:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m.
January 3 11 14 17 19 21 27
@ Island Trees 6:45 p.m. V.S. South 7:00 p.m. @ Friends Academy 1:00 p.m. West Hempstead 7:00 p.m. Mineola 7:00 p.m. @ North Shore 10:00 a.m. Island Trees 7:00 p.m.
February Austin Widing sica Baum, a scrappy guard who is the first to dive for a loose ball. The Lady Rams employ a flex offense that is heavy on cuts and screens and will rely on a solid defense. “We need to be tougher in closing out games and handling ball pressure and not turning the ball over and knocking down free throws,” he said.
HIGH SCHOOL BASKETBALL PREVIEW
3 @ V.S. South 7:30 p.m. 8 Friends Academy 7:00 p.m. 10 @ West Hempstead 6:30 p.m.
GIRLS December 19 Mineola 22 @ North Shore
7:00 p.m. 4:30 p.m.
January 3 11 12 17 19 20 27
Island Trees @ V.S. South Friends Academy @ West Hempstead @ Mineola North Shore @ Island Trees
7:00 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 4:45 p.m. 6:45 p.m. 7:00 p.m. 6:45 p.m.
February 3 V.S. South 7:00 p.m. 8 @ Friends Academy 6:30 p.m. 10 West Hempstead 6:00 p.m.
Photos by Keith O’Reilly
December 22, 2016 — 11