Men's Basketball 22-3; Bow in ECAC Finals The 1982-83 Trinity Men's Basketball team came five points shy of winning the ECAC championship and I game short of setting a school record in wins when it fell to Rhode Island College, 70-66, at Colby. Nevertheless, the Bants enjoyed a very successful campaign in what was initially thought to be an off year. Sparked by the quickness of guards Jim Bates and co-captain Dave Wynter, the deadeye shooting of Tom King and frosh Ken Abere, and the emergence of dominating 6'10" Steve Bracken, 2nd year Coach Stan Ogrodnik's starting quintet was arguably the top in Div. III New England. Strong rebounding reserves Kerry Sullivan and frosh Bill Pfohl together with hot shooting Ronny "Bond" Carroll and adept ballhandler co-captain Pat Sclafani complemented the first five. After a 4-0 start, the hoopsters hosted Div I Yale without an injured Bracken and were soundly beaten. But, from then on the team jelled under the auspices of Coach Ogrodnik and it rode a 12 game winning streak (tying a school record) before Bowdoin nipped the cagers 72-71. In the ECAC's, the #2 ranked Bants avenged #3 Bowdoin 75-64 in the semis before losing a heartbreaking game to #4 RIC, 70-66, in the finale. Junior Jim Bates led the squad in scoring ( 12.8) closely trailed by Abere (12.7). Wynter (9ppg) was tops in the steal and assist category and electrified many crowds with his thundering dunks. Brack's (9ppg) dunks, rejections and rebounds (7pg) gave Trinity a powerful front line along with Pfohl (yppg; 5 rpg), Abere (5rpg) and junior Tim King (12 ppg; 5 rpg). Graduating from the 22-3 team are: co-captains Pat Sclafani and Dave Wynter; Steve Bracken and Ronny Carroll.
Kneeling: Frank Marchese, equip manager; Mike Gary; co-captain Dave Wynter; co-captain Pat Sclafani; Jim Bates; and John Barton. Standing: Asst Coach Frank Kine!; Ron Carroll; Tom King; Kerry Sullivan; Steve Bracken; Tim Curtis; Ken Abere; Head Coach Stan Ogrodnik; and Ass! Coach Gary Carlson. Missing: Bill Pfohl.
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