Date: Fri 08-Dec-1995

Publication: Bee

Author: KIMH

Illustration: I

Quick Words:

NMS-Boys-Preview-1995

Full Text:

NMS Preview, Boys 1995

B Y K IM J. H ARMON

Considering the circumstances and the situation that the Newtown Middle School

boys' basketball team finds itself in as the 1995-96 season approaches, coach

Gino LoRicco should stop trying to teach his recruits the game and start

teaching some survival training.

The Lions were all but declawed in the off-season, losing all of their height,

all of their size, and nearly all of their experience when nine players - Matt

Prasauckas, Jeff Rucktenwald, Tommy Hine, Eric Putnam, Kyle McCullough, Pete

Zingoni and Sean Cavanaugh - made the step up to freshman high school

basketball and/or other pursuits.

" This year we're looking to get better every game, " said coach LoRicco, " to

compete with the other teams around. It's hard to say how we'll do because we

do have some people who can play the game, they're just smaller than some of

the teams we'll be competing against. "

Coach LoRicco, though, is not in such dire straits that he's shooting flares

into the sky and waiting for the calvary to come a runnin'. The Lions possess

the kind of talent needed to win basketball games, but in some cases that

talent is coming in raw form.

Eighth-graders . . .

Jason Godoy - A very good inside player, but needs to get more physical and

needs to rebound for the Lions to be successful

Glen Stiewing - A first-year player, he is the tallest on the team and works

real hard.

Ben Champagne - Another first-year, eighth-grader, who could grab some

rebounds.    Bret McEvoy - Very quick on defense, makes good decisions, and

sees the whole floor. Coach LoRicco said, " Bret is one of the best athletes I

have ever coach. He will not only be a good varsity player, but he will be one

of those guys who will be an outstanding shooter from the outside. "

Rich Engel - First-year, eighth-grader. Didn't make the team last year but

improved an incredible amount. Is versatile and should play a lot of different

positions.    Brian Gossling - A returnee, he is extremely quick but the Lions

need him to step up and not be afraid to take the shot.

Adam Ponsky - A tenacious defensive player. Likes to take the ball to the

hoop. A three-year player, coach LoRicco can put him in and count on him to do

certain jobs.

Terry Bates - An extremely quick, but inexperienced first-year player.

Seventh-graders . . .

Peter Stephenson - A good rebounder and a good all-around player. " Peter

really caught my eye, " said coach LoRicco. " He plays much bigger than his

size. "

Andy Smith - His first time out for the team, but he is a quick ball handler

and point guard.

Dave Roodhuyzen - Coach LoRicco said, " Dave has improved more than any player

I had from last year and he is a lot quicker. "

John Fiscella - Good skills. Works hard. Shoots well and passes well, plays

great defense.

Jeff Wolcott - Has a lot of good skills. He handles the ball well dribbling

and passing and could be counted on a lot in the future of this program.

Kevin Carolan - Very quick point guard, aggressive. One of the few returning

players.

Grant Putnam - Has an excellent shot from the outside. Almost made the team a

year ago, made it this year.

Nick Savino - Has one of the better shots from outside. If he keeps working on

it, could be a good No. 2 guard.

Matt Saunders - A good rebounder. Real physical. Not afraid to make mistakes.

Sixth-graders . . .

Ryan Walker - The only sixth-grader, Ryan handles the ball well and is

aggressive.

" I want to try and play as many kids as I can and the style that allows that

is up-tempo, " said coach LoRicco. " We're going to look to fast-break every

opportunity that we can and look to press at least three quarters of the game.

Because we don't have size, we're going to have somehow make up for that. If

we get the rebounds, we can run, and if we can run I think we can be

competitive. "

Schedule

HILLCREST, December 12; at Madison, December 14; ROGERS PARK , December 19;

ANSONIA , December 21; at Wooster, January 3; BETHEL, January 9 (a

double-header with boys' varsity and boys' jayvee games); BROADVIEW , January

11; at Ansonia, January 12; at Rogers Park , January 16; WOOSTER, January 17;

CHALK HILL , January 23; at Madison, January 25; at Hillcrest, January 30, at

Chalk Hill Tournament, February 8-9; at Bethel, February 13 (a double-header

with boys' varsity and boys' jayvee games); at Broadview , February 27.

- signifies a double-header, with boys' and girls' teams playing.