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South boys hoops almost starting from scratch
Nine seniors graduated from last year's Section VI Class A runner-up, including four-year starter Adrian Wood (third at South in career points and steals) and three-year starter Frankie Pieri (third at South in career rebounds; 10th in points). Monaco returns only two players and debuts eight newcomers to varsity. Five are from a JV team that won its last 19 games after losing its opener; another is from modified. Billies coach Al Monaco said he has never had this much turnover in his 20 years of coaching at the school. "Nothing has come even close," said Monaco. Monaco said when players transition to varsity they look to the veterans on varsity for assistance. This team really can't do that. "The problem is they all have to come in and play big roles," said Monaco. "As good as are, they all have to make the adjustment together. That's a lot harder." Monaco hopes by playing in a varsity summer league and attending camps, his team can make the proper adjustments to the varsity level. "They keep getting better as the year goes on," said Monaco. "I can see it already." The quintet moving up from JV are juniors Zach Murray and Tom LiSacchi and freshmen Phil Stasiak, Joe Licata, and Erik Hansen. Freshman Aaron Adams makes the jump from modified. Murray, 6-foot-4, is the tallest player on the team and will play at center. Monaco said Murray led the JV in scoring. "He is a good three-point shooter that presents tough matchup problems for other teams," said Monaco. "If he can hit outside shots, that's big for us because it would drag the other team's biggest guy outside so we can work on the boards." LiSacchi, 5-foot-7, will start at the two-guard and play the point if Coppola is in foul trouble or needs a rest. However, he will be out two to three weeks with a strained left rotator cuff that he suffered in a scrimmage last week. Monaco said LiSacchi brings intangibles to the team. "He gets after loose balls on the floor," said Monaco. "When he's on the court, we're a better team. He's a leader. Kids seem to follow him." Stasiak, 6-foot, will start at forward. Monaco said Stasiak is the most fundamentally sound player on the roster. "He could step in and play for any of our good teams in the past," said Monaco. "He's an old school player and I mean that as a big compliment because he plays so tough. Defensively, he has quick hands, deflecting passes." Licata, 5-foot-11, was the best shooter in the program as an eighth-grader. He saw some minutes in the varsity team's playoff games at Buffalo State College last year. Licata is coming off a right knee injury he suffered while playing football. Hansen, 6-foot-2, and Adams, 6-foot-1, will come off of the bench to play at forward. "All four of the freshmen can really shoot the ball," said Monaco. "Aaron can also shoot the three." Monaco said he has been really surprised by Adams' play. "He's been totally dedicated," said Monaco. "I never thought of him playing varsity basketball this year." Monaco's two returning players are sophomore guard Mark Coppola and senior guard Brian Webb. Coppola excelled running the point as a freshman, finishing with 143 assists, which was second most all-time for a season at South. He was also named an ECIC Division II Second Team all-star. At 5-foot-3 and 115 pounds, Coppola is the smallest player on the team but the most talented. He's the team's only captain. "He alone makes us competitive," said Monaco. "He has incredible instincts and has the best court vision I've ever seen. He runs the show. Everything goes through him." Coppola, who averaged eight points last year, will need to score more, Monaco added. Webb, 5-foot-8, is a returning lefty guard who Monaco said is in the mix for a starting position. "For us to be successful, he has to put down threes with consistency," said Monaco. Others on the team are 6-foot-5 senior forward Tim Krempa and 5-foot-10 junior guard Armaan Wood. Krempa hasn't played basketball for South since he was on modified as a seventh grader. Monaco said he was shocked with Krempa's athleticism. "He has great instincts on defense," said Monaco. Wood will be out until at least mid-December with a knee injury he suffered while playing football. Wood played JV basketball at Canisius High School last year. Monaco thinks the team's strengths are speed and shooting threes. A lack of a dominant big man inside does concern him. "I'm not worried about us scoring," said Monaco. "I'm worried about us getting killed on the boards because we can't match up with some of the other team's size. In order for us to run with the ball in transition, we'll have to rebound." South opens at 7:30 p.m. on Friday when they host Hutch-Tech. The Billies then have five straight road games until its Williamsville Rotary Tournament from Dec. 27 to 28. South will play Fredonia at 7:30 p.m. on Dec. 27 and face the winner of Williamsville North and Fredonia at either 6 p.m. (consolation game) or 7:30 p.m. (finals).
"This team has more potential than I've ever coached," said Monaco. "If we keep working, we'll be much better in a couple months." |
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