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Guilford Boys’ Hoops Relying on Experience for Another Great Campaign

After returning several key players from a team that won 16 games and hosted games in last year’s SCC and State tournaments, the Guilford boys’ basketball squad looks to be the fast track toward another special season this winter. It’s still early, but the preliminary returns have been positive for the Indians, who claimed victory in their the first three games of the campaign.

Last winter, Head Coach Jeff DeMaio’s club finished with a record of 15-5 for the regular season to earn home games in both playoff brackets. In the first round of the SCC Tournament, Guilford took a 55-50 defeat to Fairfield Prep. Then in the Class L State Tournament, the Indians recorded a 71-54 home victory over Platt in the first round—marking Guilford’s first state tourney win since 2003—after which the team took a 79-67 second-round loss versus Windsor to finish at 16-7 overall.

This far this year, DeMaio has seen his team claim a 69-49 win at Masuk on Dec. 19, an 86-46 home victory versus Law on Dec. 22, and an 86-55 win over Whitney Tech on Dec. 27 to start the season a perfect 3-0.

“We won 16 games last year, and we return four starters from that team. We also return [senior] Josh Krause after he had an ACL injury last year,” Coach DeMaio said. “The expectations are high, and we expect to be a good team. We always look to not only make the league and state tournament, but we also want to make a run in each.”

The Indians have an experienced roster that features seven seniors, led by center Noah Rubino, who’s their lone captain. DeMaio said that Rubino and his senior classmates have already shown how much they’ve grown since last year with their performance during the early goings of the current campaign.

“Noah is a four-year starter, and he’s had a good start to this year. He’s also become more vocal, which is good to see,” said DeMayo. “We have a talented group of seven seniors. [Forward] Sam Dombroski is a three-year starter, plus we have guys like [guards] Matt Donlan, Josh Krause, [forward] Sam Inchalik, [guards] Ethan Skinner, and James Hyman, plus [junior center] Ian Slattery. We have a lot of guys with experience in a tough league in the SCC.”

The Indians began the 2017-’18 season with a 69-49 win over Masuk in a non-conference contest. Dombroski led the offensive effort by pouring in 24 points, while Rubino scored 19 points, and Krause chipped in 11 points.

Three days later, Guilford routed SCC opponent Law 86-46 behind 17 points from Dombroski, 16 points by Slattery, 15 points from Rubino and Krause, plus nine points by Donlan.

In the Whitney Tech win, Dombroski scored 20 points, and Rubino added 17 for the Indians.

While it’s been smooth sailing for Guilford in its three games of the year, Coach DeMaio knows the season is a long grind and that there is still plenty of room for his team to improve on both ends of the court.

“We have the experience, we have size, and we have good shooters, so we are a well-balanced team. This is the best offensive team I’ve had here at Guilford, but we can be more efficient on offense,” DeMaio said. “Our defense is a work in progress. Our goal is always to hold our opponent to under 50 points in a game. We can get more consistent there, too.”

Guilford is once competing in a difficult Hammonasset Division that’s part of a stacked Southern Connecticut Conference. However, Coach DeMaio feels confident that the Indians can conquer any adversary if they play relentlessly from the opening tip to the final buzzer every game.

“We are in a difficult division where we play Fairfield Prep, Xavier, Cheshire, and Sheehan twice. Those are difficult, and we have two Hand games, which are always hotly contested,” said DeMaio. “We have to stay healthy and hungry; that’s been my message to them all year. We also must have mental focus and be consistent with no letdowns. If we put our foot on the gas at all times with no off switch, then we can have a great year.”

DeMaio is back for his ninth year as the head coach of the Guilford boys’ basketball team this winter. He’s assisted by JV Head Coach Jeff Lamb, who’s in his ninth year with the program; along with freshman Head Coach Dante Parisi, who’s in his second year; and Sam DeMaio, who joins the program as a first-year volunteer assistant coach.