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01/14/2018 11:00 PMThe 2017-’18 season started off slow for the Valley Regional boys’ basketball team, but the Warriors perked up by putting three victories in the books last week. Valley posted wins against Morgan (58-52), Haddam-Killingworth (64-54), and Portland (66-54) to level its record at 4-4 after losing its first three games of the year.
Head Coach Kevin Woods had faith that his team could play winning basketball this winter. He knows that his players have worked too hard and are too talented for Valley to stay quiet for long.
“Our record is not reflective of what we’re capable of. We’ve had some tough breaks, partially our fault, partially luck,” said Coach Woods. “In the end, it will only make us tougher. I’m proud of our ability to persevere through that.”
On Jan. 8, the Warriors started their week on the road against Morgan and defeated the Huskies 58-42 behind a scoring outburst from senior captain Colin Sparaco, who poured in 25 points, while notching two rebounds and two assists. Sparaco made it rain from 3-point range by going 7-of-11 from beyond the arc in the victory. Coach Woods was pleased with Sparaco’s hot shooting, but even more impressed with his senior captain’s defensive effort throughout the week.
“He’s a very capable player. What I loved about him this past week was the defensive improvement,” Woods said. “That’s the biggest improvement I’ve seen in his game this season. It’s translated into his offense.”
Mitch Holdmeyer also had an impressive night by scoring 13 points to go with his 14 rebounds and four blocked shots. Kevin Fasulo scored 11 points with five rebounds, three steals, and an assist, while fellow junior captain Ryan Santos had two rebounds.
Kevin Woods feels happy for players like Holdmeyer and Fasulo, who stuck with the program even when they weren’t playing major varsity minutes.
“You have a lot of people that want instant gratification. Too many times you see kids give up too quickly. Mitch is a guy that has stuck with it and developed, and now he’s arguably our best player. He is on track to be an All-Conference player. He’s a game-changer,” said Woods. “Kevin Fasulo had a really good game against Morgan. That was his season and career high. He came off the bench and gave us the offensive spark we really needed that game.”
Senior captain Zach Stevens is another player who fits into that category. Coach Woods explained that Stevens’s presence at the point guard position is huge for the Warriors, and the senior dished out nine assists in the win against the Huskies.
“He may not always show up big in the box score, but he’s our starting point guard,” Woods said. “He developed in the JV process, and now, he is a great player.”
On Jan. 11, the Warriors remained on the road to face Haddam-Killingworth and prevailed by the score of 64-54. Sparaco stayed hot by netting 17 points to complement his four boards and three assists. Holdmeyer scored 24 points, corralled 12 boards, blocked four shots in the win. Senior captain Ben Weinstein had eight points, 10 rebounds, and seven assists.
Woods believes that he has a strong tandem of bigs with Holdmeyer and Weinstein this season. The coach also praised Weinstein for how he’s leading the Warriors in his role as captain.
“Ben Weinstein, he’s been a solid player. Between him and Holdmeyer, it’s the best 1-2 big-man punch in the league. They work incredibly well together,” said Woods. “He’s a great leader, as well. With his dedication and commitment, he’s an incredible captain.”
On Jan. 13, Valley was back home to host Portland and grabbed another victory, 66-54. After falling behind by nine points in the second quarter, the Warriors went on a 17-0 run and built on that lead in the third en route to the 12-point win.
Sparaco led the team in scoring with 20 points, and Holdmeyer had a huge night by recording 11 points, 16 rebounds, five blocks, three assists, and two steals. Weinstein also had 11 points to go with his eight boards and three assists. Senior captain Ernest Jean-Pierre was a big factor with 10 points on top of his five rebounds and three assists.
Coach Woods said that Jean-Pierre is especially effective on the defensive end of the floor.
“The thing about Ernest, he’s asked to play the other team’s best player. He has to work twice as hard as some of the other guys. What he’s able to do on offense is a bonus,” said Woods. “He’s our defensive stopper, and he’s done a great job of it this year. If we’re going to be a championship, it starts with Ernest.”
Another key player in the victory was senior Adrian Sperzel, who scored eight crucial points and was a pest on defense, according to Coach Woods.
“Adrian Sperzel was the difference in the game against Portland,” Woods said. “He was the catalyst with his defense, and he knocked down a couple of big threes. He’s a hungry athlete. Very athletic.”
With these recent victories, Woods said the Warriors’ eyes are firmly focused ahead as they gear up for the second half of their season.
“This team, there’s not a lot of experience. You’re seeing them develop as the season goes on,” said Woods. “When you have a senior-laden team, they tend to peak earlier. These guys are getting better as we go. We’re 4-4, and we don’t look backwards. We want to contend for Shoreline and state titles.”
From the Sidelines
The Valley Regional boys’ basketball roster includes senior captains Ernest Jean-Pierre, Colin Sparaco, Zach Stevens, and Ben Weinstein; seniors Mitch Holdmeyer, Adrian Sperzel, and Brian Tonks; junior captain Ryan Santos; juniors Jaelen Arnum, Kevin Fasulo, and Jason Montecalvo; and sophomore Cade Ensinger.
Head Coach Kevin Woods’s coaching staff includes assistant coaches Lou Rolon, Anthony Pagano, Brad Piven, and Bobby Sanchez, and along with JV Head Coach Scott Harger.
The Warriors have notched wins against Hale-Ray (71-48), Morgan (58-42), Haddam-Killingworth (64-54), and Portland (66-54) this season. Valley’s losses have come against East Hampton (91-68), Coginchaug (56-54 in OT), Old Saybrook (62-53), and Cromwell (75-56).