This is a printer-friendly version of an article from Zip06.com.
12/19/2019 11:00 PMThe Valley Regional boys’ basketball team put together a stellar season that featured appearances in the semifinals of Shoreline Conference and Division V State tournaments last year. The Warriors cut a swath through the Shoreline Conference by finishing with an overall record of 18-7 and did so on the strength of solid offense and stingy defense. This year, Head Coach Kevin Woods wants his club to run it back with a large cast of returning players, along with a few fresh faces on the varsity squad.
Coach Woods plans to keep Valley’s philosophy the same: play good defense to create offense. The Warriors have their fair share of ball hawks who can short-circuit the opposition’s attack and jump-start offensive opportunities for Valley.
“I don’t think anything’s changed in terms of our game. It starts and ends at the defensive end of the court. We’re not enormous, but we’re scrappy and we work hard,” said Woods. “We’re much more balanced offensively. Last year, we had some outstanding offensive players, but now, we have more of those guys. The skill sets have been tweaked. We’re improved, and we’re excited to put that into action.”
A player who epitomizes the Valley approach is senior captain Cade Ensinger. He loves to jump passing lanes with 4.6 steals per game last year, and he may even be a little bit more potent from the outside this year.
“Cade was something like third in the state in steals, and we have a couple of high profile defensive players along with him,” Woods said. “He’s also considerably better from the perimeter this year. We’ll look for production beyond the arc. We want him to get to the basket or hit the long three. He’s a tough matchup for anybody.”
One of Valley’s major offensive threats is returning in senior captain Gavin Grabowski. The senior guard led the team with 15.5 points per game including a 38-point effort for his season high.
“Gavin was First Team All-State last year as a guard. He’s a threat from the outside, but he can get to the rim and score, too,” said Woods. “He was up there in points. He can put the ball into the basket. That’s for sure.”
The Warriors other two senior captains are Chris Sparaco and Dylan Sparaco, who are expected to fill different roles. Chris Sparaco is a big man and averaged nearly a double-double on with 10.6 points per game and 9.8 rebounds.
“Chris is more of an inside presence for us, and comes down with a lot of rebounds,” said Woods. “Dylan will give us some production from beyond the arc.”
Valley hopes for a full season from senior forward Jake Grow, who had to miss a good portion of the prior campaign.
“Jake was hurt in the preseason, and we got limited production from him last year. He’s one of my guys. I’ve been a big Jake Grow fan since he stepped into the school,” said Woods. “He’s another scorer inside and outside, and he plays hard.”
Senior John Tibbets will hold down at center, but he can still slide out if need be. Coach Woods is also really impressed at Tibbets’s ability to communicate.
“John’s got great leadership skills. In terms of communication, he could be a politician. He has such a presence as he speaks,” Woods said. “He’s a smart, intellectual guy, and his understanding of the game has come a long way, too. He should have a big year.”
Backing up Tibbets will be freshman Jeremy Arnum, and Coach Woods and company believe that he can have a major impact this season.
“Like John Tibbets, he can play inside and outside. He’s the second tallest kid on the team, and he can shoot and handle the basketball,” Woods said. “He has a lot of poise and the older guys respect and trust him already. He’s going to be a factor.”
Another defensive stalwart for the Warriors this season will be Brian Rankin, who is never afraid to get physical on the floor.
“Rankin is instant energy off the bench. He can play big and small players. He’s big, he’s long, and he’s tough,” Woods said. “He’s a football guy, and he’s nasty and physical. He’s quick and athletic and a great rebounder. He gives us a ton on the defensive end.”
Other players who will see the floor include senior guard JT Dickson, senior forward Macklin Miezejeski, junior guard Keenan Pindar, sophomore forward James Marsden, and sophomore guard Simon Partyka.
Coach Woods believes his team has talent, and in turn, there are great expectations for them. He wants his players to approach every game with a competitive edge, but also to make sure they don’t lose sight of why they suit up, to have fun playing the game they love.
“Our expectations are what some people would say impossible. If we don’t win 105-percent of our games, something is wrong on The Hill, but our expectations are also to enjoy every moment of the season,” said Woods. “Whether you have a successful season, or your season gets cut short, you have to have a good time. We know we have a lot of talent and a lot of experience back. We’re excited for it to start, and we don’t want it to end too quickly.”
Coach Woods believes that Valley Regional is ready to see some hoops, and this year could be special for both Warriors’ teams.
“After watching the girls’ game against Morgan, the Valley fanbase is ready for the season to begin,” said Woods noting the 2-0 start of the girls’ squad. “Hopefully, we get that same kind of energy and turnout. It can be a special year at Valley for both the boys’ and girls’ teams.”
• The Valley Regional boys’ basketball team’s varsity roster includes senior captains Cade Ensinger, Gavin Grabowski, Chris Sparaco, and Dylan Sparaco; seniors JT Dickson, Jake Grow, Macklin Miezejieski, Brian Rankin, and John Tibbets; juniors Marcus Santamaria and Keenan Pindar; sophomores James Marsden, Simon Partyka, and Saeger Patel; and freshman Jeremy Arnum.
• Head Coach Kevin Woods’s coaching staff included assistant coaches Anthony Pagano, Brad Pitman, and Lou Rolon, along with JV coach Scott Harger and first-year freshman coach and David Bradbury, a program alum.
• This year, the Warriors are playing home games versus Windham, East Hampton, North Branford, Cromwell, Portland, Old Saybrook, Haddam-Killingworth, Coginchaug, and Morgan. Valley will hit the road to face Xavier, Old Lyme, Coginchaug, Hale-Ray, Haddam-Killingworth, Westbrook, Morgan, North Branford, Cromwell, and Amistad.