The Division III defending co-champion Mascenic boys’ basketball team finally hit the court again Tuesday night for the first time since their Final Four win over Somersworth 317 days ago – and the subsequent championship game cancelation. The Vikings were expected to open against a powerhouse Monadnock team, but with the Huskies’ season temporarily suspended due to their district’s COVID-19 policies, Mascenic squared off with Wilton-Lyndeborough, who also had this week’s games against Keene postponed due to COVID-19 protocols.
Both teams started out relatively slow in the empty gym Tuesday; Mascenic is allowing two fans per player, but WLC is not allowed to play in gyms with fans, so Tuesday’s crowd was limited to the schools’ live video streamers, the Mascenic JV team and a couple Viking girls peering in from the outside through the gym windows, taking in the early product of a truncated preseason.
“A lot of these kids didn’t play over the summer, maybe a little bit at the park, so it’s good to get out there, see they can play and see that they still have what they had last year,” Kear said. “It was hungry and they just competed and that’s all I can ask. There was a little bit of rust but as the season continues – hopefully it continues – hopefully it shakes off. They didn’t play in the Keene State tourney, they didn’t play any scrimmages, this was literally their first time playing in a game since last year.”
The Vikings eventually settled into their offense, led by an aggressive Jack Cocozella (15 points) and a newly lethal Blaine Krook, who camped in the corners and knocked down five threes. Mascenic led 18-6 after the first quarter and never let up, holding WLC to one hoop in the fourth quarter and winning 69-26.
Wilton coach Wiley Billings said his team is improving as their season progresses and players find their roles in a new system.
“Last year they put the ball up every seven seconds,” Billings said. “We don’t have a shooter, so that ain’t happening.”
The Warrior offense is at its best when point guard Kyler Tremblay is able to drive, draw defenders, and find the open man for a layup or midrange jumper; Tuesday night, Tremblay was able to muster a team-high 12 and Zack Taylor added six, but points have been at a premium for the Warriors in 2021.
“I’m telling these guys, work the ball until we get a layup, so they can get used to the flow of the offense,” Billings said. “When we don’t do that, when we play chaotic – we just don’t have the personnel.”
The Warriors are only expected to play one team in their division this season, Hinsdale, while playing the remainder of their games against two of Division III’s best in Mascenic and Conant and – if Keene resumes their season – the Division I Blackbirds. But with the open tournament format, the regular season record won’t matter much, and once WLC gets into the Division IV tourney, they’ll be seasoned.
“Anybody in Division IV won’t surprise us, not playing these teams,” Billings said.
Kear, meanwhile, is drawing on his playing experience to manage the mindset of his defending champions, who come into the season with crowns on their heads and targets on their backs despite losing the majority of last year’s team to graduation. As a player at Conant, Kear won three straight titles under coach Arthur Giovannangeli and another under Eric Saucier, and each time, those legendary coaches were able to temper expectations and nip hubris in the bud as they moved on to the next season.
“Once you win one, it’s my job as a coach – and it was obviously Saucier and Gio’s job – to convince us that we’re not as good as that previous team was and we’re not a championship-caliber team,” Kear said. “Can we get there? Hopefully, and I truly believe that. But it’s my job to make them take the good of the championship but realize that it’s a whole different team and a whole different ballgame.”
Mascenic (1-0) plays WLC (0-3) again Friday night.
Conant 64, Hinsdale 40
The defending Division III champion Conant girls started their varsity schedule with a resounding 64-40 win over Hinsdale on the road Tuesday night. The Pacers, who upset DIII power Monadnock to open their season, are one of Division IV’s best teams thanks to 6’0” center Angelina Nardolillo, who returned to Hinsdale from private school this season. But Conant center Emma Tenters and the Oriole defense handled her well, coach Brian Troy said.
“For the most part, the girls were good on their defensive rotations and were very solid on [Nardolillo],” Troy said.
Senior Elizabeth Gonyea had a game-high 27 points to lead Conant and added seven rebounds; Brynn Rautiola (14 points, nine rebounds) and Teagan Kirby (14 points) got into double figures for the Orioles, who went 14-18 from the free throw line.
Nardolillo had 18 for Hinsdale.
“Great all-around win,” Troy said. “The girls were very excited to be back on the court. We’re happy to be playing basketball again.”
Conant (1-0) hosts a rematch with Hinsdale Thursday night.
Conant 77, Hinsdale 46
Colson Seppala led four Orioles in double figures, scoring 20 to pace Conant against Hinsdale Tuesday night. Manny Hodgson (15 points), Malique Motuzas (12 points) and Hayden Ketola (11 points) also poured it in for the Orioles.
Conant (3-0) travels to Hinsdale for a rematch Thursday night.