Veteran coach Peter Rosinski and his Pinkerton Academy boys’ basketball squad dealt with their fair share of injuries, illnesses, and frustration last winter during the 2013-14 Division I campaign.
Rosinski began the season with his tall and talented son – sophomore Luke Rosinski – the lone returning starter from the previous campaign. So a slew of players were asked to step into bigger roles for last season’s Astro bunch, with the results being a 9-9 regular season record and a first-round tourney elimination. But the coach hopes that experience gained from last November into March of this year will pay serious dividends this winter.
All-stater Luke Rosinski has moved on to prep school ball – at Kimball Union Academy in Meriden – and replacing what he brought to the academy crew will be a challenge. But his dad is more than a little optimistic about what the 2014-15 PA team can accomplish.
“Many new and young players got varsity experience last year,” said the coach. “They had a break-even regular season even though they had to deal with injuries and illness, and the fact that many players got varsity experience due to these challenges creates a good foundation for the start of this season.”
Nine players return from the 2013-14 squad, and that battle-tested crew is bolstered by sophomore transfer student Geo Baker-Occeus, who is expected to see time at point-guard.
Among the veteran returnees are senior forward Ryan Burke, senior guards and tri-captains Sam Dolan and Drew Green, senior tri-captain and forward Caleb Godin, and senior centers David Faulks and Tom Olson.
The returning juniors are guards Brennan Morris and Matt Rizzo and guard/forward Tom Romick.
Along with Baker-Occeus, the newcomers include juniors guard Seth Guilmette, guard/forward Matt Lemire, and forward/center Ben Olson.
“We believe this year we are a contender and we want to challenge the best teams as we improve each game,” said Rosinski. “The team’s focus is one step, one practice, and one game at a time.”
When asked to give a look at the make-up of Division I this winter, Rosinski responded, “(Manchester) Memorial, Bedford, and Londonderry look to be strong opponents. On any given night, any one team in Division I can beat another. This year we look to challenge them.”
The Astro guys acquitted themselves well during their annual jamboree at Pinkerton Saturday, Dec. 13, giving Rosinski further confidence with and insight into the depth that exists on the roster.
“Our depth allowed us to do well in the jamboree and play strong against each opponent,” said the coach. “We got the necessary varsity experience last year to help us develop team chemistry, and now with the addition of another guard in Geo Baker we have a number of experienced guards coming into this season, along with having a number of returning bigs with varsity experience. We are looking good, and with hard work nice things can happen.”
The Asros begin the new season this Friday, Dec. 19, at home in their Hackler Gym against the Nashua South Purple Panthers.
