Aviators Basketball Coach Cebula Reflects on Season

The Aviators varsity boys basketball team may have fallen short of their goals this season (losing to top-seeded Wood Ridge in the first round of the state tournament), but this only serves to motivate them to work harder toward achieving their goal. Namely, a state championship. 

“I think it’s more than capable of happening for this team,” reflected Aviator’s head coach, Mike Cebula. “We have kids who dedicate themselves all year- round to our program, just like the football team, and they’re always successful. If we approach each practice, each game with the passion that we have, we can be just as successful. So why not us?”

Ever the shrewd analyst, Cebula’s sentiment resonates from the hardwood gym to the upstairs administrative office of vice-principal Nick Delcalzo.

“We know how good this team can be,” agreed Delcalzo. “This group always plays hard, and Mike has a great rapport with the kids. He never loses his cool, and is level-headed.”

Cebula’s presence and his impact on the players is as effective as you can get.

Delcalzo reminisced on Cebula: The home grown kid who always motivated his teammates; the role model who the other students looked up to; the Aviator who jump-shot his way to  1,257 points, good for 9th place all-time scoring in Aviator history.

Cebula recognizes the void from which the departure of college-bound players Varun Shivkumar, Boris Plakalovic and Anthony Grecco leaves, but he nonetheless remains optimistic with this team’s core group.

“Mike Schroback as a freshman especially did a great job. I was pleased at his poise in all the games. He‘s a tough nut to crack. We‘ve never had a freshman (one guard) come start on varsity, so that says a lot. Mike (Pasqualone) will be stepping into Boris’ role. Allen (Ernst) will be back; he has the ability to step into Varun‘s role, and just make things happen."

“This is saying a lot about Allen,” Cebula emphasized, “especially if you consider the type of player Varun is. I’ve never seen any player make the type of improvements Varun has made in his four years of playing.”

“We have always had great support from everybody, and it has increased; this will only get better. But we have to start winning, because winning attracts more attention.”

The Aviators shortened roster was vulnerable to most teams, and against a big group like Wood Ridge, they were particularly exposed, and though it was not the main reason they lost, it was a contributing factor.

“Wood Ridge was the better team in the end,” Cebula stated. “They deserved to win, and that’s why they’re still playing tonight. They’re very good, and it’s fun to watch them.”

 To help them become a stronger team (thereby improve their rebounding), the Aviators will begin an early workout program in April.