Season Preview: Garden City Boys Basketball

Although the Garden City boys basketball team must replace much of its starting lineup from 2010, including leading scorer Dan Colamussi, the upcoming 2011-12 season has the look to be a promising one.

Heading the team on the sidelines will be sixth-year head coach Larry Steimer, who last year helped the team to an 8-8 overall record with a 5-7 record within Conference A-I. The finish had the Trojans tied for fourth in the conference as the team just missed out on the playoffs.

“We have a lot of guys who we are looking to score this year because everybody has a new role,” Steimer said. “We are looking for everyone to become very consistent and know what is expected of them on the court. The conference is very tough and there really is no easy games there.”

Garden City will look to senior Joey Capetola, a third-year varsity player, and junior Eddie Blatz, also in his third year on varsity, to lead the team on both ends of the floor. Replacing Colamussi as well as Griffin Eileech may not be easy, but Capetola and Blatz are up for the challenge. 

“As the season progresses, we want to keep getting better and better,” Blatz said. “Everyone, including the new guys, just has to step up because we lost most of our starters from last year.”

The Trojans hope to run a mixed style of play on the offensive end, combining half-court sets with a quick paced offense through their speedy guards, such as seniors Devin Dwyer and Matt Quesada, and junior Matteo Lattanzio, along with Capetola.

“As a senior, I’ve seen our team progress. We are just getting back together as a team and hopefully we will have a good season,” Capetola said. “We work hard and run up and down the court constantly. We will look to have the stamina to beat some teams.”

Bolstering the frontcourt positions along with Blatz will be junior Kyle Skramko and senior Steven Bradley. Skramko will be heading into his third year on the varsity team.

Garden City is looking to contend with Conference A-I preseason favorites South Side and Roslyn, whom the Trojans will play twice each on the schedule. Wantagh, Jericho and New Hyde Park will also contend for the conference title as league play starts in January.

The Trojans know of the importance of getting off to a strong start once that time comes to face Wantagh on the road in the first league game on Jan. 6. To do just that, the team will play a group of seven non-league games in December, starting with a talented Freeport team to open up the season Tuesday.

“Freeport is always a good and close game and the boys look forward to it,” Steimer said. “It is a good way to begin the season.”

Garden City will match up with the Red Devils of Freeport at home at 7 p.m. For complete information on the team schedule for the 2011-12 season, visit the school district's athletics page.