Winter 2011-12 Preview: Island Trees Boys Basketball

The Island Trees boys basketball team is looking for a breakout season under new head coach Raymond Due. 

The goal last season was to make the playoffs, but the Bulldogs fell short, finishing the 2010-11 season with a 4-13 overall record and a 3-7 mark in Conference A-IV. The Bulldogs hope that things are better this year under Due, who is replacing longtime Island Trees head coach Tom Baerlein.

“We are really starting to gel as a team," Due said. "We are going to need to work together, especially defensively, and I think we have pretty good leadership. I am hoping we will be a solid playoff contender and maybe even contend for the conference championship. We are trying to establish ourselves.”

Many of the key players from last years’ team are back, but two departures that Island Trees must replace are Casey Hastings and Mike Wittick. The latter was one of the top three-point shooters in Nassau County.

Leading the team this year will be senior Nick Mattia, a third-year varsity point guard. He will serve as co-captain along with seniors Mike Gronenthal, C.J. Novak and Joe Howard.

“We are a close group of guys and play together, but we just need to work on finishing,” Mattia said. “The more together we get, the better we are going to play to make it more like a family aspect.”

A pair of juniors in T.J. O’Connell and Vinny Vetrone should provide solid play on both the offensive and defensive end. Other key players are juniors Brendan Beiersdorfer and Anthony Acevedo, who will provide some size inside.

“Our guys are good athletes, but we have to stop these teams first," Due said. "We have to hold these teams to low points and then hopefully find offense and gain some confidence."

Island Trees got its season started with a late loss to Valley Stream South on Tuesday, 56-51. However, on Thursday night in the MacArthur Tournament, the Bulldogs played against rival Division in the opening round. Down by eight points heading into the fourth quarter, Island Trees built a comeback to win 49-45 behind Vetrone and Novak. 

The junior Vetrone scored a game-high 18 points and the senior Novak added nine points and 10 rebounds to help set up a finals match up with MacArthur, which MacArthur won.

Playing a pressure defensive style with using the length of the court, Island Trees is hoping it will make an impact in the conference. Top competition in Conference A-IV will include Seaford, North Shore and Mineola. Roosevelt, Clarke and Valley Stream North round out the league play.

“There is not one team in the conference that we are afraid of," Mattia said. {It is just how we are going to play on a particular day."

For complete schedule information for the Island Trees boys basketball team, visit the Nassau Boces Athletics page.