Calhoun Boys Basketball Drops Opener to Oceanside

A fast start and a promising ending, positives to be sure.

In between, there's work to be done.

A first quarter lead soon evaporated amidst turnovers and John Wigand's absence due to foul trouble, and Calhoun dropped its season opener 68-54 at Oceanside. 

The Colts got off to a fast start, largely due to Wigand's presence in the paint.  His power was a sharp contrast to the speedy play of Oceanside's guards as the teams traded baskets, and the Colts led after one 15-13.

But two quick fouls in the second sent Wigand to the bench, and sent the Sailors on their way.  Without Wigand at center, Oceanside had a much easier time stopping Calhoun inside, turning rebounds and steals into easy points in transition.

"I have to stay away from the reach-ins, and fouls on the defensive and offensive ends," Wigand said.

Before the season, Calhoun coach Jay Kreutzberger said his team needed to cut down on turnovers if it wanted to contend this year. It's still a work in progress, as Oceanside kept clogging the passing lanes, with Gene Garay (22 points, nine assists)  and Greg Gilbert (17 points) usually the culprits.

"I didn't expect to be turnover-free," Kreutzberger said, "but we did not take care of the basketball, [especially] the third quarter, and the game got away from us."

"Gene Garay might be the quickest kid in Nassau County," Oceanside coach Dan Keegan said.  "Gilbert might be one of the longest players in the county...we're going to get our hands on a lot of balls, a lot of layups."

Gilbert and Garay started to heat up from the outside, each draining a three in the second frame, and Oceanside took a 30-25 lead at the half.  With Wigand back on the floor to start the third, Calhoun hoped for another quick start coming out of the locker room.

It was not to be.  Wigand was called for a foul in the opening seconds, and ended up back on the bench.  Oceanside went on a 10-2 run to pull away, outscoring the Colts in the third, 25-10.

"John knows better than to pick up the fouls he picked up," Kreutzberger said. "When he learns that and stays on the floor, he's going to dominate games."

The fourth quarter showed what might have been, and what might be for the Colts.  Wigand stayed on the floor, drawing fouls, scoring inside and hauling in rebounds.  He finished with 12 points to lead the Colts.

Toward the end of the game, the Colts may have found a new weapon.  Junior Frankie DePinto hit on three straight from beyond the arc to finish with nine points. He could see more time going forward.

"He's a heck of a shooter, he's going to be a zone killer," his coach said.

Danny Trepel and Chad Fuschillo also finished with nine points each for the Colts, and Dean Brownworth added five off the bench.

Despite the 14-point defeat, Kreutzberger said there are positives to take out of the game, and into the start of league play, next Tuesday verus Mepham.

"We came out playing real well, with a lead after one, and we ended the half with a 4-0 run," he said. "I loved that aspect...the other parts, beating the pressure, we'll get better at."

The Colts host the Pirates at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday.