Seaford Boys Basketball Looks to Keep Winning Tradition

The Seaford boys basketball team has been victors of three out of the last five Conference IV regular season titles dating back to 2006. The Vikings will be looking to extend their tradition under 31^st-year head coach Ralph Rossetti, who is the longest tenured coach for one team at one school in Nassau County. 

“We are a lot better than I had initially thought," Rossetti said. "Our first five is pretty good and we might surprise some people."

During the 2010-11 season, Seaford finished with a 15-4 overall record and an 8-2 mark in Conference A-IV, making a run to the Class A quarterfinals before falling to Lawrence. Last winning a county championship in 1998 over Island Trees, the Vikings hope to achieve the feat once again.

To do just that, Seaford must replace a large graduating class from last year, including a pair of All-County players in Robert Goldstein and Michael Siler. Senior co-captains Jimmy Roell, who will start at point guard, and Brian Graziose, will be looking to lead the team in 2011-12.

"Jimmy [Roell], pound for pound, is one of the toughest kids we’ve ever had here," Rossetti said. "He is a great leader, a tenacious defender and plays with heart."

“We are a fairly young team, but I think we should do well if we just work hard every day in practice,” Roell said. “Our team chemistry is better and our toughness, hustle and defense are great. We also run everything the way we are supposed to do it. We always give 100 percent and that is all you can ask for.”

Along with the seniors, Seaford displays a talented underclassmen group including junior Rich Dipuma, as well as a pair of sophomores in Kyle Kolodinsky and James Curley, who is in his second year on the varsity team.

“Our coach has been preparing us very well and we’ve really been coming through since we lost a lot of seniors from last year,” Curley said. “It has been nice to see that the guys will be counting on me to make some plays. We just have to keep playing hard and execute as a team.”

Seaford will contend for another regular season title with Island Trees, North Shore and Roosevelt. Valley Stream North, Mineola and Clarke round out the conference field. Key non-league games include Mepham, Division, New Hyde Park and Wheatley.

“We have non-league and league games, with two of the league games in December, so we have to be prepared," Rossetti said. "You play every game like it is the most important one."

Seaford will open up its regular season with a non-league game at home against Carle Place. For complete schedule information, visit the Nassau BOCES Athletics page.