PHOTO BY BOB ROCHE
Classical’s Jalen Johnson tries to drive to the lane in full court action.
By HAROLD RIVERA
If you can’t beat your opponents with size, you’ll have to do so with speed. That’s the mentality the Classical boys basketball team will carry into the upcoming season.
Classical coach Tom Grassa said his team doesn’t have a true center, but five players who can run well and shoot efficiently can create a winning formula.
“Overall we aren’t very tall this year,” Grassa said. “The strength of our team is that we’re heavily guard-oriented. Eight or nine of the players on this year’s team would consider themselves to be guards.”
One of the better teams in the Northeastern Conference last season, the Salem Witches, were an undersized bunch that managed to find ways to win games. Grassa and the Rams will look to borrow a page out of Salem’s book.
“The best team in the NEC last year was Salem and they didn’t have a big man on the team,” Grassa said. “They frequently put five guards on the floor. They shot so well and they were so quick. At the high school level, you can really create some plays to bring trouble to the other team.”
Gone from the last season’s Classical squad is guard/forward Jakeel Brown.
“He (Brown) was one of our better rebounders and a very good defender,” Grassa said. “He wasn’t as much of a big-time scorer but he had some big games last year.”
The good news is that Brown is the only player the Rams lost from last season’s team. Brown was the lone senior in Classical’s nine-man varsity rotation last year.
“The remaining part of last year’s team were all new to the varsity,” Grassa said. “The juniors on the squad were on junior varsity the year before. It was an extremely green team. We were satisfied with the results, but there were some games we could’ve won if we were a bit more veteran savvy.”
Grassa noted that this season’s tryout process was the most difficult one he’s ever been through. A total of 95 students tried out for three teams, 35 of which tried out for the 12 spots on varsity.
“Nine of them were guaranteed spots (on varsity),” Grassa said. “You’re looking at 26 kids trying out for three positions. In all honesty, this was the toughest year. We had so much parity, it was unbelievable.”
Thus far, Grassa likes what he’s seen from his team in the early-season practices. Classical has nine more practices before the Rams hit the hardwood for their first game of the new season.
“I’ve been satisfied with the progress we’ve made,” Grassa said. “I think we’ll be competitive.”
Leading the efforts for Classical this season will the Solis brothers, Edwin, a forward, and Eric, a guard. Both are juniors.
“They both score and they’re excellent passers,” Grassa said. “They’re very good passers and they rebound well for their size. Edwin is a kid who doesn’t jump extremely well but he reminds me of a Paul Silas type of player. Eric is a very aggressive player who has a nose for the ball.”
Classical’s first game of the 2016-2017 campaign is on December 13 at Everett. Tip-off is at 7 p.m.
Harold Rivera can be reached at [email protected].