RHS boys’ basketball working on the future

By: Sean Moylan
    At one time or another, Gary Williston, a legendary local travel basketball coach, had either coached or scouted nearly every basketball player in the area. So he knew what his Robbinsville High boys’ varsity basketball team was in for before this past season even started.
    The Ravens had their moments this year. They took some sizeable leads. They had some great individual performances, including an 18 block game by Chris Richardson versus West Windsor-Plainsboro South. And as a team they went on a couple of impressive shooting sprees from the field. But the Ravens couldn’t close out games. And this coming summer, that’s what they need to work on most.
    "Unfortunately, the varsity season record was 0-24; however, everyone realizes that this is a new program with no seniors and members of the team who were playing together for the first time," said Williston, Robbinsville’s head coach, who played everyone. "Despite our younger team, there were games that should have been ours. Seven games were within 10 points or less."
    On the offensive end, Robbinsville had some players who could put the ball in the basket, including Jack Burum, who scored a team-high 11.5 points a game (276 overall). Kevin Burum also put up impressive numbers with 205 overall points and an 8.5 average. K. Burum also set the Ravens’ record for points in a single game with 30 versus West Windsor-Plainsboro North and he led the squad in three pointers.
    Richardson recorded an incredible 103 blocks this season (4.2 per game) while scoring 4.9 points a game. Robbinsville other top scorers were Michael Lorenzo (3.5), Shae Fahey (3.5), Alex Giaquinto (2.0) and Desmond Kendall (1.0).
    Calogero Nocera was the assist leader on the team while Giaquinto was the defensive stopper. Williston was impressed with the intense defensive play and the ball-handling skills of freshmen Freddie Ulisse and E. J. Schmid. Steve Michal, Andrew Matyas, Kalen Clark and Sean Nemazie also got valuable varsity minutes on the floor.
    Robbinsville was obviously hurt by the loss of Fahey to injury midway through the season, but Williston expects Fahey, who will be a senior captain, to be back stronger than ever next season to lead the team to its first varsity win ever.
    "During this past season, every player gained a sense of organization, preparation and discipline. In order for us to succeed next year, the players must commit to playing in the off season. A number of players will be playing in a very strong Martin House League. We will also be participating in the summer Prime Time event as well as the CYO Summer League," said Williston.
    "Booker T. Washington said ‘Success is to be measured not so much by the position that one has reached in life as by the obstacles which he has overcome.""
    In recent years, Super Bowl winners have talked more about the journey to get to Super Bowl than the actual Super Bowl triumph.
    "Yes we have obstacles next year, but we will work hard and prepare for success. I believe next year the Ravens will prove to be one of the stronger CVC teams," said Williston, who points to this year’s Mercer County champion (Hightstown ) and runner-up (West Windsor-Plainsboro South) as inspiration for his squad.
    Last year Hightstown won just seven games while West Windsor-Plainsboro South won just five. Now they are both terrific teams, because they worked hard over the summer to get better and more more confident.
    "Our Raven ball players, with hard work and determination, can do the exact same thing," said Williston, who believes in this program.