The Holmdel High School boys basketball team is looking to bounce back from an injury-plagued 12-14 campaign last winter with an experienced starting lineup back to lead the effort.
Coach Sean Devaney’s team is scheduled to open the season Friday at St. John Vianney before returning home the following day to host Long Branch. Rumson-Fair Haven comes to visit on Tuesday. On Dec. 26 the Hornets will compete in the Rahway Holiday Tournament with Scotch Plains- Fanwood as its first round opponent.
“We have a very difficult first week, but sometimes it’s better to start out that way,” Devaney said. “Our players are ready to go and they’re confident we’re going to have strong year.”
The Hornets will again count on Mike Perillo to run the team’s motion offense. The junior point guard averaged nearly six points and added 5.5 assists. He also excels defensively and has developed into a leader on the floor, Devaney said. Top scorer Erik Shirvirian, a junior, also returns after averaging 14.5 points, including 28 in a win over Lakewood. Mike Kelly, another junior who averaged
six points a year, is also back in Holmdel’s three-guard offense. Perillo, Shirvirian and Kelly are all three-point threats. Two seniors, 6-4 Jason Samuels and 6-3 Alex Henry are the starting forwards. Both players are tough under the hoop and should supply rebounding punch. Senior forward Kevin Kerwin provides experience and depth off the bench. Devaney is planning
to work three talented sophomores into the lineup as well. They include 6-3 forward Chris Marciano and guards Mike Cantelli and Chris Sapienza.
Devaney said his team will work to spread the floor to set up open shots for its dangerous outside shooters. The coach indicated that he expects his team will have a balanced attack so it will not have to depend on any one player. Defensively, the Hornets will employ a man-to-man look with a lot of trapping.
“One of our great strengths is that we play as a team and the guys know each other very well,” Devaney said. “We want to be consistent every night and avoid the peaks and valleys. If we can do that, the wins will take care of themselves.”