Less than a week after the MIAA Super Bowl football games, the high school basketball season officially tipped off.
Basketball coaches across the Commonwealth have all battled the same opponent this preseason: preparing their team to open the season in under two weeks.
“We usually get 10-12 practices before our first game, but it’s only eight this year,” said Beverly High boys coach Matt Karakoudas. “It’s not enough time to feel fully prepared, so you have to make the most of every practice.”
Karakoudas, who is in his ninth season at Beverly, has brought grit and tenacity to a program hungry to win. Led by captains Danny Pierce and Jacob Klass, the reigning Northeast Conference Player of the Year, the Panthers opened at home on Friday night against Peabody and ran their way to a lopsided 81-39 win.
“We want to play a very fast pace on both sides of the ball,” said Karakoudas. “Our goal is to be in the best shape, so other teams can’t play at our pace, so that’s been our focus at practice.”
Given the short preseason, it is essential to maximize every minute in the gym. That was part of the fun for Dave Fazio, who is beginning year No. 37 at Andover.
Led by captain Josh Roux Jr., the Andover boys won their home opener on Friday against Medford, scoring at a furious rate in an 80-58 victory. Fazio has constructed the Golden Warriors’ attack over the past half-decade around his post players. But after graduating the likes of Aidan Cammann and Sam Concemi – who are playing at Stanford and Babson, respectively – and having lost former Merrimack Valley Conference MVP Luca Palermo to prep school, Fazio is building around youth.
“Every year is a new Stratego game, looking to figure out those pieces to the best of your ability,” said Fazio, who is only 47 wins shy of hitting the 600-win mark. “And everything we do, we’re going to do to the best of our ability. The last few years, our strength was our front court. This year, we’re small, quick, and scrappy – so we’ve been focused on getting in the best shape of our lives.”
But if there ever were changes to the preseason, or a discussion of extending the season, Fazio would be all ears.
“If I had my druthers, I’d start the season on November 1,” said Fazio. “In an ideal situation, that’s what we’d do. That’s why a lot of kids leave and go to prep school – for the longer season. It’s becoming very difficult to keep your local talent to stay and play for you.
“I have former players who have sons that live out of state, and one started his high school season on October 15. That’s a lot different from December 1. For us, it’s an absolute whirlwind.”
Given the tight timeframe of the preseason, coaches must prioritize. For Salem High boys coach Tommy Doyle, that means incorporating offense and defense into the same drills.
“That’s where we save time, we condition and work on basketball skills with our three-on-two continuous drill,” said Doyle, who is beginning his 22nd year guiding the Witches. “It covers so many components of the game. Every kid in the program is engaged, they are competing, and they’re continuously working on their offensive and defensive skills.”
Salem won its season-opener on Friday on the road at Saugus High, 73-51. Now they pack their bags for Florida to play in the KSA Events Pre-Holiday Basketball Tournament. Doyle is counting on his more experienced players, particularly co-captains Elian Rodriguez and Nathaniel Lane, to get everyone acclimated with the defense. Salem will rely upon its veteran leadership, but Doyle would certainly be open to spending more time with his team.
“Ideally, we’d start before Thanksgiving, then let the football players try out,” said Doyle. “I’d love to explore that. Schools in other parts of the country have already started their season. At least everyone is in the same boat here, but there isn’t enough time in our preseason.”
Despite the frustrations of an abbreviated preseason, hope springs eternal throughout high school basketball. That is because the season is starting, finally arriving after a long nine-month hiatus.
Central Catholic travels to North Andover on Tuesday for its season opener before an early-season showdown on Friday against Andover. The chance to compete in a high school game is a reward for reigning MVC MVP Javi Lopez, who spent the off-season tirelessly refining his game.
“During the season, you wake up every day and work for the goal of a state championship,” said Lopez, who helped lead Central to the Division 1 state semifinals this past season. “The offseason is more of a mental game. You don’t have your coaches like you would in the season. That’s when you need to push yourself.”
Even with only a few practices, Lopez has found joy in the preseason. He has felt unity in the team’s running drills, grown familiar with the way Raiders coach Mark Dunham instructs and teaches, and relishes bonding with the team after practice.
“The guys at Central are a second family to me,” said Lopez. “It doesn’t matter when we start – it’s good to be back with them on the floor grinding.”
