Jack Hennessy
Web Sports Editor
Six games into the young season, the Staples boys basketball team persevered after a rough start to come out on top Wednesday in a victory over Westhill.
The Wreckers traveled up to the Vikings home court and soundly won by a score of 47-42 making them 2-4 on the season. With the loss, Westhill also saw their record move to 2-4.
In what is surely a rebuilding year for this young Wrecker squad, the team has no where to go but up. Staples graduated the majority of its starting five last year including high scorers John Dibartolomeo and Andre Oztemel.
The lone senior on the team this year and captain Brendan Rankowitz ’10 works hard to keep his team driven even as they face teams that are flat out bigger and stronger. Rankowitz leads the team with pride and supports each of his talented teammates, “we have a great junior class filled with great players and even better teammates.”
Staples will look to improve in every aspect this year but Rankowitz stresses the importance of rebounding with very few experienced big men on the roster. “The most important focus for us is crashing the boards and getting both offensive and defensive rebounds.”
The Wrecker’s schedule relaxes slightly, although in the FCIAC no games are sure wins, in upcoming weeks with Danbury and New Canaan on the horizon. This comes as a relief to the weary Staples squad, coming off a rough start to the ’09-’10 season.
Tough games this year included a season-opener blowout versus Bridgeport Central at home in front of a rowdy Staples student section. Additionally, the team lost a heartbreaking contest at Brien McMahon when Staples was unable to convert two free throws down one point with no time left on the clock.
Despite a shaky start to the season, Rankowitz is confident in his squad, “the team has great relationships with each other, and we all work hard in practice with a positive attitude.” As for their record, he’s not worried, “we are a team that will win games by fighting for loose balls and playing solid team defense.”