Southwick basketball head coach Joe Molta, left, drills the players during a practice session in the school gymnasium. (Photo by chief photographer Frederick Gore)
SOUTHWICK – Southwick-Tolland Regional boys’ basketball coach Joe Molta watches dribble-drives and skip passes, gauges conditioning levels, and looks for basketball IQ to surface at preseason tryouts.
Although starting spots are not locked up as new and returning players look to showcase their talents at only the second practice of the season Tuesday, coach Molta is confident that his team will at least match, or even surpass, last season’s results.
“I expect us to do as well as last year’s team,” said Molta, referring to Southwick’s 10-10 finish, which earned them a postseason berth a year ago. The Rams lost on the road to Greenfield in the opening round of the Western Massachusetts Division II tournament to end the 2010-11 season.
“The league has a bit more balance,” Molta said. “Last year, Belchertown for sure was the best. But this year, nobody is going to stand out.”
Molta’s team should also be a bit more balanced, featuring returnees Tommy Mahoney, a four-year starter; senior center Tim Schmidt; juniors Dillon Grunwald and Mark O’Neil; and senior Mike Pabon, who returns from a one-year absence.
While Mahoney is nearly guaranteed a starting spot, barring any unforeseen circumstances, it is likely that Schmidt, Grunwald, and O’Neil – the 6th, 7th, and 8th players off the bench last season – will see major minutes during 2011-12.
Southwick hails from the Bi-County East.
