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12/22/2010 11:00 PMThe pressure was intense when Jim Gagliardi took the floor in the East Haven boys' basketball team's first game of the season. As a senior, it was the first game of Gagliardi's final high school campaign. As a captain, it was a game that he told his teammates they had to win. As East Haven's only returning starter and an all-division selection who led the Yellowjackets in scoring last winter, Gagliardi was expected to power the team's offense. On top of that, after three years as East Haven's starting point guard, Jim was starting at shooting guard with freshman Nick Lamberti taking over the point.
Ultimately, East Haven beat Guilford 57-47 with Jim scoring 16 points and contributing numerous assists and steals. While he tied with Lamberti to lead his team in scoring, Jim believes the team is more successful when the scoring is balanced.
"At first, there was a lot of pressure. Then as the game went on, I kind of took a backseat and saw what the other players could do," says Jim. "They really stepped up. It takes a lot of pressure off me knowing that the scoring is balanced."
Beyond Jim and Lamberti, Nick Proto and Mike Vessichio each scored 14 points for the Yellowjackets. Many of the points not scored by Jim came on baskets assisted by him and possessions he created by steals. Passing and creating opportunities are as much a part of Jim's game as scoring points.
"I'd rather have 15 points with seven or eight assists and have us win," says Jim.
Still, Jim is a shooter. Although he considers the Guilford game an off-night for shooting as he had only four points in the first half, Jim still came up big when his team needed him. After trailing since early in the first quarter, Guilford threatened midway through the third. But when the Indians' Jake Batipaglia hit a three to pull Guilford within one at 37-36, Jim responded with a three of his own. He then drove the lane for a reverse lay-up and followed that up with another, deeper three.
"Jim didn't have his usual game, but he hit three big shots in a row," says East Haven Coach Jim Reynolds.
Later in the game, Jim fired a no-look pass to Vessichio, who was cutting to the basket for lay-up that helped East Haven put the game away.
Jim and fellow captain Matt Canapinno get the team into game mode long before the opening tip. Both captains talk to their teammates after practices during the week as a game approaches.
"I try to talk to most of the starters individually, get their heads cleared for the game," says Jim of the practice habits he learned from Frank Lyons, who was a senior when Jim was a freshman and is now an assistant coach.
Jim talks to players throughout the games as well.
"Just keeping the team's mental level in the game," he says. "When someone is not having a good game, I talk to him, get him through it. When Nick [Lamberti] wasn't making his free throws, I told him not to worry, that he would make them."
In the closing minutes of the fourth quarter, Lamberti sunk his foul shots to protect East Haven's lead and cap off his own impressive debut.
"Jim said we needed this game," Lamberti says.
With Lamberti playing the point, Jim has embraced his role as a shooting guard.
"I'd rather have Nick play the one and me play the two," says Jim. "It makes the team better."