The Old Saybrook boys’ basketball team is working to build a culture of winning. The Rams will not need to look far to find examples of that winning culture. Across their OSHS campus is a soccer team that just finished celebrating their fourth consecutive state title. Many of the players on that team will take the court for Head Coach Chris Perras this winter.

Heading into his third season as head coach, Perras embraces this aspect of the basketball team, tapping into the preexisting chemistry much of the roster has already developed on the soccer field.

“The leaders on this team, they know what to expect from me,” said Coach Perras. “They know what to expect from our staff and how our goal is to hold each other accountable as leaders. The best part about the guys that we have leading this team is many of them play soccer as well. So obviously Old Saybrook and soccer — they’re extremely successful. It’s nice to open up practice by congratulating the majority of the basketball team because they won the [soccer] state championship…. They’re going to bring in their skillset of how to win, how to play together, their culture, their chemistry, bringing that to the basketball court.”

One of the additions to the Old Saybrook basketball roster this winter will be senior London Sweeney. London earned MVP honors in the State Final for his stellar play as goalkeeper. Coach Perras is excited to work with him this season and feels he brings infectious positivity to the gym every day.

“London is a stud athlete; you saw that in the fall just what he does especially at that championship game. This is his first year with the program…I’m happy he joined us this year, he’s a huge addition. Every day you walk in and see him it’s like yeah, it’s going to be a good day.”

With the departure of Ryan Stratton, All-State and 1st Team All-Shoreline point guard for the Rams last season, the team lost a valuable scoring threat. Coach Perras knows you don’t replace that overnight; this team will look to build a foundation on defense this year. The Rams will also look to get out and score in transition, utilizing an athletic roster.

“Defense is number one. That’s what’s going to win us our basketball games this year,” said Coach Perras. “There is more focus on what we’re trying to do on the defensive end and that’s going to turn into offense for us. Defense is our number 1 priority and that comes from all facets of defense; what we do on that side of the floor, how that’s going to help us put the ball in the basket.”

Old Saybrook will look to build that strong defense on what was already a stout unit last year. Of their 15 wins, they were able to hold opponents to under 50 points in 13 of them. Improvement there is certainly a recipe for racking up even more victories in 2022-2023.

Old Saybrook returns an experienced team led by several upperclassmen. Among them is last year’s second team All-Shoreline player Aaron Tolve, who averaged 17 points and

6 rebounds per game last season. Coach Perras is excited for him to step into a larger offensive responsibility this year and feels his play will set the tone for his fellow Rams early in the season.

“[He’s the] lone returning captain, really going to have to step up his game,” said Coach Perras. “His game elevates everyone else’s game, so he’s really got to get us going. He’s that guy that knows what we want to do and he’s going to help get us there.”

The Rams will feature a balanced attack this year, consisting of experienced post play – junior Auggie Albert has been starting since his freshman year. They’ll couple this will strong leadership from their guards.

One of those guards at the controls this year will be junior Brayden Cody. Another player carrying new soccer hardware into the basketball season, Brayden played midfield for the Rams and fills a similar role on the court, shouldering both a responsibility to score as well as distribute. Coach Perras has full confidence in his point guard heading into the season.

“I’m extremely excited for Brayden Cody, our starting point guard,” said Coach Perras. “He’s a junior, soccer player, comes in at PG, facilitates plays on defense, scores, attacks, he does so many things well. I’m really happy how he handles it in such a calm way…. It’s nice to see how well he played [in the most recent scrimmage] and how far he’s come along over the last couple years; he’s really made a mark.”

The benefits of Old Saybrook’s winning soccer culture extend beyond just the players that bridge the two sports. Coach Perras enjoys sharing ideas and conversing with Old Saybrook soccer coach Steve Waters, and is thankful for the opportunity to learn from the legendary coach.

“I love talking with Coach Waters back and forth. Before his season, during his season, he came and spoke to our team last year, he’s such a guy that you look up to with everything that he’s accomplished, so being able to have those soccer players, what they bring, what they learn, what they know, really comes from Coach Waters and through their experience playing together. To be able to have all that, it’s great for the basketball program to be able to grow to that next level. Hopefully, we can be as successful as the soccer team has been.”

The Rams ended last year with a respectable 15-8 record, yet bowed out in the first round of the Shoreline Tournament. While their aim is to extend their stay significantly in the shoreline conference, Coach Perras and his team have just one game circled on their calendar…the next one.

“I hate to sound like a movie, but we’re trying to get the focus on the next game. So Hale-Ray is circled because that’s our next game and it’s getting the kids to realize that that’s the most important game. When we’re at Game 15, the 14th game isn’t important anymore…Being able to have a short memory, take the good, take the bad, look to improve.”