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12/20/2022 01:54 PMThe previous two seasons for North Haven boys’ basketball can be summed up in three words – learn by doing. A young group, most of which+ have played varsity basketball since their freshman years, held on to a three-point victory over Foran for their first win of this season in the opener for both teams on Dec. 15. Although it was just one game, Head Coach Danny Oglesby said the 56-53 victory over the Lions represents how far North Haven has come, and what could be to come, this season.
“We had a complete team effort, a lot of guys contributed to that effort,” Coach Oglesby said. “Even though we’re young, we have a lot of experience. A lot of these guys have grown up, they’re juniors and when we get Gary Konopka back, he’s a senior, they’ve been in these moments before and they’re able to withstand close games and they know how to close it at the end. Some of our sophomores stepped up as well to help them close out that game. I was proud of them.”
The Nighthawks enter this season hoping to end a CIAC State Tournament drought, last collecting the eight necessary victories to qualify for the State Tournament in 2018. Coach Oglesby said it is the team’s goal to not only qualify, but show the state they belong.
“I think we have a team that’s capable of (qualifying for the State Tournament),” Coach Oglesby said. “We’re not even at full strength right now. Adam Pandolfi, one of our captains and the team MVP the last two years, will be back from injury hopefully during the Christmas break or sooner. Konopka has been great since he started with us and he should be returning in mid-January. Once we get those two guys back, we’ll be in really good shape.”
Coach Oglesby has developed a rapport with this team, coaching most of them from their freshman year. He took over in 2020, in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, with safety restrictions and an abridged season. The boys’ basketball team also ushered in a new group of players in 2020, as seniors from the previous squad graduated. Coach Oglesby said playing a young team has had its advantages, as now many of these players possess the experience needed to excel at the varsity level in the tough Southern Connecticut Conference.
“This is our first year where things are ‘normal,’” Coach Oglesby said. “There’s no COVID-19 protocols in place, there’s no playing in masks. It’s pretty much back to the way it was in 2019, which is nice. In terms of experience, we played a lot of freshmen my first year. Even though some of these guys are only juniors, they’ve been playing varsity basketball for two years now, going into their third year. I think it’s going to be helpful for our team.”
In addition to experience, the coach cited depth as a reason for his optimism this season. He said he has a roster loaded with solid players he can depend on, and many of them performed well throughout preseason scrimmages and in the season opener.
“Justin Horn has been really good for us. Solid rebounder, gets putbacks, great defender around the rim,” Coach Oglesby said. “Ryan Bernardo has been really solid for us. He’s just getting back from playing football, but he started a lot of games for us last year. (Bernardo) is a really good shooter and just understands how to play. Our sophomores, Pete Alexandro, Ibi Davila, Johnny Kauhl will step up too. I like to think we’re a relatively deep team and I try to play a lot of guys.”
Most of North Haven’s depth returns more experienced, confident in their abilities and aware of what’s needed to win at the varsity level, according to Coach Oglesby. He said his top performers from last season continue to impress, and are prime for strong seasons again this campaign.
“We have a group of leaders on this team,” Coach Oglesby said. “We have three captains: Matt Bosticco, Brendan Grudberg, and Pandolfi, but truthfully we have a team full of leaders. These guys are really hungry and want to win.”
This group’s continuity is evident on the defensive end of the floor, according to Coach Oglesby. He said this group can pressure the ball and make teams uncomfortable. He said on the other end of the floor, his team’s been more consistent, knocking down outside shots.
Oglesby also indicated that North Haven will be competitive in games when they share the ball effectively and keep turnovers down. He said this has always been a selfless group, with each player more interested in the success of the team over personal stats, making him confident the ball will move and his players will execute consistently on offense.
“They don’t care who gets the glory, there’s no egos,” Coach Oglesby said. “They play for each other and I think that’s one of the strengths of this group.”
North Haven’s selfless ways continue off the court, where the coach said he has a close knit group. He said this team has grown up together on the court, and watching them mature has been rewarding. A few players on the basketball team also played football, leading the school to its first state title in school history this fall. As the football team advanced during the state tournament, the basketball team’s coaching staff made sure those dual sport athletes knew they were watching.
“Our whole coaching staff was following that the whole way through, sending text messages and encouraging messages to guys that are on the football team and the basketball team,” Coach Oglesby said. “It’s just a really cool thing to get to know them, their families, and it really makes a difference when you can spend that time.”
Through an abridged season during the uncertainty of the pandemic, to a 2-18 campaign last year that ended with North Haven missing the playoffs, this group is focused on making a noticeable improvement, according to Coach Oglesby. He said this group can do it, but much like the previous two seasons, this young team will have to learn on the job.
“We still have to learn how to win at that level,” Coach Oglesby said. “Some of these (other teams) have already experienced that and grown to that point. We’re still trying to get to that point. Our schedule is a tough one, but we just have to take care of business.”
The roster for North Haven’s 2022-2023 squad is comprised of senior Gary Konopka, juniors Adam Pandolfi, Max Cargan, Connor Rapuano, Ryan Bernardo, Matthew Bosticco, Carter Mullhern, Nigel Ragsdale, Brendan Ryan, Brendan Grudberg, Gibbs Wade, Justin Horn, Khalil Thompson, and sophomores Pete Alexandro, Johnny Kauhl, and Ibi Davila.
North Haven Boys’ Basketball 2022-’23 Schedule
Wednesday, Dec. 21: at Stamford at 6:30 p.m.
Friday, Dec. 23: vs. Cheshire at 6 p.m.
Thursday, Dec. 29: vs. Amistad at 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 3: at Daniel Hand (Madison) at 7 p.m.
Thursday, Jan. 5: at Lyman Hall (Wallingford) at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 7: vs. Stratford at 12:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 10: vs. Shelton at 7 p.m.
Friday Jan. 13: at Wilbur Cross (New Haven) at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 17: at East Haven at 7 p.m.
Saturday, Jan. 21: at Rockville at 5 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 24: at Career (New Haven) at 7 p.m.
(pending schedule change to Jan. 23)
Friday, Jan. 27: at Cheshire at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 31: vs. Daniel Hand (Madison) at 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 3: at Lyman Hall (Wallingford) at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 7: at Shelton at 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 10: vs. Wilbur Cross (New Haven) at 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 14: vs. East Haven at 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 17: vs. Foran at 7 p.m.