RAMS: Options aplenty for West Hempstead

There are times when a coach looks down his bench and sees nothing close to the talent he has on the floor. That won’t be the case for West Hempstead coach Ed Cosgrove. The Rams, who will be compete in what promises to be a competitive Nassau Conference A-III with Floral Park, Great Neck North, Manhasset, North Shore, Glen Cove, and Valley Stream South, are deeper than any team Cosgrove has seen in his 10 years in the program.

“We really don’t have a go-to player, but we do have 12 very competitive and capable players,” Cosgrove said. “Everyone can play. The practices have been very competitive. Having a deep roster enables us to use a lot of different combinations.”

West Hempstead should be pretty solid in the backcourt. Senior captain Greg Cecere has the versatility to handle both the shooting guard and small forward positions. Cecere has a solid perimeter game, and has improved his ability to handle the ball. Senior captain Darnell Davy will handle the point guard duties. Davy is an outstanding shooter who gained some valuable experience as a junior. Senior Brandon Zapelli will also see time at the point for West Hempstead, which reached the county semifinals a year ago.

Sophomore guard Tyree Glascoe, the leading scorer on last’s season 14-2 JV team, can score, defend, and handle the ball well. Another sophomore, Tayvon Hall, is an athletic guard who does whatever it takes to get the job done. Senior Tom Valerio may be West Hempstead’s best threat from the perimeter. Senior swingman Kijana Rogers is a lockdown defender who is excellent on the glass.

In the frontcourt, the athletic Ousmane Camara is a force. The 6-foot-2 sophomore has no problem mixing it up with bigger forwards and centers. Seniors Jan Carlos Brito and Mike Mangino are both heady players who get it done on the backboards. Junior Pat D’Haiti is an athletic player who blocks shots and rebounds well. Junior forward Dimetri Francis will also see time in the frontcourt rotation for the Rams.

West Hempstead finished the season winning three of its’ last five, but all signs point to a difficult season for the girls’ team in 2010-11. Despite the fact that the Lady Rams return their top scorer, a tough conference awaits them and coach Chris Van Kovics. Floral Park, Great Neck North, Manhasset, North Shore, Glen Cove, and Valley Stream South comprise Conference A-III.

“We don’t have a lot of size to match up with our competition, and there’s not a ton of experienced basketball players on the roster,” Van Kovics said. “There will be some tough nights. We need everyone to stay healthy, and just have to concentrate on trying to get better in practice each day. If we work hard to improve, we’ll be in some games.”

Senior captain Katie Lynch is the player opponents will look to stop. Lynch is a dead-eye shooter who can score from anywhere on the floor. The Lady Rams will need Lynch, who hit for a career-high 22 points in a win over Clarke last season, to control the flow of the game. Senior Nicole Ruscio and Katie Kurs will both contribute in the backcourt for West Hempstead, which will try to grind out games.

Senior forward Sarah Njoku is a feisty forward who plays considerably taller than her 5-foot-6 frame. Despite giving up considerable height to opponents, Njoku mixes it up and gets the job done. Njoku and Lynch should provide most of the offense. Van Kovics hopes to get contributions from junior Lisa Nappi and senior Kim Velazquez.

Erin Guerrero, a defensive specialist, appears to be a breath of fresh air for the Lady Rams. The fleet-footed junior will likely be asked to guard the opponent’s top scorer at times. Guard Amanda Gabayan gives West Hempstead a little versatility in the backcourt. The left-handed junior can play both guard positions and small forward. Senior Melissa Banks is a solid rebounder who can get some points in the paint.

Schedule

Boys

December
17    Glen Cove    6:30 p.m.
21    V.S. South    6:30 p.m.

January
4   @ North Shore       6:30 p.m.
7    Manhasset            6:30 p.m.
14   @ G.N. North       6:45 p.m.
18   Floral Park           6:30 p.m.
21   @ Glen Cove       6:30 p.m.
28   @ V.S. South       7:30 p.m.

February
1   North Shore       6:30 p.m.
4   @ Manhasset     6:15 p.m.
11  G.N. North        6:30 p.m.
14  @ Floral Park    4:45 p.m.

Girls

December
17    @ Glen Cove    6:30 p.m.
21    @ V.S. South    7:30 p.m.

January
4    North Shore       6:30 p.m.
7    @ Manhasset     6:15 p.m.
14   G.N. North        6:30 p.m.
18   @ Floral Park    4:45 p.m.
21    Glen Cove    6:30 p.m.
28    V.S. South    6:30 p.m.

February
1    @ North Shore     6:30 p.m.
4    Manhasset           6:30 p.m.
11  @ G.N. North       6:30 p.m.
14  Floral Park           6:30 p.m.