The season is going well according to Freeport boys’ basketball head coach Daryl Johnson, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t room for improvement amongst the Red Devils.
Currently, the team is mired in a two-game losing skid, the most recent defeat coming last Saturday at the hands of Valley Stream South, 80-73, in overtime.
Noah Patterson, Freeport’s point guard and leading scorer, banked in 20 points. Shawn Broyles added 12 points and Jacob Jordan chipped in 9. Valley Stream South had Jaden Pryce and Brady DelValle pour in 23 and 21 points, respectively, en route to the non-league win.
Patterson, described by Johnson as a leader on and off the court, as well as the fact that he averages about 20 points per game.
“He’s been setting the tone early, getting us out early in games,” Johnson said. “And the rest of the team is happy to play with a point guard like him.”
Freeport is well-saturated with players in different positions to create mismatches for who they play next.
“You also have Jaden Wong, Jordan, Bryan Thomas, as well as Tyrel Williams in our starting five,” he said.
What Johnson appreciates about his team the most is the chemistry. The Red Devils are 8-4 overall and already matched last season’s win total.
“Surprisingly, it’s been great,” he said of the chemistry. “It started from the offseason, in the spring and summer. Playing in the Spring, Summer and Fall leagues, the continuity of the group was starting to come together.”
The biggest difference compared to last season is the fundamental ethos of his players, and he’s seeing that pay off on game nights.
“It’s definitely a different vibe from last year,” he said. “This year’s team they don’t care who scores as long as they win, and a lot of guys are competing and playing because at the end of the day they want to win.”
Johnson, in his second season as the head coach, says that this was enough of a mentality shift to see positive change in the program.
“It’s feeling great, I mean I’ve been yelling less in practices and in games,” he said. “I think I’ve actually become a cheerleader this year.”
Freeport has a pair of four-game win streaks and won three of its first five conference games. Patterson hit for 34 in a 76-72 win over Syosset in the A-1 opener.
Overall, Johnson thinks warmly of his players, but doesn’t have rose-tinted glasses on. He knows exactly how he wants his team to improve, and soon.
“We’re fortunate to get out to a good start, we just have to close the deal now,” Johnson said. “I told all the players that everyone is happy in the beginning, but we’re playing 20 games and we’re breaking down in the fourth quarter. We’re in the third quarter now so we can’t burn all our energy in the first two, we gotta save some for the last two.”