COLTS NECK – Colts Neck boys basketball is coming off a season that saw them finish 15-9 and drop a heartbreaker to Middletown North in the first round of the NJSIAA Central Group IV championship. They also were defeated by the Lions in the first round of the Shore Conference Tournament.
“It was a young team. We were rebuilding after a state championship,” Head coach Lou Piccola said. “We came back and finished third behind Freehold Township and Marlboro in A North, which is the toughest league in the Shore Conference. We come back this year with some players who have experience and hopefully we can use that experience from last year and hopefully expand on that.
“We’re in a very tough division, and every night you have to be ready. If you’re not ready, you’re going to get caught,” Piccola continued. “To me, any team in our division is a tough game. But if we continue to get better, I think we’ll be alright.”
Dan Gaines was first team All-Shore in A North last season as a junior, and he returns as one of nine seniors to a veteran Colts Neck team.
“He’s really grown as a leader and he’s matured a lot the last three years,” Piccola said. “That’s what you expect from seniors after going through four years to get to now. It’s their time.”
“Last year I was more of a scorer, but this year I’m going to try to get other players more involved,” Gaines said. “We have a lot of players that are capable and I’m willing to do what’s best for the team.”
Also returning as key players for their senior years are Ben Bosland and Robbie Hill.
“Bosland is probably our most complete player because he adds a number of dimensions,” Piccola said. “He handles the ball a little bit, he leads the team in assists and averages six or seven rebounds a game. He gets a couple of steals and he can put up double-digit points if he had to. He’s also 6’3” so he gives you a different look.
“People don’t realize that you need specialty players and that’s what Robbie is. He can hit the jump shot and he can guard the post. He’s 6’3” and he’s guarding guys who are 6’7” or 6’8” every night. People don’t realize the magnitude of having someone go out and do that and compete like he does.”
Piccola mentioned junior guard Andrew Abujawheh and junior forward Brian Hill as key newcomers to the varsity level. Also stepping up from JV for their senior years are William Barrett, Michael Federici and Michael Bartner.
Having nine seniors return gives Colts Neck one of the more veteran teams in A North, and Piccola hopes that their experience will help them down the stretch in close games.
“It shows us that hopefully we have the maturity level and the fact that we’ve been there,” Piccola said. “It comes down to doing the little things in close games. You got to get the charge, the 50-50 ball, and the big rebound.”
At the end of the day, Piccola wants to see the Cougars give their best effort.
“I don’t know what the next step is in the Shore Conference because when you have to deal with schools like Ranney and Mater Dei, they’re able to get players from all over,” Piccola said. “It’s a little tough to take the next step, to be honest. We just want to go out there and be recognized as a tough, competitive team. I just want my kids to compete. I always tell them ‘you can’t control whether or not the ball goes in the basket, you can control how hard you play.’”
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