Talented Pats look to overcome Rosen’s injury
Coach optimistic that team should fare well
BY MIKE McDONALD
Staff Writer

SCOTT PILLING staff The Patriots got a chance to see how they measure up against one of the GMC’s stronger teams in recent years when they took on South Brunswick on Saturday in Colonia.

Colonia boys basketball coach Ken Pace is very optimistic about this year’s team.

This may come as a surprise to many since he just recently lost his starting senior point guard, Zach Rosen, with a broken elbow. Although the exact status of Rosen’s injury is uncertain at this time, Pace believes the rest of his team can pick up the slack.

“We have played very well in our scrimmages so far. Each game we get a little better,” Pace said. “Although it is tough whenever you lose a starter to injury, it is even tougher when it is your point guard and the vocal leader of your team. However, this year’s team is extremely deep at guard and we will be competitive.”

This year’s team will have a new look as it returns just one other starter, other than Rosen, from last year’s squad.

Chineme Usuwa will start his second year as the team’s power forward. With that said, it has been a goal of the coach to try to build team chemistry.

“Team chemistry is a tough thing to build,” the coach said. “We only have three weeks of preparation between the first scrimmage and the first game. I like what I have seen so far from this team on that front.”

Along with trying to build team chemistry, the players have shown, through last week’s scrimmages against Plainfield , Linden and South Brunswick, that they are well conditioned.

“The kids worked hard this offseason, and are excited to get onto the court and play,” said Pace.

Although Pace expects leadership to be an issue early on, the favorites to turn into leaders are seniors Usawa, Nick Allen, Jeff Totin, Stefan Brown and Vinny Darpino. Allen, Totin and Darpino all will get significant playing time in the backcourt. Brown and Usawa should be starters on the frontcourt.

The coach will undoubtedly try to get sophomore Brandin Hall playing time in the backcourt. Hall played significant minutes last year as a freshman and has shown the potential to be the future of this team.

Also impacting this year’s team will be forwards Brian Polt and Joe LaSalla.

Pace likes to play the style of play most fans like to watch. Although his offense is very deliberate and fundamentally sound, he loves to push the ball up the court and push the tempo. Defensively, his team plays tough man-to-man defense and is always in the shooter’s face.

“The kids can’t wait to start the season,” Pace said. “We open up away against Monroe [Friday], and then we face North Brunswick [Tuesday] and Cardinal McCarrick Dec. 22. We should have a good feel for how good of a team we have this year. I feel confident that we will get the season off to a good start.”