This year’s PHS boys’ basketball senior captains are, left to right, Noah Miree, Rich Pugliese, Steve Walsh and Grant Wallace. (Ken Morse photo)
By KEN MORSE
The Pomperaug boys’ basketball team, under seventh-year head coach Dave Yachtis, comes into the season with high hopes of challenging in the South West Conference (SWC) and got their season off to a great start by winning their first two games.
Last year, the Panthers went 7-13, missing the postseason tournament for the third time in the last four seasons; however, coach Yachtis believes this team has the ability to challenge for an SWC title for the first time since 2014, when Pomperaug went 14-6.
In 2011, the 15-5 Panthers played in the SWC championship game, the first Pomperaug team to ever play for a league title. They finished as runner-up. The coach sees comparisons from those two squads with this year’s group of players.
“We graduated only two players from last year and virtually have almost everyone back,” said Yachtis. “I think the key this year is we not only have some depth but we have quality depth.”
Pomperaug graduated 6-foot-6-inch center Jonathan Bedard and thus lost his 7 points per game and 9 rebounds per game under the boards. They also need to replace 6-foot guard Drew Gabelman.
So far this season it appears Pomperaug has all the tools in the shed to make a serious run at an SWC title and has gotten even stronger with the addition of first-year senior transfer Noah Miree from Massachusetts.
“We have Grant Wallace, another senior captain who is going to step up and fill that void under the basket,” said Miree, one of four senior captains for the Panthers. “Matt Wynne, a junior, is also a guy we are going to rely on to step up in the paint.”
Pomperaug is led by senior captains Miree and Wallace along with Rich Pugliese and Steve Walsh. Returning as All-Colonial Division guards are Pugliese at 13 points per game and junior Chase Belden at 13 points per game, who led the team with 39 three-pointers.
“We are fired up and ready to go,” said Pugliese. “We have a lot of talent this year. I think what will make us so competitive is we have a lot of things covered. We are strong in the paint getting to rebounds, we have quite a few guys who can score, and we have a solid defense.”
When it comes to putting points on the scoreboard Pomperaug will have a variety of playmakers who will make it happen. Walsh delivered 11 points per game last season and is another outside threat, dropping 28 three-pointers through the net.
“I think it all starts with defense for us,” said Walsh. “We have a lot of big guys crashing the boards. We have guys who can bring it up court through traffic and put points on the board. But our success and how far we can go will fall on our defense.”
Wallace was a key player in the middle coming into last year but played only five games due to a season-ending injury. His presence in the paint will be a crucial aspect to the Panthers’ defense. He will have help with Wynne at 6 foot 4 inches and another junior post player, 6-foot-6-inch Josh McGettigan.
“We have a real strong team coming back, and we are even stronger with Noah coming in,” said Wallace. “Everyone worked real hard in the off season preparing for our senior year, and we want to go out with a bang. I had back surgery last year, but I’ve worked hard to get back into shape and I’m excited about the season.”
Pomperaug has a few more additions to the varsity lineup with juniors Tom Satkowski and Jacob Mendicino and sophomores Jason Hirschauer and Will McDonald; they will provide depth to an already impressive lineup.
“Tom and Jacob are football players, so they are trying to get up to speed,” said Yachtis. “Jason and Will are sophomores and will play junior varsity and can give us some varsity minutes off the bench.”
“We have our top two scorers back in Rich and Chase, who were both All-Colonial Division. Noah is a transfer student who will make our inside game that much stronger and gives us some more size. I think this team is more like the 2011 team that made it to the SWC finals. I think the difference between now and then is we have a much better bench. We can go 12 deep and that makes us a real good team going into the season,” Yachtis said.
Pomperaug got the season underway Monday, Dec. 21, with a solid 71-58 win over Wilton. The Panthers had all the cylinders going, landing five players in double figures. Belden led the way with 18 points, followed by Miree with 16 points and seven rebounds. Pugliese and McGettigan added 11 points each with Wynne checking in with 10 points.
On Wednesday, Dec. 23, the Panthers improved to 2-0 with a convincing 82-67 win over New Milford. Belden threw down 23 points to lead the offensive attack with Pugliese knocking down 18 points. The Panthers played big underneath and controlled the boards with Miree scoring 14 points and hauling away nine rebounds. Wynne added 12 points and 10 rebounds with McGettigan chipping in with 11 points.
It marked the second game in a row that the Panthers had five players in double digits in scoring, showing a consistency on offense that makes them a threat in the SWC.
Pomperaug finished out December playing in the Nonnewaug Holiday Tournament Tuesday and Wednesday, Dec. 29 and 30. They defeated Bristol Eastern 79-58 and Watertown 67-53. The Panthers head into the new year Monday, Jan. 4, at Northwestern. They will be home Wednesday, Jan. 6, taking on Bethel and then conclude the first week of January Friday, Jan. 8, at Masuk in Monroe.
Stay tuned for further Panthers basketball action at www.bee-news.com throughout the season.
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