Warriors return starting backcourt, have promising front court as they seek to improve this winter
By DAN BYRNE
BRIAN DICKEY, a senior guard (#3), returns at guard and is one of the captains for the Warrior boys’ basketball team this winter. Dickey was one of Wakefield’s top scorers a year ago. (Donna Larsson File Photo)
WAKEFIELD — The Wakefield Memorial High School varsity boys’ basketball team begins its season Tuesday, Dec. 16 on the road as they head to Woburn to take on a formidable Tanners team in a Middlesex League crossover matchup.
Head Coach Brad Simpson will be on the sidelines once again for the Warriors as they look to improve on last year’s record of 6-14 as they failed to reach the state tournament.
Returning to the Warriors’ backcourt once again this season will be senior captains Chris Calnan and Brian Dickey.
Calnan is coming back for his fourth year on the varsity after being named a Middlesex League All-Star last season. Coach Simpson is hopeful his floor general will be ready to go in game one as he is struggling for fitness with a knee issue.
“It’s something we’ll have to monitor all year,” the coach said. “But he had a few days off and should be ready to go on Tuesday.”
Dickey is back for his third varsity season and he has become a focal point of the Warrior offense in his time in uniform.
Coach Simpson said, “Brian has developed into a pretty good scorer, with his 30 point effort last season against Burlington being the highlight.”
Juniors Tighe Beck (6-3) and Andrew Auld (6-5) will make up an athletic front court for the Warriors. They each saw some playing time off the bench last year and hope more consistent minutes will lead to some quality output on the floor this year.
Senior MJ Urbano will start at the small forward position for Simpson’s Warriors. Urbano received some playing time last year and made his mark with his high energy on the ball defense and the ability to score quickly either off the dribble or as a spot up shooter with a quick release on the catch and shoot.
Off the bench the Warriors have some options but at the moment, Coach Simpson is having to deal with injuries which have his team thin in reserve.
“We’re short on experience and unfortunately right now we’re dealing some injuries. Three kids who have looked good in practice are all doubtful for tomorrow night,” Simpson said.
Senior forward Lou Spaziani is down with a bad ankle sprain, junior guard/forward Corey Imbriano has been battling a hip flexor strain for the past week and he won’t be dressed Tuesday and sophomore Alex McKenna is also dealing with a sprained ankle.
“Of the three, McKenna is probably the closest to being ready to go, he may play on Friday,” said Simpson.
That leaves just five players left to fill out the bench. Senior guard Neil Fitzgerald is the man with the most experience coming off the bench for the red and white. A Middlesex League All-Star selection for the soccer team in the fall, Fitzgerald will be the go to option at backup point guard.
“He’s looked good in the preseason, defensively especially,” Simpson said.
When he needs a big shot in a clutch spot, coach Simpson may look to his bench and junior guard/forward John Miller.
“He’s a good shooter and very aggressive on offense. I hope he can give us a scoring spark off the bench as the season progresses,” said Simpson.
Rounding out the roster are junior guard Elijah Nardone and sophomores Zach Price and Kobie Nadeau.
“Zach Price probably has the broadest skillset of anyone on the team,” Simpson said. “He can be a post player or go out an face the basket while handling the ball a little bit.”
One thing the coach has stressed to his players early on is getting in basketball shape.
He said, “We have a ways to go. I don’t think right now, based on our three scrimmages, I don’t think as a team, we have some individual players who are in pretty good condition but I think as a team we’re not in what I would consider good basketball condition quite yet.”
Another point of emphasis for the coaching staff is looking for the right combination of players that translates into on court production.
“In my mind I need to start to assess players’ roles and try to blend them together into the best combinations,” said Coach Simpson.
Finally the old football cliché, “Defense wins championships,” rings true in basketball as well and for the Warriors, learning and picking up the defensive schemes is something the coaches will hope happens quickly as the season rolls along.
“We have a long way to go defensively. Team defense requires everyone to be on the same page at the exact same moment, in the last scrimmage against Chelsea we had numerous breakdowns so we’re addressing our team defense,” said the coach.
Wakefield will face the gauntlet of usual Middlesex League foes with Belmont, Arlington and Woburn of the Liberty division slated to be front runners and the class of the league that the Warriors will have to deal with. Wakefield plies its trade in the Middlesex League Freedom Division which was led until recently by Watertown. However the Red Raiders graduated four starters from last year’s team leaving the division up for grabs coming into this year.
Look for Wilmington, led by 6-8 senior Connor Bennett, to vie for the top spot in the division. Keep an eye on Melrose, who brought in a two year starter from Malden, to make an impact and Stoneham which last year won the Div. 3 sectional final to compete along with the Warriors for the league title in the Middlesex League Freedom division.
The first week of the season sees the Warriors go on the road to Woburn and entertain the Lexington High School Minutemen at the Charbonneau Field House in the home opener on Friday, Dec. 19. Tip off for Friday’s game is scheduled for 5:30 p.m. First up are the Tanners tonight at 5:30 p.m.
