By Kyle Botermans

February 26, 2016

Basketball season is one of the longest seasons for a high school athlete, and, for the Phoenix Pirates, it was a grueling one. The team struggled to establish an identity and play with consistency, but still, they were undoubtedly fun to watch. Nearly all of their losses were games that were within reach and it’s not as if the team lacked excitement. The Pirates struggled in the pre season and unfortunately conference play was no better; they failed to tally a single victory against the skyline conference. Most of the final deficits were only about ten point losses that were, in many respects, competitive games. It seemed as if every game one poor quarter would determine the outcome of a game. For example, at halftime of their matchup in KU they trailed by only one, but the third quarter erased their chances as the Pelicans had an offensive explosion to silence any upset efforts. Overall, the team played in a competitive conference that contains many natural athletes and pure basketball players.

 

The boys featured athleticism and skill all over the court that excited students despite the losing record. In fact, the team saw an increase to student turnout at home games compared to last year! This is mostly due to some of the crazy plays the Pirates enjoyed including Thomas Skaff gaining an assist to Cole George after it hit off his head down court. In a tough season, it’s vital to focus on what went right and, though the record doesn’t show it, the Pirates definitely did some things right this year. To start off with, their offensive production was clearly bolstered as they were able to score against practically every club they faced. In large part, this is due to Thomas Skaff’s typical high scoring nights, but many other players contributed on the court as well. Every night it would be a different guy putting up ten points or hitting a crucial three to help the team out. This scoring distribution came in large part due to Angel Sauceda’s basketball IQ and court vision that enabled him to spread the ball from the point guard position. Their depth was balanced, though they couldn’t keep up with the offenses they faced this year. The majority of the teams the boys played composed of one amazing player that dropped a load of points on the regular.

 

Basing themselves in a 1-3-1 zone, they quickly realized their susceptibility to corner threes and desperately tried to adjust with multiple secondary defenses. Some of them were successful initially, but the real dagger to the heart for the Pirates was the rebounding. In nearly every matchup the team was getting out rebounded and was especially plagued by opposing offense boards and second chance points. Mase Masalosalo was the leading rebounder on a team that had trouble cleaning up the glass down the stretch. Junior Ricardo Sabino played with constant energy on defense, but the defense continued to struggle. Opposing teams racked up high scores each game and negated the offensive production that the Pirates put up. Other teams were able to break the defense quick with well-designed plays, but it took the Pirates a couple of quarter to find their rhythm. When they finally found the plays that would work, it was too late and they were looking up at a 20 point deficit. It wasn’t the conditioning that hurt the team, but there always seemed to be a lack of focus for one quarter.

 

Another aspect of the game that the team elevated compared to last year is team chemistry behind the scenes. Past conflicts had infected the squad, but this year the team maintained a brotherhood despite their ultimately unsuccessful season. These friendships showed on the court as well with teammates having fun playing the game of basketball rather than dreading it. Trips to overnight tournaments in Brookings and Turner built these relationships that lasted throughout the entire season. With the 2015-2016 basketball season over, it’s that time again to bid farewell to this year’s seniors including: Mase Masalosalo, Angel Sauceda, Cole George, Kyle Botermans, Colton Beer and Drake Knowles. With most of these guys playing together since they were little kids, it was a tough way to end their high school basketball career; however, coach Rhodes found the silver lining in requesting that the boys, “learn from this experience,” and carry it into the real world. He isn’t solely referring to the lessons of failure, but the friendships, hard work and fun that came along with the sport throughout the season. With the loss of many seniors, comes the emergence of many talented juniors including James Turnbull, Ricardo Sabino and the team’s MVP Thomas Skaff. From the JV team, the Varsity team will gain key contributors for next year including swinger from this year Kevin Botermans and Brennen Watts. Though there are some question marks, it seems solidified that Botermans will be the big man in the middle trusted to bully his opponents with his size and strength. Hopefully his presence will eliminate the concern that arose this year that rebounds came sparingly. From the outside, Brennen Watts and James Turnbull will utilize their shooting ability from three to contribute to the scoring effort. The crucial key to the season will again be Skaff. He was the one reliable scorer and defensive presence that kept the team in contention consistently. To improve in the 2016-2017 season, the Pirates will need to see an even bigger year from Skaff. It’s definitely expected to see him blossom into a dominate force in the skyline conference.

 

It’s over, but the journey was quite a ride. Again, the season didn’t turn out how the boys would have liked it to, though they had fun while playing. The boys would like to thank all the fans, students and parents that came out to support the team regardless of a win or loss. This foundation makes it easier for the team to push through adversity and confront challenges head on. The season ten years down the line won’t necessarily be remembered by everyone like Alex Young’s team in 2011, but the boys will never forget the friendships they built throughout the year.