Last year’s League III championship team is gone – Coach John Rossetti wants to make that clear.
This is a new team.
“Last year’s team had a great run,” Rossetti said. “But it’s time for this year’s team to make their own identity.”
Only one starter returns from last year’s squad and he’s coming off reconstructive ACL surgery. Brandon Tolliver, the highly touted, high-flying 6-foot-3 senior, tore his ACL in March while playing AAU travel ball. He went up for a dunk in practice, collided with a defender in mid-air, and landed awkwardly on his leg.
“It bent my leg back to where I guess it hyperextended my knee,” Tolliver said.
After rushing to get surgery done in April, a heavy weight was placed on Tolliver’s shoulders as the ensuing rehabilitation presented a mountain of obstacles to climb. But he was determined to make it back to the court although it was unclear whether he’d be ready for the first game of the season. His offseason was dedicated to strengthening the knee – he did hamstring curls, push press, plyometrics, stability work – and the constant persistence showed when the surgeon told him he was ahead of schedule. By July, he was back on the court, shooting light jumpers and feeling out his newly reconstructed knee. By September, he could do leg work. And by October, he was already playing competitively. Through the process, Tolliver actually added 5-10 pounds of muscle to add to his frame and says he feels stronger than ever.
“I’m glad to be back,” Tolliver said.
His toughness was on full display Monday night against the Bellport Clippers in the first non-league game of the season. He finished with 21 points, 15 rebounds, two blocks and three assists en route to a 72-66 victory.
“I’m always nervous for the first game of the season,” Tolliver said. “But after I got really into the game, all those nerves went away and I could just play basketball.”
“The kid goes out there and plays the whole ball game,” Rossetti said. “And he’s just recovered from a major knee surgery. You can’t even ask for that.”
But Tolliver wasn’t the only player out there. With leading scorers Ryan Bitzer and Markim Austin graduated, the Blue Waves needed to figure out how they were going to put the rock through the hoop. Fellow ankle-breaking senior, point guard Deon Shorter, quickly showed what is able to do. His unworldly crossover combined with his deceptive quickness allowed him to control the pace of the game, dishing out seven assists to go along with his 17 points.
“He might be the smallest guy on the floor but he’s got a freaking big heart,” Rossetti said.
The third option on offense may very well be sharp-shooting sophomore Charles Manning. Manning scored seven straight points to start the third quarter, gracefully connecting on timely three-pointers with just a sharp flick of the wrist. He finished the game with 17 points, two steals and a block.
“He put on a little bit of a show in the third quarter there,” Rossetti said.
Malik Washington was also very efficient adding seven points to the mix.
Overall, Rossetti was proud of the effort but there’s still improvement to be had, he said. Specifically, down the stretch, Rossetti was disappointed with some of the decision making. A thirteen-point fourth quarter lead was cut in half and the Blue Waves let Bellport hang around.
“We gave them a couple opportunities to stay in the ball game because of some silly turnovers and silly shots,” Rossetti said. “But you have young kids on the court and that’s going to happen.”
Also seeing action on Monday was Dwight Bellamy (2 points), Ethan Greenidge (4 points), Lindell Brown (4 points), Tyrese Kerr, Ryun Moore, Jesse Patriss, and Steven Reid. Jeremiah Cheatom will play basketball this year after the new progress reports are issued, he said. He’ll be eligible to return on Dec 17.
Riverhead opens its league season Thursday at home against Smithtown West. The game will start at 4:15 p.m.
Photo caption: Brandon Tolliver in last season’s league championship game against Smithtown West.
RiverheadLOCAL file photo by Peter Blasl
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