MARBLEHEAD — Last season just wasn’t the year for the Marblehead boys basketball team. The Magicians managed just two wins, but that didn’t tell the whole story for coach Mike Giardi and his 2018-19 group.
“What’s sad is we were in just about every game we played,” Giardi said. “We just couldn’t get over the hump last year. We lost to Revere by five points, Winchester by only four. Winthrop beat us by two on a buzzer beater and Peabody got us by three in a close game.”
Because of that, the Magicians are more than ready to turn the page and try to get back on track this year.
“It took us a while to get any traction last year,” Giardi said. “Every game seemed to come down to the last minute and we just didn’t do what it took to win in that minute. The little things become important and that’s what we want to focus on now.”
Unfortunately, things aren’t getting any easier, with some injuries already taking their toll on Marblehead’s season. Senior Keshawne Mercury will be sidelined for the year (knee) and Sean McCarthy is coming off injuries on the football field that are threatening his senior basketball season.
“Sean is hurt and may not be back this season,” Giardi said. “We’re really hoping that he can get on the court for us this year. Keshawne is a great kid and a hard worker. He won’t play but he brings an energy on the bench that should help us.”
Those key injuries simply mean the rest of the Magicians’ seniors will have to step up, including Devin Romain, who was voted the team’s lone captain by his teammates.
“He was a captain in football as well which says a lot about him,” Giardi said. “It’s the first time I can remember having one captain. It shows how much respect they have for him. It tells you how much his teammates look up to him.”
Romain may be alone in name but Marblehead has plenty of senior leadership including Adam Zamansky, Sean Grady and Will Twadell, who returns after playing for Marblehead his freshman year. Cole Bouchard and Dylan Freddo will also provide some favorable matchups on the court.
“(Zamansky and Romain, power forwards) are really versatile, which is the way the game has become at all levels. They can do a lot.” Giardi said “Sean Grady has filled in at point guard but that wasn’t really his role. Cole and Dylan are very similar players. They’re somewhat undersized get on the outside and I think could create some matchup nightmares.”
Marblehead also has 15 sophomore players split throughout varsity and junior varsity who’ll work to carve out a role as the season goes on.
After a slow start last year, Giardi is looking for his team to build some confidence early on.
“We can’t get down on ourselves,” Giardi said. “It’s a long game and a long season so we can’t start behind the 8-ball. We had some tough early games last season including St. John’s Prep. We lost a heartbreaker to Swampscott and then got a win and assumed we were going to win like that. It’s those little things we have to make sure don’t hurt us this year.”
The Magicians tip off the season at home Friday (7) against Gloucester.
