Boys Basketball On Way to League Title

Captains with trophy at the Holiday tournament in December, 2019.

Austin Clarke, Veritas Staff

December, 2019  updated Jan. 27.

When it comes to boys basketball Rockland is one of the best on the South Shore. In the last 10 seasons Rockland has won 5 league titles. Last season they came in second place to Randolph High School in the league standings.

The basketball team made tournament but lost to Old Rochester High School in the first round by one point. Even though they lost in the first round it was still a good season because the boys started last season 0-4 through the first four games.

Captain Dante Vasquez is very hopeful about this year. “The loss by 1 point last year has driven me to work harder this year.”  He says that the way the team prepared for this season was going to the weight room, playing with each other at summer league and just shooting around at the beginning of the season.

Junior Hunter Wardwell who is also a captain says he prepared for this seasoon by going to the weight room, encouraging others to go, playing in summer league, playing around and putting shots up together as a team.

According to Fredrick Damon, who is going into his 16th year as the head coach, last season’s loss in the playoffs is going to motivate him and the basketball team to work harder and never give up.

Even though the team lost key players like Tyrae  Worrell and his 3 point shot and the Quezada brothers and their inside presence, they still have notable players such as Derek Williams, Wardwell, Patrick Moriarty, Pierre Comeau and Vasquez.

Mr. Damon hopes that some role players step up to the challenge and play a bigger role to help the team become legitimate contenders.

In the words of Vasquez “We will become South Shore League Champs and make tournament.”

As of Jan. 27, the boys have a record of 11 wins and 1 loss.  They are 7-0 in the league.