Marauders at 6-2, best start in four years
St. Joe’s head coach Cooper Calzonetti sent an invitation. School was closed due to the holiday break, but Calzonetti presented his players with an optional team shoot-around.
Without hesitating, all 16 Marauder players attended the session. The focus of competing as a unit carried over for the Marauders heading into the backhalf of their season.
Converting 12 turnovers into 12 points, St. Joe’s recorded a sixth straight win with a 51-39 victory over Niagara Falls on Dec. 23. But, the winning streak came to an end with a 65-39 loss at Albany Academy Thursday, in a battle of two top-five teams in the state’s Class AA rankings released by the New York State Sportswriters Association Tuesday.
But the Marauders know there’s more to compete for as their 6-2 record through eight games is their best start since going 10-0 four years ago. Wins by at least 10 points against reigning Section V Class AAA champion UPrep (62-55 on Dec. 13), Section VI Class AA2 runners-up Williamsville East (67-43 on Dec. 17) and Class AAA state semifinalist Niagara Falls have fueled the start, with balanced scoring in each contest.
“I just think guys are bought into not caring about the stats if they win games and I think that’s huge for us,” Calzonetti said. “I think guys realize that when you have so much talent, it’s going to be different guys on different nights and I think our guys have shown that. … When those guys do that, the sky’s the limit.”
St. Joe’s already returned a bevy of talent, including a trio of All-Catholic selection and senior guards Jaymeir Goosby, Mekhi Gidney and Gionni Zelasko, who entered the Albany Academy contest averaging a combined 32.5 points per game. But adding to the offensive attack is the presence of 6-foot-6 junior forward/center Nate Blenman.
Since transferring from Amherst, Blenman leads St. Joe’s in points (20), rebounds (9.2) and blocks (2.5) in seven games, plus three double-doubles, including a 26-point, 20-rebound outing against U-Prep. Blenman’s influence has worked inside the paint, averaging 5.3 offensive rebounds per game, while the Marauders are posting 12.3 as a team.
Early in the season, the Marauders have found an ability to play at a high tempo, with pressure in transition and two or three opportunities inside and around the perimeter.
“I think just working our butts off during practice, that just definitely helped us transition into the game,” Blenman said. “Offensively, just pushing the ball down the court and playing together.”
With Canisius and now Bishop Timon in the forefront, winning a league title hasn’t happened often for St. Joe’s. The last time the Marauders won the Manhattan Cup was four years ago, a 78-67 win versus Bishop Timon, and only its third since 2004.
Since the win, St. Joe’s has won 45 of 77 games and reached the Monsignor Martin semifinal in the last three years. Last year’s 16-win campaign ended with a 72-58 loss to eventual Catholic state runners-up Bishop Timon last season, the Marauders’ first year under Calzonetti.
“We’re not taking anything lightly,” Goosby said. “Most of us are seniors, so this means the world to us. So every game is just another goal and it’s just war every time you step out there.”
St. Joe’s faces St. Francis at 7 p.m. Tuesday in Athol Springs.
Pic Courtesy of Shawn Turri/@Nikoniac11/WNYAthletics
Comments