Despite loss to Mounties, Huskies see bright season ahead

Mt. Hope basketball team drops first loss to Mount St. Charles, 58-54

Story by Richard W Dionne Jr
Posted 1/13/19

The Mt. Hope basketball team lost their first game of the year to Mount St. Charles 58-54 during a home game on Friday night. The lost drops the Huskies record to 5-1 in Division III and 7-2 overall. …

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Despite loss to Mounties, Huskies see bright season ahead

Mt. Hope basketball team drops first loss to Mount St. Charles, 58-54

Posted

The Mt. Hope basketball team lost their first game of the year to Mount St. Charles 58-54 during a home game on Friday night. The lost drops the Huskies record to 5-1 in Division III and 7-2 overall. Despite the loss, the Huskies remain at the top of Division III North.

“We aren’t losing another game this year,” said a determined Darious Costa, the team’s co-captain. “Today we let one slip. We are the best team in Division III. We won’t lose another game. We are going to put today behind us and we aren’t going to let it happen again.”

The Huskies were down by just two points at the half, 24-22.

Mount came out of the break and went on a run. The Huskies got close but couldn’t overcome that initial Mounties scoring streak.

“We got on a run to get ourselves back into the game,” said Santerre. “But then they went on a run and we went on a run. But it was to far out of reach at the end.”

Junior center Jalen Kopecky scored 9 of his game high 17 points in the second half.

Santerre a co-captain lauded his center’s play.

“He’s a big presence in the paint,” he said.

Costa agreed. “Jalen is an animal. That’s all you can say about him. He goes out and drops 20 (points) a night. That’s exactly what we need him to do. He’s a monster.”

Santerre also came up big in the second half, scoring 12 of his 15 points, hitting two big three pointers late in the game.

“Cam hits big shots when we need them,” said Costa, who leads the team in three pointers this season with 15 threes for 45 points.

Forwards Jaden Siembab and Mitch Huggins play up front with Kopecky. Santerre, Costa and Josh Soares play guard for the team.

Nathan Oulette, Xavier Costa, Oldie Amarante, Derrick Razzi, Brady Thidoudeau, Liam Teixeira and Ryan Sisson round out the rest of the Huskies squad.

The captains praised their new coach and the team’s new style of play.

“We love it,” said Costa about Head Coach Jeff Grifka. “We all bought into our roles and he’s really good at bringing us together as a team. Last year we didn’t work well as a team. This year we are all buying into the system that we are doing. And it’s working well.”

The Huskies play a more up tempo style of play.

“Drive and kick and find the extra pass,” said Santerre. “Penetrate to the lane and drive to the hoop so that the defense crashes in on us and it leaves a man open. It leaves a lot of open threes. But tonight they just didn’t fall.”

“We have had a lot of open shots this year,” he said. “Offensively we can see a big difference from last year.”

Santerre also praised the seniors.

“They find a way to contribute. Whether it’s bringing energy to the team or being ready to come on to the court and play.”

“We are experienced. Our lineup is compiled of returning players. Our expectation for this year is to get to the state championship,” Santerre said.

“They are working hard,” said Coach Grifka. “They are working the offense…They are working the ball around, looking for the best possible shot in every offensive set. Sometimes we hit them, sometimes not. Tonight is one of those nights we didn’t hit all of them. It is what it is.”

Scoring: Jalen Kopecky led the Huskies with 17 points. Cam Santerre scored 15 points. Jaden Siembab and Josh Soares each scored 7 points. Mitchell Huggins scored 4 points and Darious Costa and Xavier Costa each scored 2 points.

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