Team gets poised for a strong season,
kicking off the season Dec. 13
As they come off their most successful season in 30 years, the Hicksville Boys basketball team faces a challenge in replicating last year’s success. The 2012-13 season saw the Comets compile a 15-5 record and had their season ending in the Nassau County semifinals to rival Baldwin. According to Head Coach Phil Essigman, who is entering his 14th season with the varsity team, the team will feature only two returning players from last season. Last year’s team was incredibly deep and experienced and it is part of the “rollercoaster”, as he described it, of high school sports for teams to go through periods of grooming inexperienced players.
That is not to discredit the credit group, who has the potential to be just as talented. Playing in the backcourt will be Justin Mize, a 6’4” guard who was a member of last year’s team. Joining him in the backcourt will be Michael Osmundsen, another talented guard. The true wild card will be freshman Connor McPartland, who will face the challenge of skipping the JV level and competing at the varsity level.
“He’s got a lot to learn,” said Essigman in regards to McPartland. “But he’s good, we have confidence in him and he is poised.”
The rest of the team will sort itself out in practices and scrimmages, according the Essigman. The roster consists of 15 players, which is a bit more than usual, but a normal rotation of players will be set in the upcoming days.
They will kick off their non-league schedule on Dec. 4, before opening their conference schedule on Dec. 13.
