PREP BASKETBALL 2016: SV Mustangs enter hoop season hopeful, but gimping

Defending NCL II champion Mustangs enter the season with several key players hurting.|

Defending North Central League II co-champion St. Vincent limps into a boys basketball title defense season with some key returning point makers questionable with nagging injuries at the beginning of the year, and a suspect lack of height on the interior.

Veteran coach Lance Phillips will be tested early as he returns with the longest consecutive history of guiding his club to the North Coast Section basketball playoffs in the Petaluma area. The Mustangs tied Roseland College Prep for the top spot in the NCL II last season. St. Vincent went on to drop a hard fought, 53-40, decision to Bentley at Lafayette in the opening round of the North Coast Section Division V playoffs.

Clever guard Mike Davis comes back for his senior season after earning a starting nod in most of the games last season when the Mustangs went 21-6. The quick lefty was the only St. Vincent ball handler not to be taken completely out of his game by a pinching Bentley press that closed out the final contest of the season.

Davis had inconsistent spurts of offense in 2015-16, but started strong by exploding for double figures in the Foundation Game at Petaluma High where the Mustangs made a surprising showing against the favored Trojans.

It will be the third season on the St. Vincent varsity team for Davis, but lingering shoulder issues from football might force him to the sidelines on the first opening tap.

“He is really beat up to start the season,” explained Phillips.

On the opposite wing, Justin Fahy brings a legitimate scoring threat from long distance when he is healthy. When in rhythm around the perimeter, many of his 3-point shots are from NBA distance. Since transferring from Cardinal Newman last season, Fahy has been difficult to keep out of the starting five because of his accuracy. He is additionally one of the better Mustang ball handlers against pressure defenses.

Fahy had also been bothered with a major shut down of play while nursing an ankle that was weakened before the Petaluma Foundation Game. “He blew it up in the fourth quarter against Petaluma, and it will be at least a week before we can expect him back in there,” said a hopeful Phillips. “Right now, we are looking for any players who can step up and score.”

Phillips, who has a history of getting the most out of his bench players, will be tested this season with the aggressive play of 6-3 center Nick Murphy. Murphy never lacks for banging bodies underneath, but he has often picked up a fistful of early game fouls. The three-season pivot player will be counted on more this season to grab rebounds, and give the Mustangs a presence in the low block.

“Nick plays very hard when he is on the floor,” said Phillips before the first team meeting this season. “We have to find a way to keep him in there. Joseph Clark can be a capable fill-in when he is here.”

Ten of the 12 players on the Mustang roster this season are seniors. In the area of experience on the varsity, however, seven of the players were not on the club last season with most playing on the junior varsity. Phillips must count on some emerging talent in a hurry if St. Vincent is to contend again this year. Jimmy Lamerin, Eric Riley, Cameron Ray, Nick Saisi, Nick Romano, Santino Siragusa and Clark are playing on varsity for the first time in their final year at the school.

Brandon Shannon and Matt Pierson are juniors who played on the junior varsity last season.

“Our team was loaded with seniors last year,” noted Phillips. “A lot of the kids are coming up together. We have moved Riley to point guard to get the season going. He can handle the ball, and so far he has played very good defense.

“We played very well defensively against Petaluma. The kids will have to buy into that,” said Phillips. “Hopefully, our defense can force mistakes leading to easy baskets.”

Senior Saragusa has been, “mister everything for us so far,” explained Phillips. “He has stepped up to take the tough shots, and his ball handling has been very good. Tino will have to play very well for us to succeed in the early season.”

After beginning the regular season with road games against Berean Christian in Walnut Creek and St. Helena the following Tuesday, the Mustangs return to the demanding tournament circuit beginning with three games at the always difficult McMillan Tournament in Cloverdale this weekend.

In the meantime, Phillips and 10-year assistant Dennis Traverso will be poking around the Mustang cupboard to see if any loose scoring is available when games that count get underway.

The shorthanded Mustangs absorbed a 54-26 loss at the hands of Berean Christian in the season opener Friday night.

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