MANAHAWKIN – A local boys basketball team ended their season with yet another reason to standout as second place champions in their league.
St. Mary’s Academy Knights are the only co-ed team to participate in the Monmouth Ocean County Parochial Basketball League. Their roster includes some very talented boys and girls.
“We didn’t have enough boys to have a boys basketball team,” said Coach Christopher DiFrancia. “And the girls didn’t have enough to form a team either.”
Rather than forego a season, the mixed group took to the courts. DiFrancia, whose athletic fame was on the wrestling mats, welcomed the help of two other assistant coaches.
According to DiFrancia, Herb Soletto eats, sleeps and breathes basketball. However, his schedule didn’t allow him to exclusively coach the seventh and eighth grade team.
“Herb designed our defense, our inbound plays, our press break, and has been crucial to our success,” DiFrancia shared. “We joke around about making a movie called ‘The Janitor’ because Herb is literally the school janitor and comes into the gym with his keys and garbage can. He then takes over practice like a basketball guru.”
DiFrancia’s son Dylan is on the Knights roster as is the son of one of the other assistant coaches. Liz Huff surely was happy when her son Jacob returned to the game before the season ended. The tallest player and one of the top Knights, Jacob Huff dislocated his knee early in the year.
Meanwhile, height turned out not to be everything when it came to watching the Knights in the finals against St. Peter’s School from Point Pleasant Beach. Justin Arias’ talent proved limitless as the team’s star point guard.
Justin dribbled and took shots with incredible dexterity as he ran with amazing speed. Word has it that Justin is headed to Christian Brothers Academy on an athletic scholarship. It turns out Justin’s as much a star on the soccer field and is on travel teams for both sports.
Haley Vidal is living proof that the game can be competitive as well as fun. DiFrancia described Haley as a beast on defense and as completely fearless.
“She is one of our top players,” added DiFrancia. “She’s also not alone as far as being fearless on the courts.”
Jack McGuire showcased his skills as he got hot on the court, together with C.J. Moody, a backup center who demonstrated the benefits of dedicated practice.
The Knights seemed to know they can count on some great shots from Nellie Guadagnoli and Julyana Asouria and looked for openings to get the ball to them.
“Sean Stretch is a seventh grader and has started for us many of our games,” DiFrancia said. “He’s a good ball handler point guard who can dribble and shoot well, and who should do well next year.”
DiFrancia’s hoping other seventh graders will come back next season. He’s watched Kyle Galdon come out of his shell, and also saw Ricky Karkovice as soaring from the basics to a potential starter next year.
No doubt the fact that DiFrancia is a trial attorney has taught his son a bit about strategy. Dylan never seemed to run out of gas as he tactically planned his moves.
Meanwhile, DiFrancia said his major emphasis as a coach was to teach the kids to work as a team. The drills apparently worked as the Knights only lost to one team in their league – the one they faced in the finals.
Unbeknownst to DiFrancia, the acceptance of co-ed teams or all girls teams in boys basketball leagues isn’t necessarily the norm.
Back in 2016, a young girl’s parents went to court when another Catholic school in Kenilworth refused to allow her to play on the boys basketball team. An Alabama league last week refused to award a girls’ team a trophy after they won a hoops tourney in a boys league.
The good news isn’t just that the Monmouth Ocean County Parochial Basketball League acknowledged the Knights as a co-ed team with great talent. They also singled out Haley with a sportsmanship award at the tournament’s conclusion.
