Basketball revival at St. Francis Prep?

This is usually the time of the year, at least recently, when the sports season is forgotten at St. Francis Prep, particularly on the boys side. Last year, the basketball team won just once in league play, although the Terriers did finish at .500 overall.
But with talented forward Mike Cavataio finally eligible to team with swift guards Keith Nandin, the team's second leading scorer, and Darren Noisette, optimism reigns at the Fresh Meadows school.
&#8220I think we are going to be a little better than we were last year,” Coach Tim Leary said. &#8220We're just getting started, but we were pretty happy with our scrimmage season. We did win our first game against Fordham Prep.”
Leary will start two other seniors - 6-foot-5 center John Matzelle and wing Chris Aviles - but it's the presence of Cavataio, a dynamic 6-foot-4 scorer and creator who was ineligible last year after transferring from local powerhouse Christ the King, that makes the Terriers dangerous.
&#8220He's a little bit of a throwback to the kind of kids we had here for many years,” Leary said. &#8220He's a hardworking kid. … Mike totally understands the game and he's always in the gym.
&#8220Last year he had to sit out, but he came to every practice with us, came to every game,” he continued. &#8220We're real excited to have him.”
Leary revealed this season the team is certainly expecting better results, not just hoping for them.
&#8220We feel we stepped up a bit,” the coach said. &#8220We certainly can compete in the league, no question about it. Last year we had one league win, but we lost six games by three points or less.
&#8220So it wasn't as if we were getting blown out all the time, we just weren't able to finish games. We feel that if we work at it and improve, we might make some noise in the playoffs.”

Holy Cross graduated four seniors and saw four sophomores transfer to local public schools. Yet Coach Paul Gilvary says the team doesn't view the defections in a negative light. &#8220Not at all, matter of fact it's exactly the opposite. It gives guys a great opportunity for playing time.”
Chief among them are juniors Blaise French and Ernest Freeman, a 6-foot-6 forward. Obviously talented wing Sylven Landesberg, who led the CHSAA in scoring as a sophomore, will carry the load, aided by senior guards Shameel Carty and Bryan Myers.
&#8220I'm optimistic,” Gilvary said. &#8220There's enough talent that hopefully with a good work ethic, we can improve a little bit each week as the season goes on.”