New Faces Will Take The Court
The Martin Luther School basketball team enters the 2012-13 season with only one returning starting player after winning six games in 2011-12.
“We’re in a rebuilding year,” said MLS head basketball coach John Della Marco, who took the helm during the 2011-12 seasons as the team improved in total wins by four games. “No coach likes to admit that, but we have lost four seniors from last year and we compete against schools with double-triple the amount of enrollment. It is difficult at times to compete against these schools but we are developing a program from the ground up and we are all excited about it.”
“The support from the students and faculty is good and we could use a little help from our community,” he added. “If we can get folks to come and watch our team this season they will see young men that play hard and make efforts on every play. We may not win all the time but we will always hustle and play a brand of basketball that will impress many to keep coming out to support the team.”
The Cougars’ current roster is relatively inexperienced; besides starting senior guard Patrick Kelly and center Lorenzo Lake, the team will have several players from the junior varsity team try to make the team this season.
The Maspeth team has been running basketball clinics to all students during the summer and the turnout has been good. Della Marco has been impressed with the turnout of players from freshmen to seniors and the talent is better than expected.
“They are still inexperienced but I like a few new players and it is not a question of if but when they will be good this year” said Della Marco. “Our school is a jewel in Maspeth; just many people don’t know about us. We have quality teachers and an excellent education program at Martin Luther School, which now has a middle school program besides high school.”
“ummer basketball clinics and constant communication with our student athletes will help build a team that will focus on a renewed spirit for Martin Luther basketball athletics ” said Athletic Director Jim Regan.
The team recently received a donation from a local company in the community, Academy Fire Protection which donated new uniforms, practice jerseys and warm ups for the upcoming season.
