Webutuck Warriors played very well in the opening scrimmage of the season last Saturday
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By John M. Benson
November 20, 2007
The Webutuck Warriors played three full scrimmages in rapid succession without a break last Saturday at home, hosting three quality opponents in Taconic Hills, FDR and Chester Academy.
Head coach Mike Riddle showed confidence in every player on his roster as he ran Warriors in and out of the game and watched his interchangeable parts perform remarkably well as a constantly changing unit in the first real action of the season.
As Riddle said after the game, “We are deep on the bench. I plan to use my bench, like Duke Blue Devils are doing this season. No player has a solid starting job, and that is what is so great about our practices, each player day in and day is working hard for a starting spot.”
Webutuck and Millbrook played a game for the ages in the sectional semi-final at Millbrook last season. The Warriors in-bounded the ball with less than ten seconds left on the clock and trailing the Blazers by one point. Webutuck got the open shot they wanted, watched as the buzzer sounded with the ball at the top of its arc, and suffered the intolerable heartbreak when the shot rimmed out and fell to the floor, the Webutuck season falling with it.
The Warriors are loaded for bear again this year, and it promises to be an exciting season.
Riddle has outstanding leadership on this team, with six seniors returning for their final campaign. “We haven’t selected captains, because it is week by week,” Riddle said. “With seven seniors and all leaders, I guess I would have to say the senior class.”
The returning players are Chris Matteo, Jon Brinson, John Schultz, Dustin Smith, Alex Kravchuk, Justin Giordano, all seniors. Pat Ivian, Cody Cofiero, Mark Pomeisl, Martel Williams, Matt Kravchuk and Alex Murphy join the team this season.
Assessing his team at this point in the pre-season, Riddle said, “Our team strengths for this season are discipline, dedication and scoring. Our weakness at this point is defense, and the health of our players, because we have some banged up players as of right now. Defense wins championships, and as of right now, we are not playing 100% defense, but I believe by the time league play begins we will be. Our team goal is to hold all teams under 40 points per night. Whether we apply full-court pressure depends on what type of team we are playing. The pressure will change each night.
“We played solid in the scrimmage, but I saw many things we need to work on to improve before the opening game. We have two major players out for 2-3 weeks with ankle injuries, due to an injury during the scrimmage.
Webutuck plays in the Mid Hudson Athletic League, with Millbrook, Rhinebeck and Coleman in their division. The Warriors will compete with all the teams in the league, their division teams, plus Ellenville, FDR, Highland, Marlboro, New Paltz, Onterora, Pine Plains, Red Hook, Rondout, Saugerties, Spackenkill and Walkill.
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