Vikings boys basketball opens season with strong win at home
Junior Amare Rose makes pass while surrounded by Old Rochester defenders. Photos by Bobby Grady
Rose attempts a tough layup.
Senior Aaron Cote maneuvers around a defender.
Junior Robbie Orne lets a three-pointer fly.
Junior Cisco Monteiro drives.
The team celebrates a buzzer-beater to end the third quarter.
Monteiro drive and shoots.
Junior Malikhi Tavares speeds past Old Rochester defenders.
Junior Amare Rose makes pass while surrounded by Old Rochester defenders. Photos by Bobby Grady
Rose attempts a tough layup.
Senior Aaron Cote maneuvers around a defender.
Junior Robbie Orne lets a three-pointer fly.
Junior Cisco Monteiro drives.
The team celebrates a buzzer-beater to end the third quarter.
Monteiro drive and shoots.
Junior Malikhi Tavares speeds past Old Rochester defenders.
Basketball season is underway for the Wareham High School boys team who took home two state championships in the last three years and is coming off a second round playoff exit.
The Vikings opened their season at home against the Old Rochester Regional High School Bulldogs and despite a close first half, Wareham pulled away to win 82 to 61.
Wareham Week editor Bobby Grady caught up with head coach Steve Faniel after the game.
Q: That’s a big win against a good team, how are you feeling?
A: I feel good for the kids, they’ve been working hard but I don’t think we necessarily executed to the best of our ability. We went out there and played hard and our grit and determination was able to get us a win but the execution has got to be better.
Q: What has preseason preparation looked like?
A: The team’s been working hard and getting to know each other — we’ve really been focused on trying to share the basketball. Everybody knows about our three guys that teams try to take away so we’ve really been working on them not doing too much and getting everybody involved.
Q: What are the expectations for the season?
A: We’re going to attack the next practice and try to get better than we were the day before.
Q: What have been the keys to the team’s success in recent years?
A: It’s about the process not the results. We come to practice everyday and try to prepare the best we can. We don’t try to focus ahead or on the result. We just set out goals, our standards and our expectations and try to meet those everyday.
Q: What looks to be the team’s strengths and what are some areas to improve?
A: Our strength is our speed and our shooting ability. Tonight we were able to spread the floor and get out in space to attack the rim. Our weakness right now is probable rebounding. We’re fast but we are smaller so we have to focus on being the more physical team.
Q: Who are the players to watch for this season?
A: I think everybody knows our guys. It’s Aaron Cote, Malikhi Tavares and Amare Rose but it’s not about them. It’s about us just getting involved and continuing to play basketball the right way.
The Vikings will travel to Brockton Monday, Dec. 15 to face off against Cardinal Spellman High School for their next game.
