The Pine Bush boys junior varsity (JV) basketball team is going into the final game of the season today with an incredible season already achieved. The team is 15-2 and facing a tough Kingston team tonight. The lessons of this season – of 16 individuals coming together to become a disciplined, cohesive unit – are not lost on these freshmen, sophomores and one eighth grader, as well as their coach Jake Izzo. They came in with high expectations and worked hard to achieve them, on the court as well as in the classroom.

UPDATE: Pine Bush JV defeated Kingston in their final game of the season, 55-52, bringing their overall record to 16-2. They went undefeated in their 10 games at home.

 

 

 

Coach Izzo is finishing his first season with the JV. Basketball is his game. He played in college and just loves the game. Last year, he coached the Crispell modified team. When the preseason started, he had 45 kids try out for the 16 slots on the team. This included the players from CVMS who went undefeated in two straight seasons.

“So many good kids tried out,” said Coach Izzo. “Some of these kids have played together their whole lives and some didn’t even know the other kids’ names.”

So they took their time and the kids got to know each other. At one of their first meetings he turned the floor over to the new team and asked them what their team goals were for the upcoming season. The leaders on the team just naturally took to the floor, he said. They discussed what they want to see in their season and came up with their team goals:

• Go undefeated
• Grow as a team
• Be disciplined
• Stay academically eligible

They may not have had an undefeated season (they were close!), but they achieved every other goal they set, and then some. The improvement is through the roof, said Coach Izzo. “They were good to begin with and they’ve gotten so much better.”

 

 

Their two losses were against Middletown and Newburgh, both teams they also defeated during the season. Coach Izzo said the losses hit the kids hard – they don’t like to lose, he said – but they learned from those losses.

“It wasn’t great,” said freshman Brayden Traver when asked about their loss.

“It’s something we weren’t used to,” added Jaden Christophe, also a freshman.

They didn’t make it a habit. Brayden said it had a lot to do with “the connection we have as a team.” Jaden said “We’re like a big family.”

Coach agrees. “Every kid cheers each other on,” he said. “They play for each other. I have the utmost confidence in them.”

They worked hard in the classroom as well. None of the players were ineligible to play at any time in the season. 

 

One of the most difficult things for Coach Izzo this season has been balancing playing time. These kids are really good, he said. “We are legit – a deep team.”

And that depth, he said, starts with sophomores Lenny Manzueta and Michael Pitt, the team’s captains. The freshmen have been outstanding as well. Coach Izzo said Brayden and Noah Schorling have started every game, and Brayden is the second leading scorer on the team, behind Lenny.

As part of their preparation, the team watches film, which is not the norm for a JV team. “I treat them as I would a varsity team,” said Coach Izzo. “We break down the game, scout our opponents. When we go into a game, we know who does what on the other team and how to defend against it.”

What sets this team apart from others Coach Izzo has been on or coached? “They’re fearless. They can go to any gym with a hostile crowd, see a big team come out and they’re not scared. That comes from being prepared. One player makes the other better.”

 

 

 

And they make their coach better too. “There is great respect on this team, between the players themselves and me,” said Coach Izzo. “That’s key. I am fortunate to be coaching this group.  They’re really good basketball players and they’re all even better kids.”

Win-win! Let’s go Pine Bush!