When the old divisional format of HCIAA basketball, namely Coviello for the big schools and Seglio for the smaller schools, was dismantled two seasons ago and tossed in the scrap heap, St. Mary athletic director/head boys’ basketball coach Tom Lalicato wanted no part of the Ramblers being placed in a smaller division ever again.
Lalicato wanted the opportunity for his Ramblers to take on the bigger schools. There was no need to back down to any challenges. Lalicato wanted his players to take on the very best, meet them head on. It didn’t matter how many students attended the tiny school on Third Street in downtown Jersey City. Lalicato wanted his team to take on all challengers.
So the Ramblers took a few lumps last season, posting a 14-14 record. The Ramblers were a tough out, every single night. They were certainly competitive and certainly a nuisance to other Hudson County foes.
When the 2010-11 season was getting ready to tip off a few weeks ago, Lalicato knew that he had the makings of a good squad.
“We had four kids who had come together over the last three years,” Lalicato said. “We had some good players, a veteran team.”
Lalicato knew that he had an All-County-type player in senior forward Edgar Garcia, a 6-foot-1 scorer supreme who does a little bit of everything.
“He’s very good and capable of scoring,” Lalicato said.
The Ramblers also returned senior point guard Fransua Garcia (no relation to Edgar), a 5-foot-8 bundle of energy who gets the team going. Fransua Garcia was Third Team All-Hudson Reporter last season.
“He leads the way with his assists and passes,” Lalicato said.
Senior forward Isaiah Miles is a 6-foot-3 post presence that the Ramblers hadn’t had in several years. Senior forward Miguel Aviles, the standout baseball player, is the fourth returning starter.
“All four of them were starters last year, so that gave us a little bit of an advantage,” Lalicato said. “Some of them have played together for three years, others for two. We felt very good about that. The feeling coming in was that we were in a good league, but we thought we could compete and have a successful year.”
But no one could have dreamed just how much the upstart Ramblers could compete this year.
In the first few weeks of the season, the Ramblers have already defeated North Bergen, Union City, and the shocker to end all shockers, three-time defending county champ St. Peter’s Prep.
Right before the Christmas holidays, the Ramblers went to Grand and Warren and knocked off the mighty Marauders, 74-72, in overtime, with four players, led by Edgar Garcia’s 18 points, registering in double figures.
“That was a quality win,” Lalicato said. “We hadn’t been able to beat Prep in a while and I know they hadn’t lost in the county in a while.”
It was a victory that put the Ramblers right in the thick of what appears to be a very heated and contested county basketball race.
“I told the kids that the game against Prep was absolutely our chance to make a statement,” Lalicato said. “We knew it was going to be tough. But getting those two wins against North Bergen and Union City beforehand really gave our kids a lot of confidence coming in. It was a good night for us to play.”
Apparently, there have been a lot of good nights thus far. After handling defeating University Charter, 61-41, Tuesday, the Ramblers own an impressive 5-1 record.
“I’m obviously happy we are where we are,” Lalicato said. “We’ve had some quality wins. I’d be lying if I didn’t say we are a little surprised right now. I thought it might take a little longer. We usually take a little while to put it all together. But we’ve obviously come out to play right away.”
Edgar Garcia has been a key, averaging about 15 points per game thus far.
“He has very good offensive skills,” Lalicato said. “He’s been very unselfish in getting others involved as well. He’s a streaky scorer and he can give you a 30-point night at any time. We’re looking for him to give us the points.”
Miles has been a pleasant surprise, averaging 14 points and eight rebounds per game.
“Having Isaiah contribute down low has made us such a better team,” Lalicato said. “He’s a terrific leaper and strong inside. We can answer what other teams have for us inside.”
Fransua Garcia is the floor general and Aviles is just a solid athlete. It’s a good mix.
Sophomore Jaron Smith and junior Andrew Martinez, who stands 6-foot-5, are also fine complimentary players. Martinez scored 14 key points in the win over the Marauders.
Sophomore Devyn Ransom, a 6-2 forward, and senior Christian Blount, a 6-0 guard, round out the Ramblers’ regular rotation.
“We might not have a big team, but we play long and we’re quick,” Lalicato said.
Lalicato knows that six games do not constitute an entire season.
“It’s a good start, but it’s still very early,” Lalicato said. “We have to be able to maintain this now. All we’ve done is win a few games. There’s nothing more to it.”
The Ramblers have tough games scheduled against state-ranked Hudson Catholic and Bayonne later this week.
“I think those games will be barometers as to where we are,” Lalicato said.
Right now, the Ramblers are rambling along, making their mark against the big boys. And the “Bell of St. Mary’s,” none other than Tommy “Bell” Lalicato, is enjoying it immensely.
No one deserves enjoying success more than Lalicato, who has tirelessly done anything and everything to insure St. Mary remains a fixture in downtown Jersey City. He’s also gone above and beyond the call to help other opposing schools in their times of need.
So any success that Lalicato’s team enjoys is well deserved. Lalicato and his team have waited patiently for this time to come where they’re among the county’s elite once again.
And remarkably, of all the schools that used to reside in the old Seglio Division just a handful of years ago, there are only two that remain – Hoboken and St. Mary. The rest have all gone by the wayside, become part of what is already ancient history in Hudson County athletics.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.