Veteran Dickinson head boys’ basketball coach Sean Drennan didn’t know what to expect from his team entering this season.
“We lost a lot,” said Drennan in an obvious understatement.
The Rams graduated nine seniors from the team that won 17 games and reached the semifinals of the Hudson County Tournament last year.
“We were very unsure with what we had,” Drennan said. “We knew that they were a good group of kids who were willing to work hard. I’ve been fortunate to have nothing but great kids. They’re there all the time, ready to work. It’s a pleasure coaching them.”
What the Rams lacked was a strong big man, an inside presence.
“We haven’t had one in about seven or eight years,” Drennan said. “I wish I could get some 6-foot-5 kid to walk into the school, but it hasn’t happened in a while. I’ve gotten used to it. We have to play undersized. We just do what we do and run with it. It’s almost become our calling card.”
Drennan has worked with his share of Smurfs over the years and shows no worse for wear.
“We have to rise above it all and play hard,” Drennan said. “I keep praying for that 6-5 kid to come through the doors, but so far, my prayers haven’t been answered.”
So the Rams are basically fielding an inexperienced, undersized and undermanned squad. Sounds like the recipe for disaster.
“I really didn’t know what to expect,” Drennan said. “I knew that we weren’t going to win the rebounding battles. We had to keep the height factor to be as little of a problem as possible. We were going to have to shoot the ball well and fight for every possession. We had to have all five on the floor diving for loose balls, scraping and clawing.”
So far, that approach has worked, because the Rams have jumped out to a 5-1 early season record, with the only blemish coming at the hands of Jersey City rival Snyder.
The Rams also won the Charlie Dolan Holiday Tournament championship in Kearny, defeating Nutley in the first round, then knocking off host Kearny in the title game.
Perhaps the biggest reason for the Rams early success can be attributed to senior guard Troy Lopez.
The 6-foot Lopez is averaging an astonishing 24 points per game, including a 38-point outburst against Nutley in the Dolan Tournament and a 29-point explosion in the season opening win over Hoboken.
“We know we have a shooter we can run things for,” Drennan said. “He’s been outrageous. He’s shooting 60 percent from the floor. He definitely can shoot the ball.”
The Rams also have a hard-nosed diligent worker in 6-foot-2 senior Juan Munoz.
“Juan brings toughness to the floor,” Drennan said. “He goes and gets rebounds. He competes every time down the floor. Thank God we have him, because he’s the one who does all the dirty work.”
Sophomore Tyrek Battle-Holley is a player to watch. The 6-foot Battle-Holley is the Rams’ point guard.
“He runs the show,” Drennan said. “He’s very athletic. He’s way beyond his years already in terms of maturity and poise. He has the potential to be a very good player. He also can score.”
Battle-Holley is averaging 13 points per game with high games of 22 against Memorial and 18 against Hoboken.
Tamire Jones is a 5-foot-9 senior guard.
“He’s our best defender who is getting better offensively,” Drennan said. “He really helps us.”
Junior Kelvin Araujo is a 5-10 junior who plays – you guessed it – guard.
“Guards are all we have,” Drennan said. “We play most of the time with four guards.”
The Rams have three players coming off the bench, but none with size. Senior Savion Bryant is 5-foot-8. Juniors Kamal Williams and Harold Beltran are both 5-foot-10.
“They all inter change,” Drennan said. “The good thing is that every single one of them knows how to play every spot on the floor. I play most of the time with three players who should be point guards. That’s just the way it goes.”
So what’s the key to success for Drennan and the Rams?
“Confidence,” Drennan said. “Having confidence makes for winning basketball. It helps when the kids believe that we’re better than we actually are. We’ve been positive and supportive of each other from the start and that’s important.”
Drennan knew that he had a tough week ahead, starting play in the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League, facing conference foes Snyder and then Hudson Catholic.
“Those aren’t exactly walks in the park,” Drennan said. “After these games, we’ll know if we’re for real.”
It’s safe to say that Drennan’s undersized workaholics are already for real. They are once again a well coached tough out in the HCIAL, something that other county coaches have learned to appreciate and respect from Drennan’s teams over the years. This year is obviously no exception.
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.
You can read Jim’s blog about the Baseball Hall of Fame honorees at www.jimhaguesports.blogspot.com.