By TONY BELLISSIMO
With eight minutes remaining, the Pirates led the Falcons 45-26. South won, 54-50. "I don't want us to feel sorry for ourselves," Harris said. "We outplayed them for three quarters. We didn't show any patience late in the game, and that's something we have to learn from."
The Pirates were still a bit bitten when they lost to Calhoun in the consolation game of the Bellmore-Merrick Tournament. Still, Coach Harris is looking forward to the East Meadow Tournament (Dec. 20-21) and non-conference games against New Hyde Park and Hicksville.
"We have our share of seniors, and we'll need to play like an experienced team," Harris said. "If we start playing together as a unit and playing consistently, there will be plenty of opportunities to win games."
Senior power forward Bryan Karp missed the first two games of the season with an injury, but should return to practice this week and be available for the upcoming tournament. Other seniors the team will rely on are Brad Henn, Justin Dank, Jason Whitehall, Sean Darrow and Jimmy Edwards.
Sophomore Russell Furchak led Mepham in the loss to South with 14 points.
Dank added 10 points, and sophomore Greg Bauer had nine.
"We just have to limit our mistakes," Harris said.
Girls Basketball
A young and inexperienced Mepham girls basketball team has a new coach in June Morrissey, along with a potentially rugged conference schedule. The Lady Pirates are coming off losses to Kennedy and Cold Spring Harbor in last week's Bellmore-Merrick Tournament.
"We're building up for the long term and we hope to pick up a few wins along the way," said Morrissey, who is expecting big things out of seniors AnnMarie Proto and Jen Walters. "With the exception of a few players, everyone is still learning the fundamentals. Most of these girls played at the junior-varsity level, and it's going to take some time for everything to come together."
Proto had 17 points in the season opener and will be the focus of opposing defenses. Scoring and rebounding are two things both Proto and Walters need to supply. The majority of the roster comprises sophomores, with Colleen Oakes, Claire Bartkus, point guard Catherine Boltz and Diana Pollitt leading the way.
Mepham travels Glen Cove this Friday and opens its conference
season on Wednesday, Dec. 20 at Long Beach. "We have to focus on the small goals and work hard," Morrissey said.
Wrestling
With only four seniors on its roster, a young Mepham wrestling team figures to improve as the season unfolds.
By competing in such events as the Sprig Gardner, South Side, Massapequa and Locust Valley tournaments, the Pirates should be battle-tested come the dual meet schedule.
"My philosophy has always been to have us wrestle in quality tournaments early in the season so that we can be prepared for what's ahead," Coach Mike Muscara said. "It doesn't matter how well we do in the tournaments.
The key is to learn and gain experience from them and take that into the qualifier and county tournaments at the end of the year."
Seniors Rob Scholl (140 pounds), Nairan Mahmood (103) and Dave Margulies (275), as well as junior Jason Muscara (130) all placed in the qualifying tournament a year ago, with Scholl capturing first place. "Those four guys will be our leaders," the coach said.
Paolo Mazzeo (160) is Mepham's other senior. Coach Muscara pointed out the program attracted 15 freshman this winter, a few of whom might compete at the varsity level. Phil Sofia (189) is one of them.
Juniors Jon Gunther, George Pacciano, Christian Crescetelli and Erol Chayla, and sophomores Matt Novack and James Marzigliano are expected to be in the starting lineup.
"I think the dual meet schedule is going to be competitive," Muscara said.
"That's usually the case with ability grouping."
