Wildcats look to improve as they overcome age and size issues

Story and photos by Richard W Dionne Jr
Posted 12/12/18

The Westport basketball team will be fighting an age and size battle this year. The Wildcats graduated six seniors, have only three returning players and just one starter from last season.

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Wildcats look to improve as they overcome age and size issues

Posted

The Westport basketball team will be fighting an age and size battle this year. The Wildcats graduated six seniors, have only three returning players and just one starter from last season.

“We are definitely young and we are working hard,” said Head Coach Scot Boudria. “In certain cases the youth comes out and the inexperience. That’s the thing that we’ll be overcoming throughout the year,” he said.

This year’s version of the Wildcats has a good amount of freshman and sophomores that are modest in height.

“There is a big difference in a freshman’s weight and size and a junior’s,” said coach Boudria. “With the amount of freshman and sophomores that we have, we are going to be growing both mentally and physically.”

Last season the team went 9-11 in Division 4 and missed the tournament. The teams three returning players, senior Roberto Ferreira, junior Aidan Viveiros and junior Connor Lecomte will lead the team this season in their quest to make the tournament.

“Those three will definitely be the core of our team,” said coach Boudria. “They are three guards and very coachable players that like to learn about the game.”

Ferreira, a soccer standout, is quick and speedy, but stands about 5 foot 7 inches tall. He and Nick Payne, also modest in height, have been called upon to play forward for the team.

“We’re not really like, tall,” said Ferreira, “but coach has us playing down low and boxing out and that really helps out the team.”

Ferreira will have to get used to playing opposite to some much bigger players this season.

“I’ll try and deny them the ball,” Ferreira said. “If they are really bigger than me, I’ll just take a charge or something. Make them think twice,” he said.

“You have to play a lot smarter. Use your quickness and speed. You can’t just put up your hands. They will go right over you,” Ferreira said.

Senior Dawson DosVais feels that the Wildcats look pretty good so far in practice.

“We have a lot of young guys, but I think the team still looks pretty good,” said DosVais, adding, “Everyone is pretty skilled.”

DosVais, also a soccer standout, said that the team has chemistry due to the fact that the team has been playing together for a while. But the fact remains that the team doesn’t have a lot of height.

“We don’t have a lot of tall centers, we have a lot of guards,” DosVais said. “That’s the reason we are good at shooting, but we don’t have a lot of guys for down low.”

The Wildcats are just into their second week of practice and coach Boudria needs to see more of the team before he decides on the team’s style of play.

“We are still developing. I’m learning about them just as they are learning about the game,” said coach Boudria. “We will try to bring out out our strengths and hide our weaknesses.”

“Two weeks into the season there is a lot to cover,” said coach Boudria. “Starting lineups are changing, players are switching between JV and varsity. I’m not even sure who is bringing the ball up. That can change to with what the defense shows us,” he said.

“We are working hard and trying to enjoy the game. And that’s some of the important things that get lost,” said coach Boudria.

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