Tigers attempt to tame Division III in boys' basketball

Tiverton drops down a group in 2016-17 with realignment

By Nick Friend
Posted 12/14/16

TIVERTON — With only two returning players, the Tiverton High School boys’ basketball team looks to find its footing in 2016-17 after being moved down to Division III where head coach David …

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Tigers attempt to tame Division III in boys' basketball

Tiverton drops down a group in 2016-17 with realignment

Posted

TIVERTON — With only two returning players, the Tiverton High School boys’ basketball team looks to find its footing in 2016-17 after being moved down to Division III where head coach David Landoch expects his side to continue the program's tradition of success.

The Tigers bring only junior point guard Tyler Murray and senior small forward Stephen Gacioch back to the fold from a squad that went 10-7 in the D-II regular season last winter and qualified for the league playoffs, winning once before losing to neighbor Portsmouth in the quarterfinals. Tiverton also fell a win shy of earning a berth in the Open State Tournament.

Coach Landoch didn't really know what to expect from this year's inexperienced group until he saw his team lose by just one point in overtime to Division I East Providence in a non-league game December 8.

“I only have two returning players and everyone else is all new which provides a challenge,” the fifth-year head coach said. “This group of guys is willing to fight though, but we have a lot of work to do.”

The Tigers will be paced by their two returnees, Murray and Gocioch, but have some leadership on the bench as well.

“Tyler and Stephen are the leaders and there is no question about that,” Coach Landoch said. “I also have Kyle Soares (senior) who doesn't play as much, but is a great leader. The nice part about this team is everyone is vocal, positive and works well together.”

With the youth and inexperience on Tiverton’s roster Coach Landoch said the players must accept instruction and insight of the coaches, which they have done well so far.

“The other thing is they take constructive criticism really well which is something a lot of kids don’t do well these days,” he said. “As coaches we can get on them and they understand where we are coming from.”

Tiverton begins the season with a starting lineup of Murray at point guard, sophomore Carson Hart at the shooting guard, Gocioch at small forward, junior Michael Hrycin II at power forward and senior Elias Skarpos at the center.

“We have the ability to get the ball up the floor because we are long, lanky, and can handle the basketball,” Coach Landoch said.

Tiverton was moved down a level to the revamped 14-team Division III grouping along with five other teams during the most recent realignment by the Interscholastic League, meaning the Tigers have some learning to do about their new competition.

“We got moved to D-III and a couple teams came down with us. I don’t know the other teams as much as I would want to, to be honest with you,” Coach Landoch said. “This is all very new for us, but we have the group of guys to get it done."

Despite their lack of varsity experience and their new surroundings, the goals for this edition of the Tigers remain lofty.

“We want to win the playoffs. I don’t want to win the regular season, I want to win the playoffs,” Coach Landoch said emphatically. “We keep high expectations at Tiverton.”

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