Whaler boys build on record setting season
BY STEVE SHEPPARD INDEPENDENT SPORTS EDITOR
They netted a school-best record 16 games and made it to the quarterfinal round of the state tournament.

The Whalers game plan this year is focused on teamwork. Running laps before practice last week were, left to right, Eddie Coffin, Eric Lowell, Adam Spencer, Evan Hourihan and Jordan Ferreira. ROB BENCHLEY/The Independent

They also captured their third league title in four years, and the defending Lighthouse Conference champs hope to ride their experience deeper into the postseason this year.

By all measures, the Whalers are again poised for success.

They are a veteran team now, and some of them have been courtmates since grade school. Included on this talented team is last year's Lighthouse Conference scoring champ and team captain Jordan Ferreira. Returning, too, are seven other varsity veterans, including Evan Hourihan, Tomas Smoliarius, Josh Butler, Eric Lowell, Adam Spencer, Delroy Lawrence and Carl Stevens.

Coming up from the junior varsity to help this year are Chris Welch, Troy Sullivan, Rasheed Smith and Eddie Coffin. Also new to the team is transfer student Mike Aucoin, a senior who previously played ball at Cape Cod Academy.

They came together last year to better the previous year's 12-9 mark, and they are practicing and preparing with the confidence that comes from knowing each other well. But head coach Beau Almodobar, who is returning for his 10th year at the helm, knows that despite team camaraderie there is much that can be taught based on last year's run.

"Last year we learned that we need to play better as a team to advance deeper into the state tournament," he said. "We need to communicate better, help out on defense, have better shot selection and better ball movement."

All areas he knows his squad can handle. "They all can shoot, a lot of players have a good touch," he said. "They run well." They also have the benefit of experience.

But they will also be challenged this year with some new opponents and a tougher overall schedule.

"This is the hardest schedule we've ever faced," Almodobar said. "It's a tough schedule in the beginning (with games against Mashpee, Blue Hills and North Cambridge Catholic), but that's only going to help us down the road. It's a good thing; it's a challenge."

They'll face Martha's Vineyard in the traditional Cape Classic over the Christmas break, but will also go up against Dennis-Yarmouth in the second half of the year. Almodobar hopes the late season contests will find the team reaching its stride.

"Our goals are always the same: to win the league and make the tournament, goals that I think we can reach this year if we work hard. Everyone's got to hustle to get open. We have to play together.

"The bar has been set by last year's team having the best record ever," he continued. "It's a pretty high standard."

The boys open the season Friday at Mashpee and play

their first home game next Friday against Blue Hills. I