Bishop England boys open basketball season with two wins
The Bishop England boys’ basketball team is a close-knit group, coach Bryan Grevey declared as the 2019-20 season tipped off. The team can be a contender in the race for Region 7-AAA by the time the regular-season finale rolls around.
“We’ve got a good team,” Grevey said. “We return all but three kids, so this is essentially last year’s team. They know how to win. They know what works. And, they know what it takes to win.”
The Battling Bishops opened the season with victories over the Palmetto Scholars and St, Joseph’s Catholic. They have a three-game stretch that began Dec. 3 and concludes four days later with games against Northwood Academy, Philip Simmons, and Wando High on the schedule.
“That will give us a good indication of where this program is,” Grevey said. “This will let us know where we are and where we need to go. We have four starters back, and I’ve never had a team where we had four starters back.”
The team went 14-12 last winter, including 6-5 in league play. Grevey said this is basically the same team as last year — but with more experience. He doesn’t predict a total victory this winter, but remains optimistic about the team’s ability to have a successful season. Patrick Antonelli and Aidan McCool are the captains, and both players need to up production from last season.
Antonelli comes from a strong basketball lineage. His mother is Debbie Antonelli, a respected college basketball analyst for ESPN, CBS, Fox and the Big Ten Network, among others.
“You know the lineage,” Grevey said. “Patrick is a very smart point guard. I know it’s cliché, but it’s like having a coach out there on the court. He also happens to be a really good shooter. I put a lot of trust in him. And, he hasn’t disappointed me.”
McCool is in his third year as a starter and played well enough to earn all-region honors last season.
“He hasn’t lit it up,” Grevey said. “But he’s a capable scorer and has picked it up on defense. You can go places with players like Patrick and Aidan.”
The inside is in good hands with baseball star Daniel Brooks, who just looks imposing at 6-foot-6, 250 pounds.
“When he gets inside, he has the ability to score; to get the basket or get fouled,” Grevey said. “Last year, he was sort of ‘Go with the flow.’ This year, he demands the ball.”
Cam Costa, who starred as quarterback in the fall, will provide a good mid-range shot once he makes the adjustment from the gridiron to the hardwood courts.
Ty Schaafsma is the final starter. He’s a wing player with an impressive jumper. Charlie Michel, Thomas Michel and Eddie Marinaro are the top players off the bench.
Grevey said the biggest challenges for the Bishops for the Region 7-AAA championship come from Manning and Georgetown.