By Chris Villani

Sports Writer

The Blackstone Valley Tech boys’ basketball team is filled with new faces this winter after graduating seven seniors and losing another player to a transfer over the winter. But head coach Dan Morin is pleased with the group that he has, and sees the Beavers as a potential playoff team.

“Our first goal is to get ourselves in a position to make the playoffs and we definitely want to give ourselves a chance to get to the state vocational tournament,” Morin said. 

A goal that is even more important to Morin is the continued growth of the program. He said he feels like he is finally getting the chance to see what the team can do in a more “normal” season.

“This is my third year and my first non-COVID year, no masks and none of the regulations,” Morin said. “I have been trying to change the face of BVT basketball and I am seeing my guys gelling and cheering on the younger guys, helping out with the underclassmen at practices and I hope they continue with that community feel.”

He added, “I consider the best thing about sports to be the camaraderie and the togetherness and I think they have that this year.”

Morin has spent the early part of the season trying to identify his rotation, a task made more difficult by the depth he has on the roster. Senior point guard Andrew Houssan has been a constant.

“He isn’t the fastest guy, we joke about his speed, but he has a great basketball IQ and he is a great commander and a great leader for these kids,” Morin said.

Junior Nathan Slaney was a backup shooting guard for BVT a season ago but moved into the starting lineup at the start of this year. 

“He is going to be needed to play a major role if we are going to have success,” Morin said. “He has some great speed and some really good defensive skills.”

Valley Tech is also looking to Alex Burgos to provide some physicality following his return from an injury suffered during the end of the football season.

“He is very explosive and a versatile player who can play pretty much any position on the court,” Morin said. “His aggression is something the team misses when he is not out there, so we were looking forward to having him back.”

Of the 14 guys on the Valley Tech roster, Morin said just about all of them have the ability to be impact players. He called it a good problem to have, even if it has made defining a starting lineup and a rotation more difficult. Morin said the depth can lead to more versatility on the court.

“It allows us to run some different sets out there,” Morin said. “We could have a smaller, faster group on the court at times and then substitute a bigger group when the situation calls for it.”