Beavers start fast behind huge comeback efforts

By Chris Villani

After a strong finish to last season, Blackstone Valley Tech Boys Basketball Head Coach Rich Cormier was hoping his team would pick up right where it left off, and that’s exactly what happened.

“One of the biggest areas of growth from last year to this is our sense of calm on the court,” Cormier said. “Last year, we did not have a lot of players with varsity experience. I was also a new coach, it was an entirely new season, and it showed early in the season.”

The Beavers hit their groove late, but this year the team has come out of the gates strong. BVT won four of its first five games ahead of the Christmas holiday, including turning two defects of 20 points into double digit victories. In a game against Assabet, Valley Tech trailed 21-5 at the end of the first quarter, and poured in 40 second quarter points.

“That doesn’t happen unless they stay calm, stay positive, and stay together,” Cormier said.

Leading the way is senior captain Bryton Buckley, who averaged 15 points per game early in the year. Ayden Joseph is another double-digit scorer, and Dylan Dean is off to a strong start and contributing in numerous categories.

Senior captain Lucas Greenstein does not always score a ton of points, Cormier said, but he “does all the dirty work” and the things that do not show up in the scoreboard.

“Lucas plays tremendous defense, he rebounds, he is an energy guy on both ends of the court,” Cormier said. “And he has provided a ton of leadership this season.”

Cormier said the team set a number of team and individual goals this season, with the top one to be improving upon last year’s performance. One of the things the coach likes the most about his team is the fact that several different players can and have chipped in on the Beavers’ success.

“We don’t just have one guy and it’s been really fun,” Cormier said. “It’s the strength of our team and hopefully it will continue.”

Various players have led the Beavers in scoring, assists, and rebounding. Against Assabet, Buckley poured in 20 points, Joseph finished with 16, and Dean put together an impressive stat line with seven assists, six steals, and zero turnovers.

Games like that have Cormier and his team eyeing the postseason.

“I think every guy in our locker room would be disappointed if we don’t make the state tournament,” he said. “It’s something they are focused on accomplishing, and I think it’s very doable.”