GUILDERLAND — The season is right around the corner for the team. And the Dutchmen will be challenged early.

The Dutchmen open the season in a tournament hosted by Albany High School of the Big 10 league. Guilderland had opened its season in the Niskayuna Tournament.
"We open on Thanksgiving weekend," said Guilderland Coach Ron Osinski. "We’ve had good practices. I’ve gotten a lot out of the returning kids. They are helpful with the newer ones. They kind of know what we are doing. They know the stuff that we do. They are working hard."

The Dutchmen graduated two of their leading scorers in Jimmy Googas and Matt Doherty, but return a slew of players that got experience.

Leading the way will be the duo tandem of Brett Marfurt and Drew Smith. Marfurt had an outstanding sophomore campaign and emerged as a go-to player for the Dutch and one of the better shooters in Suburban Council. Smith was a late-season call-up from the junior varsity and contributed to the varsity team right away.

Also returning is senior Mark Domaracki, who is a three-year varsity team member.
"Marfurt and Smith played a lot," Osinski said. "Domaracki is an experienced player and Steve Doak played some key minutes, and Uwana Okure became a good defensive player for us."

Other returners included Taylor Walden, Andy Guilz, Jimmy Munsie, and Donald Depass. Depass missed all of last season with a knee injury.
"They all improved since last year," Osinski said. "And they got experience last year. I think we’ll do a little better in the wins and losses column. Last year, we got a good effort in every game."

Osinski said that where he’s seen some of that improvement is in the competitive practices.
"Everyone is doing a good job," the coach said. "Usually, after you choose your squad, there is a sigh of relief from the players. But everybody worked hard. Everyone is working for a spot in the rotation. This is a very good bunch of kids. They are very athletic."

The one spot that concerns Osinski is in the post.
"Our big kids are young kids," he said. "Coming up from j.v., they are still learning some things. But that is typical every year. But we have a lot of good players."

His players are smart players, said Osinski.
"I’m pleased with their knowledge of the game thus far," the coach said. "Right now, they read each other well and they work together a bit better. I like what I’ve seen so far."
The Dutchmen will get onto a court with another team this Saturday as they take on perennial Section II power Schenectady in a scrimmage. Guilderland will scrimmage Amsterdam on Monday to prepare for the season."
"Then we play," Osinski said. "And then we sit for 10 days. But it could be a good thing. We’ll have a scrimmage in between. We’ll be able to work on the things we need to."

The Dutchmen open the season the day after Thanksgiving, Nov. 24, at home against LaSalle Institute of Troy. Guilderland then will play Albany High School at the SEFCU Center — formerly known as the Recreation and Convocation Center — on the campus of the University of Albany.
"They are two perennially good teams," Osinski said. "I don’t know what either has this year, but that should prepare us for the Suburban Council season. We’ll see the stuff that we need to work on to get ready for the league"But these kids are working hard, and that is all I can say right now."