GUILDERLAND — There are new faces for the Guilderland boys’ basketball team this year.

Only a couple of players who garnered varsity experience last year return.
"We don’t have a lot of experience returning," Guilderland Coach Ron Osinski said. "Jimmy Googas has the most. He was our sixth and he’s what I would call a starter. He got significant, quality times. Matt Doherty got some time later in the year. In years past, we’ve had seniors that have been able to step in."

Googas and Doherty were elected the Dutchmen’s captains for this season. They are just two of five seniors on the team. Nick Zarrelli, Barry Kinlan, and Luke Pagano are the other seniors.
"We have some leadership in the senior class," Osinski said. "And Mark Domaracki was with us as a sophomore and got some experience and will be a key part of this team."

Domaracki is one of seven juniors. He is joined by Taylor Walden, Steve Doak, Andy Guilz, Uwana Okure, Jimmy Munsie, and Kevin Forbes. Brett Marfurt is the only sophomore on the team.
"Marfurt played on the junior varsity last year," Osinski said. "He’s a good player. He’ll see some significant time. He’s capable of playing all the guard positions and can guard taller guys and guard perimeter players."

Stressing defense

The Dutchmen will be small in the front court but big in the back court.
"Our guards will be big," Osinski said. "They’ll be 6’1", 6’2", and 6’3". We’ll have quickness. We just need to piece things together and play as a team. We don’t need to worry about who’s scoring but that we are scoring. Assists will be an important part."

As usual, Osinski is stressing defense, especially against some of the players the Dutch will face in the Suburban Council.
"We’re working hard on defense," Osinski said. "We’re working hard on doubling and defending bigger kids."

Osinski said that some of the pressure from the 2003-04 season carried over to last year’s team. They felt they had to defend their Suburban Council championship and sectional finalist spot.
"I think we played not to lose at times," Osinski said. "We don’t have as high expectations this year."

The coach said that his team has nothing to lose this year and can just come to play.
"I’m excited for the season," Osinski said. "The kids that are coming back are better than they were last year. The kids are committed to the game this season. I don’t think there is anything hanging over our heads."

The Dutchmen scrimmaged Schenectady High School on Saturday and will scrimmage Amsterdam and Christian Brothers Academy during the pre-season. Osinski will be better able to tell what he has this season after the Dutch play some outside competition.
"That’s what the scrimmages are about," Osinski said. "The juniors will be the key players. They’re a bit behind right now. They are worried about making mistakes and not just going out and playing. We’ll have three or four scrimmages and we want to get better through those."

New division

The Dutchmen have moved divisions within the Suburban Council. Guilderland will be in the Blue Division with the largest schools in the league — Shenendehowa, Shaker, and Saratoga. Colonie moved to the Gold Division.
"I don’t think that makes any difference," Osinski said. "Niskayuna and Bethlehem are tough teams. The whole league is tough. Every game will be difficult for us. There’s never an easy game. There are good coaches and good players in the league. And we have to play them all."

Guilderland opens the season on Friday, Dec. 2, at the Niskayuna Tip-Off Tournament. The Dutch will play Bishop Maginn and will play on Saturday in either the championship or consolation game.
"We’re just working on getting better," Osinski said last Friday. "We’ll use the Schenectady scrimmage to show us what we need to work on. Things might come easily in practice but they might not come easy tommorrow. We’ll work on passing and press breakers. We’ll shore up the rotation and work on who is capable of playing in what spots."