The Jahron “Jay” Giddings Era has officially begun for the Danvers High boys basketball program.
The Falcons are in their second week of workouts, which have included a scrimmage jamboree during which they took on Reading for a half and Watertown for another at Burlington last Saturday, December 3. The players are making progress individually and collectively, Giddings reports.
“The kids have worked real hard. I’ve challenged them every step of the way and they’ve answered those challenges in a positive way,” says Giddings, 30. “It took us a while to calm down the first half of the jamboree. But once we found ourselves and got a little rhythm going, we settled in and play pretty well. I thought we were better offensively against Watertown and pretty solid defensively in both halves. We need to improve our rebounding though, first and foremost.”
Several players caught the coach’s eye on an upbeat note. “I have been impressed with Teddy Vaillancourt,” Giddings said. “He’s going to play a lot at forward. He’ll be important for us defensively”
Giddings also liked there sophomore guard play from Mike Ward and Anthony Yebba. “The kids are slowly getting used to playing the style I’d like them to use,” he said. “I want them to be a reflection of me on the court, the way they should play together and especially on every defensive trip. Boom line at this point is that I’m excited about our prospects.”
Giddings and his players are in a tough spot. They have won five straight NEC division titles and four of the last five NEC overall titles, in the process winning a remarkable three state championships in a four-year period, all under departed coach John Walsh, who finished with an unprecedented 123-24 record, the best six-years run in North Shore hoop history.
Giddings is expecting big things by his two key returning players, co-captains Kieran Moriarty and Tahg Coakley. Moriarty will return as the Falcons” man i the middle and Coakley returned as a small forward adept at banging the boards and penetrating to the basket. Bot enjoyed stellar seasons for the 9-2 DHS football team.
“I have to give the football players a little more time to get into basketball shape, but by the second week, where we are now, I expect them to be working smoothly,” Giddings said.
The coach also has high hopes for three-point bombers Sean Rooney and Justin Roberto.
“Justin has not yet realized how good a player he can be for us,” says Giddings. “Hopefully he’ll learn after just a few games.”
The coach says he will carry a varsity roster of 11, with four starting spots already settled, with one more to come before they open defense of their NEC titles Friday December 16 at home against Lynn English.