The men’s basketball team has been making plenty of noise. Refusing to dwell on a heartbreaking first-round exit, Lasell is currently 12-2 in the conference and 19-6 on the season. The team trails only Saint Joseph’s (Maine) in the GNAC standings. On Saturday, Lasell decimated Elms with a score of 91-57 and finished the regular season on a three-game win streak. Players have had a lot to say about their success this season, citing team chemistry and tight defense as some of the main factors.
On Feb. 1, the men’s team lost by 10 points to Regis College. This snapped an eight-game winning streak, and it was the first game the basketball team lost in over a month. “We did have a little problem with losing to Regis, but I feel like we needed that, basically to just stay humble,” junior forward Quinton Partee said. For some teams, games like these are where momentum completely disappears and seasons become lost. But for Lasell, it has been the complete opposite. It feels just as Partee said; Lasell has responded very well since that loss to Regis and they look to be locked in on both sides of the ball. Lasell has won three of their last four games, with two being against teams that are top five in the GNAC.
Another thing that has led to some of the success the team has seen so far has been the underclassmen and their contributions. The seasoned players on the team have been able to offer their knowledge and technique to the younger players, and they have received it well. Freshman guard Esmer Madesko is currently averaging 16.4 points per game, and sophomore guard Che Hanks is currently averaging 10.6 points per game. This has helped create a team that plays for one another. Coach Aaron Galletta and his philosophy helped shape the team we see every night. He largely believes in turning the page and making sure the team doesn’t dwell on a loss or a win.
The longtime coach of Lasers basketball had this to say about preparing for games: “Every game is a different game, every opponent is a different challenge and different scouting report, but I think the identity is just trying to go 1-0 each day.” The key to preparation for the team has been the ability to turn the page. Coach Galletta has been adamant about getting better each day, and he believes that doing this will give the team the ability to make a deep run into the playoffs. Playing with physicality on the defensive side has also been talked about.
The players are motivated as well to finish the season strong and make a deep push in the playoffs. Freshman guard Esmer Madesko said, “The season is going well. We are 18-6 and second in the conference. So far, we are having a good season- having fun, playing basketball, and doing what I love.” They hope to make it to the GNAC championship and achieve redemption from the first-round loss to Norwich last year. The top five in the GNAC standings are as follows: Saint Joseph’s (Maine), Lasell, University of Saint Joseph (Conn.), Albertus Magnus, and Norwich. Having successfully locked up the second seed in the GNAC playoffs after their last game on Feb. 22 at Elms, all eyes will be on the Lasers to see how far they will go.
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