Trailblazers eye return to playoffs

by Eric Keppeler
Niagara Wheatfield Tribune, November 2, 2006

Frank Rotundo is the eternal optimist.

The Niagara County Community College men’s basketball coach definitely sees the glass as half full rather than half empty. He then proceeds to get the most out of a generally outgunned but entirely local roster, sometimes sneaking into the playoffs and sometimes not.

Expect more of the same in 2006-07 from the Trailblazers as Rotundo hopes that his infectious enthusiasm rubs off on a squad of just two returning players and 11 freshmen.

“I think this will be the deepest team I’ve ever had here,” said Rotundo, entering his sixth year at the helm of the program. “We’re very athletic and very quick. And I think we can go eight, nine, 10 players deep, and I’ve never had that here.”

The Trailblazers got off to a fast start a year ago, winning six of their first eight games. But they cooled in the second semester to finish 9-13 overall and just missed out on the Region III playoffs by a single game.

In each of Rotundo’s first two years at NCCC, the Trailblazers made the playoffs. In each of the past three seasons, they’ve missed by one game.

He hopes that this lineup can put him back in the postseason.

“Our depth is the key,” he said. “That will allow me to play full-court man-to-man and trap, and we can do it the whole game. In the past, we’ve been limited by the shorter bench because I didn’t want to get kids tired out or in foul trouble.”

The key to the offense will be returning sophomore forward Ezra Scott (Niagara Catholic), who shot 46 percent from the field last year and averaged 13 points per game, which was fourth-best on the team. He also averaged 6.8 rebounds per contest, which was second on the team. Sophomore forward Sean Sittnick (Sherman), at 6-foot-3, also returns after playing a reserve role last season.

Everyone else is a freshman.

Rotundo has just two point guards on the team in Calvin Reed (Niagara Falls) and Kyle Seabert (Wilson). No matter which one starts, they’ll both see plenty of action. Those two also are the team’s top outside shooters, along with Justen Akins (North Tonawanda).

Up front, Rotundo will look to 6-4 swingman Ron Miner (Buffalo), 6-2 Mike Gompah (Sweet Home), 6-4 Darrenus Brundidge (Niagara Falls), 6-4 Kristen (pronounced Christian) Anderson (Seneca) and 6-1 Marcel Respress (Niagara Falls).

Rotundo also kept a trio of raw players who have stuck with the program, but he ultimately believes they can help the team. They include Jeremy Witherspoon (Niagara Falls), Nick Eckert (Lew-Port) and Brandon Renford (Niagara Falls).

“Our inexperience is the big thing,” Rotundo said. “Most of our players are freshmen, and I’m going to be asking them for a lot of minutes. Some of them might not be used to it because they weren’t the main players on their team in high school. The key will be taking care of the ball and creating mismatches. Then we’ll go as far as our athleticism can take us.”