`Coach Mazz' fits at Groton.

Byline: Kevin O'Malley

COLUMN: Boys' Basketball

When The Groton School lured legendary Leominster High School basketball coach Ron Mazzaferro out of retirement in the winter of 2002, the Zebras were certainly not accustomed to winning many basketball games in the ultra-competitive, 16-team Independent School League against the likes of Thayer Academy, St. Mark's and Lawrence Academy.

As a matter of fact, the Zebras didn't win a single game the season prior to Mazzaferro's arrival.

The long-time Leominster coach, on the other hand, wasn't accustomed to losing, having led the Blue Devils to the postseason perennially during his long and illustrious career in the Plastics City.

But Mazzaferro and the school did see eye to eye on the importance of wins and loses coming secondary to the overall development of high school student athletes, however, creating the perfect fit between the coach and the elite academic institution.

"They were really down here," Mazzaferro said, "and after two years off I found my second wind."

He also found Asenso Ampim, a 6-foot-8, 215 pound forward, who spent five years developing under Mazzaferro before enrolling at Columbia University this season.

"If we still had a 6-7, 6-8 big man we could compete against anybody," Mazzaferro said, "but let's face it, some of the teams we face are just better than us."

In addition to developing the whole student in accordance with The Groton School's philosophy, Mazzaferro has also managed to win some games, even going so far as to add top-level New England Prep School Athletic Council Class B basketball powerhouses like Cushing Academy and Holderness this season after going .500 last season.

"I am so pleased that these kids are able to be competitive against the caliber of competition we face," Mazzaferro said. "Winning seasons will take care of themselves. If we can go .500 in the ISL, we are really doing something."

Leominster native Andrew Daigneault, a 6-2 sophomore swingman, set a school record with 42 points in the game while also hauling down 10 rebounds.

Daigneault isn't the only local player enjoying success at Groton, as Holden native Kyle Goodwin has thrived since joining the starting five at the power forward position.

Senior co-captain Alex Karwoski, a 6-4 native of Hollis, N.H., starts at center, with fellow captain junior Tom Raymen and junior Nick Hennrikus steaming in the backcourt.

Raymen adds a bit of international flavor, as he hails from West Sussex, England, while Hennrikus calls Fresno, Calif., home.

Stow native Michael Phillips, fellow senior Andy Surinach, Fitchburg native Cole Papakyrikos and fellow junior Gordon Dean, plus sophomores Tanner Keefe and Immanuel Adeola round out the Groton roster, while Harvard graduate Henry Walters is assistant coach.

The Zebras finished the first semester on a high note, coming back from a 69-32 loss to Cushing in the first round of the Lawrence-Groton Holiday Tournament to record back-to-back wins over Thayer and Cheshire and improve to 3-4.

Smith leads Warriors

Former Leominster Blue Devil Nicholas G. Smith hasn't forgotten the many lessons he learned during his three years under Mazzaferro, bringing the same "whole person" approach to his job as the head coach of the Narragansett Warriors.

"I didn't know then how important the things Coach Mazz taught us were, but I certainly do now," Smith said. "Not only in the coach I am today, but also the person I am today."

Smith looks forward to hearing from his former coach after not always enjoying hearing Mazzaferro's voice while he played for him.

"He was always yelling at me in practice and now he calls me every time he needs to move his television," Smith said. "I've moved that television three times now and he always offers to pay me. One of these times I'm going to take it just to see what happens, but I'm scared he might have me running reminders or doing pushups again.

"I didn't like him much when I played for him. I was never so scared as when I broke the rim with my first dunk at Leominster High and he turned that into a teaching lesson. Now I have him on my summer basketball camp staff and look forward to hearing from him, even if it is just to move his TV."

Another former Mazzaferro pupil, Jon Tammaro, assists Smith after serving as Mazzaferro's assistant at The Groton School and sees a lot of his former coach in the way they are trying to build the Narragansett program.

Smith's team has struggled after going to overtime for wins over Ayer and Mahar to start the season. Since then, Narragansett has dropped games to Top-10 teams like West Boylston and BMR, as well as Division 2 foes Nashoba and Gardner.

The Warriors (2-5) host Hudson at 7 tonight in their second league game in the wide-open Mid-Wach C.

"It's great to play in a league that on any given night any team can be beat," said Smith. "The league is truly wide-open this year. As a Division 1 player in high school, I always thought the Mid-Wach C was weak. It was really an eye-opening experience."

Narragansett is led by senior Pete Beaulieu, who has emerged not only as the team's leader on the floor, but also in school where he is currently ranked third in his class.

Junior center Ian DelleChiaie, a Mid-Wach football all-star lineman, has improved leaps and bound under Smith's tutelage, coming alive against Gardner on Wednesday, utilizing his 6-8 frame to dominate the interior against the Wildcats.

Seniors Dana Beane, Jeff Flis and Mike Cassano provide a solid nucleus of experienced veterans, but Smith still sees their best basketball being in their future.

Sophomores Tom Beaulieu, Steve Ciaramitaro, a three-sport standout, and Nate Miller are all seeing substantial playing time, while juniors Alex Travisano, Seth Braun, Kyle Quinlan and Tony Dow round out the Warrior roster.