Despite the 4-20 record, the boys’ basketball team was successful in rebuilding a varsity team — mentally and physically.
Coach Tarik El-Bassiouni reflected on two key players, “Alex and Marv lead this team by just continuing to show up with a positive attitude and work hard every single day. No matter how challenging the season was at times, they never quit. Both Alex and Marv put the team first and were always willing to take on whatever role was needed to try help this team be successful.”
Stroudsburg started with only two returning seniors and an abundance of youth. Unlike last season, the majority of the team were seniors with the exception of three players.
Seniors Alex Pacitti and Marvin Dorvilus were the only returning players. They rolled in with seven juniors: Amari Lewis, Jarmal Patterson, Marquise Long, Essam Alrefai, Deon Davis, Kameron Knight, and Nazir Williams. The team rounded out with four sophomores: Jarel Jackson, Brandon Quintana, Michael Gilmore, and Josh Ivers-Green, and two freshmen with Tae El-Bassiouni and Nate English.
Despite the loss of so many seniors, this team made polished strides on the court.
Tae El-Bassiouni, a freshman, was one of the best three-point shooters in District 11, knocking down three (or more) 3-pointers on more than nine different occasions this season.
Kameron Knight was a defensive wizard, having 2+ steals on over eight occasions this season.
Alex Pacitti was also a weapon beyond the arc having 11+ games with more than two 3-pointers. Pacitti recently announced he has committed to King’s University to play baseball.
Jarel Jackson was also a sniper this season with 8+ games with more the two 3-pointers.
Overall, this young team played well and all showed flashes of greatest throughout the season. Look beyond the season record and see the character, determination, and resilience this team demonstrated.
Seniors Dorvilus and Pacitti took on a roster full of raw talent and demonstrated leadership on and off the court. They faced the difficult task of reframing each loss into a lesson.
