Dennis Kazimir is in his first season as Mater Dei Prep’s boys’ basketball coach.
He is also working with a really young roster, featuring only four seniors.
The Seraphs are learning together. Yet, despite their youth and inexperience, they are winning a fair amount of games.
Mater Dei is 8-5 overall and 6-1 in Shore Conference’s B Central Division play. Its only division loss came to the Ranney School, one of the the top teams in New Jersey, 73-33, on Jan. 15 in New Monmouth.
Kazimir’s team is playing well overall. It just struggles to stop teams with more experience and talent. Mater Dei allowed more than 70 points in three of its five defeats.
But the Seraphs have played lockdown defense in their eight victories, holding six of those opponents under 50 points, and two to less than 30.
Kazimir does not have any standout players. So, for Mater Dei to win, it needs to continue playing great defense.
“We got a great group of kids. With 12 new guys in the program, this is their first opportunity to really be coached,” Kazimir said. “We’ve come a long way since November.”
Mater Dei does have a few offensive threats, and a balanced attack.
Sean Turner (13.8 points per game), Pete Gorman (12.5) and Tahaj Parland (11.1) are all averaging double digit points. Gorman and Turner are making more than one three pointer per contest. Eight other Seraphs players have also scored.
Just like on defense, the Seraphs can execute the team dynamic. They just do not have that one player who can elevate the team score. The squad has only broken 60 points twice in 13 games.
“I’m happy with all our guys. They come in with a great attitude every day,” Kazimir said. “They are energetic. They want to be coached and get better. And they care a lot about representing this school and community.”
Under previous coach Ben Gamble, Mater Dei won the Shore Conference Tournament championship in 2016 and 2017, beating Christian Brothers Academy, 50-43, in ’16 and Marlboro High School, 54-41, in ’17.
Last winter, though, the Seraphs fell to Ranney in the Shore Conference Tournament championship game, 52-28, and in the NJSIAA Non-Public B South semifinals, 77-60.
Gamble left to coach Marist High School in Bayonne after last season, ending a successful era.
The first winter of the Kazimir era has been pretty successful, too. But as the Jan. 15 game proved, Mater Dei is still far behind Ranney–which is the case of every school in the Shore Conference.
Kazimir, though, is not focused on his team’s chief rival. Not yet, at least. Mater Dei has to compete against itself for now.
“We just have to grow, believe in one another, understand what a relentless mindset really is and take that approach to every possession,” Kazimir said. “They need to slow it down in their heads. We have to transfer it from practice to the court a little better.”
“It’s the first time they’ve had to do it. We’re asking a lot of them,” Kazimir added. “But they are up to the challenge. They’ll come to practice tomorrow with a great attitude.”
Mater Dei will get back on the court at Asbury Park High School on Jan. 22. Tipoff is set for 5:30 p.m.
