Trojans coach Golembiewski getting to know new team
California’s boys basketball team has a new coach, and the Trojans will have a lot of new faces in the starting lineup.
Greg Golembiewski has coached in some capacity for nearly two decades. He will try to put together a winning lineup from a mixture of upper and lower classmen.
“(The biggest challenge) is getting used to the kids and them getting used to me,” Golembiewski said. “I wasn’t hired until the end of July, so I missed undergrads and summer league.
“Not really knowing the kids, and them not knowing my offenses and defenses and some of the rules is a challenge, but everything seems to going OK.”
Senior Ben Wilson saw significant playing time last season, and averaged approximately eight points per game.
“He’s going to run the offense at the point,” Golembiewski said. “He’ll be one of our go-to guys. He’s a shooter, but he’s capable of running the point.”
After Wilson, Golembiewski expects several players to see plenty of game action, including seniors Drew Miller, Colin Phillips and Braden Petrucci, juniors Derek Hammitt and Austin Grillo, sophomore Cochise Ryan and freshmen Matt Tounto, Nathan O’Savage and Jaden Zuzak.
Several of the above players just finished football season. The Trojans advanced to the WPIAL Class A semifinals before losing to Imani Christian.
“Our guards are very quick, very athletic,” Golembiewski said. “We’re trying to teach them to see the court as a point-guard would, and to know where to go without the ball … that’s my job to teach them. Half the battle is they’re athletic, and some of them can shoot.
“We’re not real tall inside. Speed’s probably going to be our main ingredient. We’ll probably play a lot of full-court and half-court trap, and look to get a lot of points off our defense.”
California will compete in Section 2-AA, along with Bentworth, Carmichaels, Chartiers-Houston, Fort Cherry, Frazier and Jefferson-Morgan.
“I would say Fort Cherry and Chartiers-Houston are probably the favorites,” Golembiewski said. “Other than those two, it’s probably wide open.
“If the boys can get used to my system, we can be very competitive in the section. Who knows? We may be right there. I don’t think anyone is going to run away with it.”
California begins play Dec. 8 at the Geibel Catholic Tip-Off Tournament. The Trojans will be joined by Jefferson-Morgan, Mapletown and Geibel.
“It’s important to begin and play strong,” Golembiewski said. “I always like to come out of the gate strong, but I try to measure the season based on each and every game.
“We want to try to win as many games as we can, a section title, then the playoffs. Individually, every player is different … as long as they know their role as a team player whether it’s as a starter or coming off the bench.
“Having a uniform doesn’t guarantee anything other than you’re on the team.”