New coach has SBHS team pointed in right direction
By george albano
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY South Brunswick’s Joe Kannampasha goes up for a lay-up during the Vikings’ March 3 game in Old Bridge.

Dave Turco is positive he’s been down this road before. The first-year South Brunswick High boys’ basketball coach sees all the same signs, all the same speed bumps that he saw before. He’s sure of it.

The 32-year-old Turco took over as head coach at SBHS after six successful seasons at Carteret High School, where he went 116-36, including the 2000 Central Jersey Group II state championship in his fourth season.

But it was his first season at Carteret, 1996-97, which reminds Turco so much of his inaugural season at South Brunswick. The first class of freshmen he inherited at his old school was the foundation of that state title team four seasons later.

Now Turco hopes history has a way of repeating itself. The Vikings went 13-11 in his first season, but the new coach likes what he sees from a number of talented underclassmen who could also become title contenders before they’re done.

CHRIS KELLY South Brunswick senior Chris Brown pulls up for a baseline jumper in front of the swarming Old Bridge defense during their Central Jersey Group IV quarterfinal game on March 3 in Old Bridge.

"One of the main reasons for coming over to South Brunswick was because I knew they had some very good youth," said Turco, a 1988 graduate of Carteret, where he helped lead both the basketball and baseball teams to state sectional titles. "I hope to build something here and do the same things we did at Carteret."

There are a few differences this time around, however. For one thing, South Brunswick is a Group IV school. But coaching and trying to succeed at a bigger school is one of the things that lured Turco. He even brought two of his assistant coaches from Carteret, Mike Zirpolla and brother Bob Turco, over with him.

And instead of the freshmen that greeted them six years ago, the new coaching staff is excited about the sophomores and juniors who shone this season. Who knows, maybe the winning will come even sooner than everyone thinks.

The South Brunswick boys’ basketball program is certainly no stranger to winning. The Vikings went 23-2 last year, including an 18-1 mark and their first-ever Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division championship.

But that team graduated its six top players and had a completely different look this season.

"We knew coming in this year things could be difficult because of our inexperience and because we were putting in a new system," Turco said. "But overall I was pretty pleased with how hard the kids worked and how much time they put into the program."

Playing for their third head coach in three years wasn’t easy to overcome, either.

"I think one of the main reasons we had a winning season was because the kids stuck together," said Turco, who replaced Hayward Vereen, who left after only one season. "It was a new regime for them and a different system, but the kids really responded."

The Vikings were 9-5 at one point this season, following a four-game winning streak. They slipped a little down the stretch, but still finished the regular season 12-9 to earn the 15th seed in the GMC tournament.

In the first round, South Brunswick beat Turco’s former team, No. 18 Carteret, 43-39, before losing to second-seed New Brunswick. Then in the state tournament, the Vikings fell to Old Bridge 44-40 in the first round.

"We ended up losing six games by six points or less," Turco said. "It pretty much came down to experience in those games."

The one experienced player South Brunswick had back from last year was Chris Brown.

"He brought us the experience. He was used to playing in big games from last year," Turco said of the 6-foot-2 forward who averaged eight points and eight rebounds a game. "He wasn’t really a big scorer, but he did all the little things. Whenever we needed the ball, he would make a defensive stop or take a charge or dive on a loose ball.

"And as far as his leadership went, he was great, especially down the stretch."

Another key senior was point guard Joe Kannampuzha, who averaged 7.5 assists a game and may very well have been the team’s MVP.

"He didn’t play varsity last year, but as a senior he started every game," Turco said. "He really took over, running the offense and getting us in the right defense."

Two more seniors who played important roles were Tyrell Thompson and James Promise, a pair of guard/forwards who came off the bench.

"They just played hard and did the things we needed to do," Turco said. "And they were senior leaders for all the young guys we had.

"Even though I’m excited about the young players we have, I’m sad with the fact that I only got to spend one year with these seniors. They were really good kids."

Meanwhile, junior Cliff Breese, a 6-4 shooting guard, led the Vikings in scoring with 13.2 points a game. Then there was Danny Stonkus, a 6-8 sophomore, who averaged 7.6 points and 12.5 rebounds a game.

"He also had several games this season with double figures in blocked shots," Turco noted.

Three more underclassmen who came off the bench were juniors Nana Ampin and Amin Gillespie, and sophomore Kyle McKendrick.

"They are some guys we’ll be counting on next year," Turco said. "We ended up playing 11 or 12 guys every game, which hopefully will help us next year."

Funny, but that’s very similar to what Dave Turco was saying six years ago.