After a disappointing 2024-2025 basketball season, the Morgan boys’ basketball team faces a long and uncertain offseason. Last winter season, the team finished with a six and fourteen record. As the team went throughout the season, they realized they were meeting none of their expectations or standards. So instead of dreading the upcoming season, the players and coaches used the offseason to hone their skills, foster chemistry, and reset their mindset.
Frank Rossi, the head coach, says his focus during this offseason has been on making sure that the boys are staying in shape and playing basketball. He pointed out a lot of the returning players aren’t multi-sport athletes, so it is easier for them to have time to play basketball than it would be for a multi-sport athlete. “It’s easier for Michael Drake or Dylan Cinquino, who don’t play any fall or spring sports, to work out with the team and show up. Rossi acknowledges that although other players do play other sports, and it makes it a little harder for them to show up, he totally understands.
Dylan Cinquino is the starting point guard, and Michael Dwake is the starting shooting guard. Cinquino led the team in scoring last year with the most points per game. Dwake was starting on varsity as a sophomore and is starting again this year.
Both Dylan and Dwake had an opportunity to showcase their skills and build chemistry together this past fall in their annual New Haven fall league.. “We joined a fall league in New Haven and did pretty well; we finished with an even record,” said junior Michael Dwake. “We played some tough teams that we definitely could have beaten, but it made us better as a team and prepared us for tough teams during the season.”
The team went 9 and 9 in the New Haven league, including a key loss against Cromwell, in which Dylan scored 24 points followed by Dwake with 15.
The team has a tough schedule this year with teams like Cromwell on January 2nd, Montville on December 8th, or Guilford on December 11th. During Christmas Break, Morgan hosts an annual Holiday tournament with teams from around Clinton. These are some conference teams, such as Old Saybrook, and some non-conference teams like Brandford.
The team lost seven seniors this past year including three star, and Cromwell will be a very good challenge for them, making it an important game. Cromwell and Morgan have always had close games like last year with Cromwe 60-49 and the year before that Morgan won 52-49. Cromwell has a very good guard Benjamin Burdick.
The team lost Wyatt Luke a very good guard for the team. Luke played basketball all four years and was a captain his senior year.
The season starts on the 19th of December against Valley Regional which is home. Then they play North Brandford home too. After that the Holiday tournament starts.
Standout player Dylan Cinquino added, “This season feels different. I’ve been working out every day and doing everything I can to help out my team.”
