'He sees the best in everybody.' Coach Bresciani has Keefe Tech aiming toward playoffs again
FRAMINGHAM – Down 12 points and minus the team’s top scorer, rebounder and “hypest guy,” Keefe Tech faced an uphill climb.
But the Broncos simply went into “we’ve been through worse” mode.
Three-pointers in bunches by George Anastos, a hustling under-the-basket save from Jason Starowicz, an Anthony Venezia block from behind and a timely 3-ball from Noah Lyons. The efforts – plus a game-high 21 points courtesy of Eidan Toppa - all pulled the Broncos to within a possession of forcing Monday’s game with Ashland into overtime.
Even though the visiting Clockers emerged with 51-47 victory, Keefe Tech continued to channel its sideline mentor during another successful season on Winter Street. It’s a long way from 4-26, the program’s record in the two seasons prior to COVID-19.
When Keefe’s Venezia and Starowicz were asked the catalyst for the Broncos’ turnaround, they answered simultaneously: “Coach.”
Kevin Bresciani took over the program two years ago, immediately ending a 10-year playoff drought. Last year represented a huge gallop for the Broncos: a 17-win season that included Keefe’s first home playoff win in 11 years and a State Voke School finals appearance.
What makes Bresciani such a key factor?
“He makes everyone tougher,” Venezia said. “He works us hard and keeps up going. He knows how to talk to us.”
“He sees the best in everybody,” Starowicz said.
On Monday, when Ashland surged to a 39-27 lead behind the hot shooting of Robbie Rudisill (team-high 14 points), the Broncos looked back to last Jan. 26 when they fell behind by 18 points to Mystic Valley in an eventual 52-50 victory.
“You just have to fight your way back up,” said Venezia. “We’ve fought through and came back from worse, so we knew we could come back.”
“Knowing we’ve been down by a lot more,” said Starowicz. “We just came back and fought for it.”
Ashland holds off Keefe Tech rally
A pair of 3-pointers in the third quarter by Anastos (12 points, all on 3-pointers) and a Toppa breakaway layup brought the Broncos to within 42-37 heading into the fourth. The Clockers led by seven, but their advantage slowly slipped away as Venezia sank a pair of free throws to make it 46-44.
Ashland went back up by six before Toppa swished a 3 with 20 seconds to go before two missed free throws at the other end handed Keefe a chance to tie. But a 3-pointer from the left elbow found the back of the rim and the rebound was secured by Ashland’s Aryen Feenstra with three seconds remaining.
Carlos Espino (12 points) made a free throw to clinch the win for the Clockers. Hugo Rossi (11) also hit double figures for Ashland (5-6).
“It didn’t work out for us tonight,” Venezia said. “But we tried to give it our best.”
“That was one of the things we talked about downstairs in the locker room,” Bresciani said. “Before the game, during the game and after the game: playing a full 32 minutes of hard basketball. I think my guys did a really good job of that tonight.”
Keefe misses production, noise from injured Logan Greenlaw
The Broncos started the season 6-1, but have dropped three consecutive games. Two of those losses came without junior captain Logan Greenlaw, who averages 14 points per game. The 6-foot-5 power forward is also the team’s top rebounder, but is out with an ankle injury. He's expected back by the end of the month.
“It’s a lot tougher without him,” Venezia said. “He’s our biggest guy.”
Greenlaw is also the team’s biggest presence in the locker room.
“He’s our hypest guy. He’s a great leader,” Starowicz said. “He’s just great at getting us up; music, being loud, getting us energized.”
Asked what type of tunes the team uses for pre-game hype, Venezia said the genre was irrelevant.
“You don’t really hear the music over Logan,” he said.
No matter. When the music stops, the Broncos are full go.
“The program has turned around the last couple of years,” Bresciani said. “We’re a competitive, playoff team and it’s because of the guys I have in the locker room. They’ve put in a lot of hard work and dedication and it’s starting to pay off.”
Tim Dumas is a multimedia journalist for the Daily News. He can be reached at tdumas@wickedlocal.com. Follow him on Twitter @TimDumas.
This article originally appeared on MetroWest Daily News: Bresciani has Keefe Tech boys basketball aiming toward playoffs again
