2008-2009 Recap
Starting four sophomores and a freshman for most of the year, the AMCATS’ young team showed a lot of promise during the 2008-2009 season. Although the team finished 6-19 overall and 3-10 in the TCCC, they demonstrated that they could compete with the top teams in the Conference. The AMCATS captured impressive victories over both Endicott College and Roger Williams University for the first time since the 2000-2001 season. The club also showed the ability to battle back from adversity, trailing at halftime in three of their six victories, including a thrilling 18-point second half comeback versus Rutgers-Camden during the Rivier Tournament.
Possessing the ability to take over a game, shooting guard Chris Pinsonault (Marlboro, Mass.) led AMC with 246 points during his sophomore year, averaging 11.7 per game. Pinsonault also had a team-high 37 steals and 43 three-pointers, shooting a club-best .443 from behind the arc. During a phenomenal week in February, he averaged 32.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 steals, and 3.0 assists over a two-game span, leading the AMCATS to victories over Roger Williams University and New England College. Pinsonault shot an uncanny 24-31 (.774) from the field and an even more impressive 11-14 (.786) from behind the arc. For his outstanding play, Chris was named The Commonwealth Coast Conference Player of the Week and the Eastern Collegiate Athletics Conference (ECAC) Division III Player of the Week. Pinsonault is just one of a handful of players in AMC program history to capture the ECAC Player of the Week Award.
Center Derek Johnson (Worcester, Mass.) finished the season with a team-high 147 rebounds and 36 blocks, while finishing second on the team with 244 points, averaging 9.8 per contest. Johnson started the season strong and was named to the Rivier All-Tournament Team after averaging 18.0 points, 9.5 rebounds, and 1.5 blocks during the November tournament. Johnson will return for his junior season this year looking to instill more consistency to his game. DJ has the potential to be a breakout player for the AMCATS during the 09-10 season.
Point guard Junior De La Hoz (Lawrence, Mass.) ran the offense for the AMCATS in 08-09 and dished out a team-high 82 assists. Despite a lingering wrist injury, Junior started 24 of the teams 25 games, more than any other AMC player. With both Senior Captains leaving, De La Hoz will be expected to increase his role as a leader both on and off the court during his junior year.
Forwards Tyler Washington (Milford, Mass.) and Brad Peterson (North Kingstown, R.I.) completed the starting lineup during the 08-09 season. Peterson fought his way into the starting lineup as a freshman and averaged 8.0 points and 4.6 rebounds per game while finishing second on the team with 18 blocks. He was very efficient at the offensive end, leading the club with a .503 shooting percentage, sinking 73 of 145 attempts.
Sophomores Victor Ramos (Worcester, Mass.) and Ryan Joyal (Marlboro, Mass.) also made valuable contributions this season. Ramos played the role of the always important sixth-man for the AMCATS this season, while Joyal was consistently the first big man off the bench. Ramos played in 24 of AMC’s 25 games, starting in 11 of them. He gave the AMCATS a high-energy defender off the bench and also hit over 41% of his shots at the offensive end. Joyal played in 21 games this season while averaging nearly 18 minutes per contest. He is a hard worker underneath the basket at both ends of the court and finished the 08-09 season as the team’s best rebounder, averaging 6.0 boards per game.
Co-Captains Henry Rose (Coventry, R.I.) and Brandon DiTullio (Webster, Mass.) gave the AMCATS valuable senior leadership throughout the year. Both were recipients of the program’s Coach’s Award over the past two seasons, and were quality role models for the younger players on the team to follow.
Kurtis Bixby (Albion, Maine), Colin Purdon (Putnam, Conn.), and John Barbale (Charlton, Mass.) also made valuable contribution during the ’08-’09 season, giving Coach Conrad the benefits of having a deep bench.
For the first time in several years, the AMC roster will boast a solid core of upper classmen with seven juniors and one senior returning for the ‘09-‘10 season. Head Coach Shawn Conrad has also recruited a very talented freshman class that can contribute to the team immediately. Growing together as a team, the AMCATS will continue their goal of restoring tradition to the AMC basketball program. |
Pride hold off late run by AMCATS, 66-59
 Rose and DiTullio were honored on Senior Day
Box Score
PAXTON, Mass.- Sophomore Derrick Neal (Boston, Mass.) led all players with 23 points while grabbing a team-high 10 rebounds to lead Regis College to a 66-59 victory over Anna Maria College in a The Commonwealth Coast Conference matchup during Senior day at The Fuller Activities Center on Saturday afternoon. With the win, The Pride finish the season at 10-14 overall and 4-9 in the TCCC, while the AMCATS end the year at 6-19 overall and 3-10 in conference play.
As part of the Senior Day festivities, seniors Henry Rose (Coventry, R.I.) and Brandon DiTullio (Webster, Mass.) were celebrated for their many contributions to the AMC Athletic Program over the years. Rose and DiTullio were both Team Captains and served as excellent role models for the younger players on the team.
The Pride came out on fire, hitting three of their first four shots from beyond the arc, to build an 11-0 lead in the game’s opening three minutes. The Pride didn’t stop there, continuing to stroke the three-ball with Neal leading the way, hitting all four of his early attempts from downtown. Regis would use this hot shooting to build a commanding 20-3 advantage with under 14 minutes to play in the half.
The AMCATS slowly chipped away at the Regis lead and eventually battled back to within nine at 31-22 with under four minutes remaining in the period. But AMC would only manage to score two more points in the half and went into the locker room trailing 36-24.
The two teams traded baskets to start the second half, and after a layup by James Cooper (Philadelphia, Pa.) the Pride held a 14-point lead.
Refusing to go away quietly, the AMCATS went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to eight with under ten minutes left on the clock. The Pride struck back, and after sophomore Phil Alibrandi (York, Maine) stole the ball and finished at the other end with a fast break layup, Regis was back up by 12.
Still, the AMCATS wouldn’t go away, and responded with a 9-0 run capped by Junior De La Hoz (Lawerence, Mass.) who stripped the ball away at half court and took it the rest of the way for a layup to bring the AMCATS back within three.
Regis held strong down the stretch, scoring the next eight straight points, including three each from Neal and Cooper, to capture the hard earned 66-59 victory.
Neal led the way for the Pride with his team-high 23 points and 10 rebounds while junior Jesse Vega (Pawtucket, R.I.) added 14 points and six boards. Cooper also had a strong all-around game scoring eight points while adding six rebounds and four assists.
Sophomore Derek Johnson (Worcester, Mass.) paced the AMCATS with 11 points and a game-high 12 rebounds and three blocks. De La Hoz chipped in with 11 points of his own while senior Henry Rose added 10 points and five assists.
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Pinsonault wins ECAC DIII New England POW Award
 Pinsonault averaged 32.5 pts, 5.5 reb, and 4.5 steals
ECAC Players of the Week / TCCC Players of the Week
PAXTON, Mass.- In addition to capturing The Commonwealth Coast Conference (TCCC) Player of the Week Award on Monday, sophomore Chris Pinsonault (Marlboro, Mass.) was announced as the recipient of the Eastern College Athletics Conference (ECAC) Division III New England Player of the Week Award on Tuesday. Chris's stellar play sparked the AMCATS to conference victories over both Roger Williams University and New England College.
Pinsonault was outstanding during the two game stretch last week, averaging 32.5 points, 5.5 rebounds, 4.5 steals, and 3.0 assists per contest. He shot an uncanny 24-31 (.774) from the field and an even more impressive 11-14 (.786) from behind the arc.
The sophomore led the AMCATS to an 80-70 win versus Roger Williams University on Tuesday, scoring 31 points on 11-13 shooting from the floor while draining 5-6 three-pointers. In addition to leading all players in scoring, Pinsonault also grabbed a game-high eight rebounds. With AMC trailing by two at the half, Chris exploded for 21 second half points, hitting 7-8 from the floor while sinking all three of his attempts from downtown, to spark Anna Maria to a ten point victory.
Pinsonault continued his hot shooting the following game versus New England College, hitting 13-18 from the field and 6-8 from behind the arc, to total 34 points on the afternoon. Not only did he once again lead all players in scoring, but also contributed a game-high seven steals in the win. Chris saved his best for the second half, scoring 18 points on 7-9 shooting while grabbing three steals to lead the AMCATS to victory.
Anna Maria is now 6-17 overall and 3-8 in the TCCC. The AMCATS will return to the court on Wednesday when they travel to take on Western New England College at 7:30 pm.
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