For St. Joseph basketball, it’s all about taking that next step
The Wildcats' three losses have been to the Nos. 2, 10 and 11 teams in South Jersey.
The progression has been steady, but that next step to the top is always the most difficult. Still, that remains the goal for St. Joseph (Hammonton) boys’ basketball program.
The one big step the team has made is being taken very seriously at a school that is viewed as a football school.
And that is no small feat.
St. Joseph is still, indeed, a football school. This season, the Wildcats won their 20th state football title since the creation by the NJSIAA of Non-Public state championships in 1993.
And, still, the basketball program has made its own niche. That the Wildcats are 11-3 and coach Paul Rodio isn’t satisfied shows the progress. St. Joseph is ranked 12th in the Inquirer’s South Jersey Top 25.
A few years ago, Rodio would have been doing cartwheels to be ranked so high. Now, he is justifiably looking for more.
“We want to be able to contend,” Rodio said. “We think we are there, but we need to win the big game.”
Rodio, son of the legendary St. Augustine coach of the same name, has won plenty of games. At 28, he is in his fifth season at St. Joseph, and there has been an upward trajectory. The Wildcats have gone from 16-11 his first year to consecutive 19-7 seasons and then 21-7 last year.
“When I first got here, everybody would circle St. Joe on the schedule,” he said. “Not that it was a joke, but people were too comfortable playing us.”
That has certainly changed.
“We have become relevant,” Rodio said. “Now we want to get to the next level. We want to be Wildwood Catholic.”
That won’t be easy, but at least the Wildcats will have a chance to avenge a 78-73 loss to No. 2 Wildwood Catholic when St. Joseph visits the Crusaders on Feb. 8.
On the bright side, St. Joseph didn’t play its best game the first time, committing 23 turnovers and seeing four starters foul out, and was still competitive.
The other losses were to No. 11 Millville, 54-49, and on Wednesday at No. 10 Pleasantville, 80-73.
“People have realized it is not a walk in the park to play us,” said senior guard Marcellus Ross, who is averaging 23 points and recently committed to Division II Caldwell University.
Malik Bailey, a 6-10 senior who missed last season because of knee surgery, is back but still rounding into form. He will be a crucial component in the next several weeks.
Senior point guard Ian Brown has been a true team leader
“He controls our game and is the glue, and when he is out, we don’t look as right,” Rodio said.
The other two starters are 6-8 junior Alanas Urbonas, who arrived from Kalipeda, Lithuania, after spending last year in Canada, and 6-3 senior Corey Blackwell. Jordan Stafford, a 6-1 sophomore, is among the key reserves.
There are still plenty of challenges awaiting the Wildcats. First up will be the highly competitive Cape Atlantic Tournament.
If that isn’t enough, the Wildcats compete in a loaded South Non-Public B field that includes defending sectional champion Ranney and Wildwood Catholic.
“First we have the CAL and then the state tournament and I can’t wait,” Bailey said.
It used to be that opponents couldn’t wait to face the Wildcats.
Now, that isn’t the case.