Interview With House Basketball Champion, Brent Eppley
NEIRAD enilno edition
The DHS varsity team has probably coveted many of the YMCA House Basketball stars who opt not to suit up for the Blue Wave and instead chose to spend Sundays on the Middlesex court. They go for sheer fun over remote FCIAC possibilities. Sean Gill talked with one of the Y stars about his choice to go House.
So, your team the Lakers just won the House basketball championship. How does it feel to win top House honors in your last season ever?
Well, it was definitely a special, special game because of the way the game ended with it being such a close game it definitely was exciting to come out on top in my last House basketball game ever. Ever.
What were you thinking when senior Charlie Taylor hit a half court shot right before halftime during the final?
I was running back on defense and I saw him shoot and my first thought was that it was gonna hit the tippy top of the backboard and then I saw it hit off the backboard and go in and I knew the entire place was gonna go crazy because no one wanted us to win.
Do you think the momentum of the game changed when Charlie made that shot?
No, it did not give them momentum because it was a lucky shot. Even though the place went crazy it was because the odds of making that shot were one in a million so I don’t think it really boosted their momentum.
You won all three playoff games by three points or fewer. What gave your team the edge?
I’d have to say it was our key contributors other than George (Benitez) and I that really won us the games, key players like juniors Dan Pidgeon, Sam Nelson, Kevin Eppley, Michael Sawitsky, Tucker Morehouse, Carter Cordner and senior Sebastian Kopp. The key bench players stepped up in the big games when we needed them.
How many Championships have you won in your House career?
High school only or since third grade what are we talking?
Since third grade, your whole House career.
I think I won six… I won three in my high school career… wait let me check I’ve got my trophy case right here… One sec this might take a while. 2006, 2007, that’s two, and then there’s one back here…wait that’s not mine. Got one here that’s three, I got five.
That’s impressive.
I’m beginning to think it was me and not the team.
How many Finals have made?
Seven finals and I won five. Wait let’s see. I made it every year in high school. It’s either six or seven.
Wow you’ve gotten to so many you can’t keep track?
Yeah. I know. I lost in 7th grade because I had Hebes (Class of '09 grad Eric Heberton) on my team.
How many seasons of House have you played?
10 seasons.
You were one of the winning-est House players ever; why didn’t you play travel or DHS varsity?
Well, it started my freshman year with the coach his name escapes me… it started freshman year when I didn’t make the freshman team out of 40 kids who tried out and then my sophomore year I tried out with the new coach O’Donnell and he decided that I wasn’t tall enough to play so I got cut so I just decided to do other sports and do House, and it was, I feel, a better experience for me.
Why is your game such a good fit for House but not for Travel or varsity?
I’d say basketball gets intense and I love basketball and it’s probably my favorite. House league you can go and have a good time and it’s not about winning and losing until the playoffs when usually that’s when I start trying and obviously that’s how I’ve made it to seven finals in 10 seasons.
With former travel basketball players choosing to play House instead of JV and Varsity, the level of play increased significantly over the past few years. What was the secret to your continued success?
The reason for the Lakers’ success this year was probably (senior) George Benitez. Whenever we were in a tough situation George would always come through in the clutch and hit a big three or hit a big basket and he would just take over the game and be dominant so we managed to clinch the #1 seed in the playoffs and go all the way.
What was your favorite team to play on?
All teams I’ve played on were pretty special I don’t think I had one favorite team to play on. If I had to choose I’d probably say my 5th grade House team just because I was still in elementary school and I had a bunch of friends on my team. Either 5th grade or freshman year. Actually go with the Warriors, freshman year, because there was really no weak link on our team, our team was filled with talent from (Class of 09 grads) Teddy Malley to Mike Mosca, it was an all around solid team, especially the coach Joe Marzano, he was the best.
Least favorite team?
Never had a least favorite team. Whenever I played basketball I always had passion to play the game it never bothered me who was on my team I just love playing the game and being a baller.
Can you remember your best game ever?
I have two. One of my most memorable was 8th grade in a playoff game my friend Andrea Argenio drove the ball down the lane with 10 seconds left and we were down by two. Hhe passed the ball out to me behind the three-point arc and with five seconds left I hit the shot to win the game and we went on to win the championship. My other best game, my best all around game was this year against the Celtics during the regular season. I remember that I was just shooting the ball, I was hot, I kept making everything, it felt like almost every shot was going in, and I ended up with a career-high 24 points that game, so I’d say that was my best shooting performance ever, and a memorable game
Who has consistently been your toughest opponent?
You can’t pick out a tough player because in House you get players like me. I had games where I’d miss all and get two points and I had some games where I made all my shots and got 24 points, but consistently I’d say the best players I played against are seniors Brandon Tripodi or Dennis Conetta.
What does basketball hold for you in the future?
Well, right now I’m looking to go to Seton Hall University for the major I want and they have a pretty good basketball team so I mean if they need some players then I’m sure they’ve had to have heard of my House basketball performances so if they need players they’ll ask me to play for their team so I’ll probably play in college at the Division 1 level.
That’s it, and final comments?
Lebron James to NY (Knicks). Wait, Lebron AND D-Wade (Dwayne Wade) to New York.
T-MAC (Tracy McGrady) in NY. What do you think?
I personally think TMAC has a lot of talent but he seems to be injury prone which is a negative to having him on our team but I’m assuming that after this year they will release him and as I said before Lebron and D-Wade will come to New York.
