As the boys varsity basketball season opens at Mineola High School, a new energy exists. The hiring of Jim Hegmann (Mineola American, November 15, 2006) as the new coach along with a competitively realigned conference placement gives inspiration to restore Mustang basketball to its former glory. Hegmann, a career hoopster from Mineola, has been tutored by some of the finest minds in Long Island basketball (Tim Cluess, George Bruns and Rob Pavinelli among them) and is preaching a game plan of aggressive end-to-end basketball. Fans will be treated to 32 minutes of reckless abandon each and every night.

For 2006-2007, sanity reigned among the Nassau County competition committee. Newly established conferences matching teams of similar ability will lead to a balanced series of games throughout the league schedule. The Mustangs have been placed in Class A Conference VI along with Clarke, New Hyde Park, Seaford and Division Avenue (Levittown). Conference V crossover games will be played against Valley Stream North and South, Hewlett, and Plainedge. Non-league contests include a home and away (Island Garden) series against the Independent League's Waldorf School, a trip to the East Meadow Holiday Tournament and the season opener against Mepham High School. The highlights of this year's campaign are a Christmas week game on the floor of Madison Square Garden (versus Bellmore Kennedy) and the annual Reggie Carter Night festivities. Some foes will be familiar and others will be brand new. Regardless, this year's Mustangs will present a battle to all who take the hardwood.

Last season's seventh place conference finish bears no resemblance to this year's prospects. Gone are the multi-game sets against powerhouse teams like Floral Park and Westbury. A core of returning starters and limited losses to graduation has the Mustangs brimming with confidence. The key to the team is the play of junior co-captain and point guard TJ Gessner. Gessner was a sophomore starter logging long minutes in his baptism last year and will be counted on to create on offense while providing opportunities for others. senior co-captain Chris Orlando returns after a one season sabbatical to complete his career on the Mineola parquet. Orlando's leadership and experience anchors a revised frontcourt. Junior transfer Joe Spollen, local boy comes home, enters Mineola from the Kellenberg Firebirds bringing sorely missed size under the basket. Spollen's sweet jumper, wide wingspan and presence in the lane will aid a squad short on height. Sammy Seda, one of last year's leading scoring options, moves out of the backcourt but can finish from anywhere on the court. Sophomore TJ Winters is a defensive specialist with perimeter range who becomes the second underclassman to crack the starting lineup in successive years.

Youth will be key. Complementing the starting quintet is junior guard Terry Mooney who became a valuable varsity promotion last season. Mineola will employ a "power forward by committee" rotation with juniors Michael Diglio and Zack Chichi sharing the post with Orlando. Junior Alec Shoenholz will chip in around the circle. Hegmann could invoke various formats and will not be afraid to use a Jay Wright-inspired four guard look at times.

The conference crown has no clear favorite. All four teams are virtually even and no single dominant player leads the division. Non-league and crossover games will provide stiff competition especially from John Kenny of Valley Stream North and Mike Butigian of Waldorf. Athletic director Ralph Amitrano believes Hegmann could not have inherited a better situation. Whatever the season's outcome, the new conference alignment will not provide a kindly post-season seeding but will produce an underdog darling.

Rebounds: Tickets for the December 27 Madison Square Garden contest are on sale from any Varsity player or through the Athletic Department at the High School...Ticket purchases include admission for the High School game and the Holiday Festival including Hofstra, Boston, St. John's and St. Joseph's Universities for the following evening...Reggie Carter Night honors the Mineola High School guidance counselor and former New York Knick and St. Johns player who had a tremendous impact on the youth of Mineola prior to his untimely death...The event generates proceeds for scholarships but more importantly distinguishes a Varsity boys basketball player by wearing the number of the Metropolitan standout...The evening provides a tripleheader of Mustang basketball with the Boys Junior Varsity, Girls Varsity and culminating with the Boys Varsity...Mark your calendars for a great night of Mineola basketball on all levels on January 26...If the opening night crowd against Mepham was any indication, Mustang fans will be filling the gymnasium all season long...Opening night guests included proud dad and Niagara University legend Big Jim Hegmann and his wife along with Mustang alum and daughter Samantha...Diglio currently nurses a sore knee suffered in the final scrimmage...Junior fan favorite Brandon "Little Man" Havercome drained a three at the buzzer against Mepham while junior Frank Thomas kissed the glass for a trey to close the first half...Gessner was the leading scorer with 11 in the opening loss, Winters and Seda had six apiece...With Junior Steve Goncalves coming off the bench, Hegmann used all eligible players in his Varsity coaching debut...Mustangs scheduled a tough pre-season scrimmage schedule against the likes of Manhasset, Garden City, Sewanhaka, Cold Spring Harbor and Friends Academy...Rematch with New Hyde Park will seek revenge for breaking the Gladiators 40 game losing streak...A rare matchup against a PSAL opponent (Banneker HS) could occur in the East Meadow Invitational...Mustangs are well represented in local AAU circles...A special students' section should be created for additional energy and excitement at home games.