Pinkerton's Rosinski silences detractors with run to state final

DERRY, N.H. — The blogosphere was not kind to Pete Rosinski in 2009.

"You could say it's the current technology, but a lot of stuff, a lot of unfair stuff flew his way," said fellow Pinkerton Academy teacher-coach Brian O'Reilly. "Yeah, Pete took some heat."

Rosinski leads the Astros into their first Class L state final in 17 years today at 4 p.m. at UNH's Lundholm Gymnasium against top-seeded Winnacunnet.

It's much different than this time last year, when Rosinski was being investigated for and later cleared of any wrongdoing in connection with an alleged late-regular season halftime altercation between the coach and a star Astro player.

Rosinski said it was only a heated discussion.

The eighth-year coach won't brag or be looking to rub it in the faces of any detractors.

"We're just happy to get here. I mean we beat a very good Dover team," said Rosinski after the semifinal.

Only a year ago, the heat was on.

Fifth-seeded Pinkerton, which many thought could win the title, was stunned on its home floor, 72-46, by No. 12 Alvirne in the opening round of the playoffs.

"The kids don't play defense ... They don't improve ... He's just not a good coach," said or wrote the critics.

Well, the Astros are holding opponents to 52.3 points a game, 53.3 this year in the playoffs.

Zach Mathieu, arguably the most improved player in the state, is a strong All-Class L candidate.

And Rosinski has pulled just about every string imaginable in a run that now has swelled to seven straight wins, 12 of the last 13.

The players have noticed and bought in.

"He's worked on us defensively a little more than in the past," said three-year varsity starter Ben Proulx. "We've run like five different defenses a game now. Teams have to pay attention to us on defense."

The Astros co-captain has felt the change in the locker room as well.

"I definitely think the players are accepting him more," said Proulx. "I think there was a lack of respect that was being passed down from class to class, and it wasn't right. But look at the last couple years, he's earned our respect."

The Astros have even done it without highly-touted 6-8 Scott King, who transferred to Holderness over the summer.

O'Reilly, for one on the Derry campus, wore a smile this week as the drive to the final unfolded.

"First and foremost, Pete's a gentleman and a good man," said O'Reilly, the longtime Pinkerton football and lacrosse coach.

"I was extremely happy to have him in our (football) program and I didn't want him to leave it, but I understand his responsibilities grew when he took over the basketball program. He cares about the kids. And he's a good basketball coach."

Hard to question that now, especially on the eve of today's state final.

Astros on the road

Lundholm could be a hostile environment for Pinkerton this afternoon.

Winnacunnet, which is just a short stroll over to Durham, is one of the best-supported programs in the state. Pinkerton had a disappointing turnout of fewer than 100 students in the semis at UNH.

"The Winnacunnet community has always been a basketball community," said Warrior coach Jay McKenna. "Between 1992 and 2000, we reached the final five times (winning it all in 1992, a team McKenna played on, and losing the other four times). Especially with the success our girls have had (recently winning their fourth straight title). We definitely have become a basketball community. We've had great crowds throughout the season."

Like nearly every other team in the state, Winnacunnet looks up at the Pinkerton big men.

The Warriors will attempt to do what Dover couldn't, that is stop Zach Mathieu, who erupted for 32 points in the semis.

"I've been around Class L for a while. Thinking back to the better big men, it was one of the most dominating performances I've seen from a big man in New Hampshire in a long time," said McKenna.

"We try to make it up by being physical, getting after it and putting a lot of pressure on the guards. We'll try to make the pass in as difficult as possible, then do whatever we can to stop them when the big guys get it."

Road to the finals

Pinkerton beat No. 15 Spaulding 59-45, No. 7 West 63-58 and No. 6 Dover 61-57

Winnacunnet beat No. 16 Goffstown 57-50, No. 8 Memorial 43-34 and No. 5 Bishop Guertin 63-56

CLASS L BOYS BASKETBALL STATE CHAMPIONSHIP

NO. 1 WINNACUNNET VS. NO. 2 PINKERTON

Today, 4 p.m., at Lundholm Gym, UNH, Durham, N.H.

PINKERTON ASTROS (18-6, 17-4 Class L)

Starters

Player Ht. Yr. Pos. Avg.

Chad Park 5-11 Jr. Guard 6.3

Steven Curry 6-1 Sr. Guard 1.9

Alex Patrikis 6-3 Soph. Forward 8.4

Ben Proulx 6-4 Sr. Forward 13.3

Zach Mathieu 6-7 Sr. Forward 19.0

Key Reserves

Ryan Williams 5-11 Jr. Guard 2.5

Kevin Colbert 5-11 Soph. Guard 3.9

Chris Light 6-3 Soph. Forward 3.8

Coach: Pete Rosinski (8th year, 89-90 overall)

WINNACUNNET WARRIORS (20-4, 18-3 Class L)

Starters

Player Ht. Yr. Pos. Avg.

Jesse Gould 6-1 Sr. Guard 18.0

Ryan Dunn 5-9 Sr. Guard 9.0

Nick McGrail 5-9 Sr. Guard 7.0

Harry Knowles 6-3 Sr. Forward 9.0

Steven Cronan 6-3 Jr. Forward 6.0

Key Reserves

Jason Busfield 5-10 Sr. Guard 2.0

Shaun Munson 6-0 Jr. Guard 6.0

Sean Dolan 6-2 Jr. Forward 2.0

Coach: Jay McKenna (5th year, 47-49 Class L)

Deja vu matchup

Winnacunnet and Pinkerton, which were seeded No. 1 and No. 2, respectively, met eight days ago in the Class L girls state final, which was won by the Warriors, 46-41.

Today its No. 1 Winnacunnet vs. No. 2 Pinkerton again with the boys L title on the line.

The Winnacunnet boys beat Pinkerton 58-55 on Jan. 12.

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