NAUGATUCK — Naugatuck High has meant a lot to John Mariano and his family.
It’s where Mariano played his high school basketball before transferring to Stamford’s Trinity Catholic. The Greyhounds’ gymnasium is also named after his grandfather, Edward Mariano.
John Mariano returned to the Edward Mariano Gymnasium on Dec. 13, but he was sporting the black and gold of the Woodland boys basketball team. Mariano’s Hawks were part of the first Edward Mariano Suburban Jamboree, along with seven other teams from the area: Torrington, Watertown, Naugatuck, Oxford, Pomperaug, Wamogo and New Milford.
“It’s a great feeling to be back, just thinking about memories,” Mariano said during one of his team’s breaks at the jamboree. “I’m a Naugatuck guy, just growing up here, so it’s good, and it’s special that my grandfather’s name is on the gym here.”
Making his coaching debut, Mariano said he thought back to playing on the night the court was dedicated to his grandfather. The jamboree being named after Edward Mariano was special to him.
“It’s good to be back, but I realize this is a business trip. I coach Woodland, and that’s where my heart is right now as far as making sure we’re locked in and prepared for everything that we do,” Mariano said.
Mariano’s Hawks are a work in progress, and there were some struggles during the games they played at the jamboree. Woodland fell to Pomperaug, 12-9, Watertown, 14-10, and Wamogo, 18-12, at the jamboree, which featured 10-minute long games. There were even a couple of technical fouls handed out.
The Hawks will use grit, hustle and hard work to earn victories in the Naugatuck Valley League this winter. It won’t be an easy road, but Mariano likes his team.
“I was getting the itch last year to get back around basketball, so it’s just been wonderful to be around such a great group of kids,” Mariano said. “The Woodland kids have been fantastic. It’s a great community. It’s been awesome to get back to the game I love and also be around such a great group of people.”
Mariano, who took over from Tom Hunt, coached at Saint Anselm and Brown before taking his first head coaching position. There’s more speed at the college level, of course, but many things remain the same in high school.
“The principles are there, and the sets that everyone runs are the same concepts, so I’m excited,” Mariano said.
Hawks fall to Crosby: Woodland opened the season Dec. 19 with a 93-67 loss to Crosby in Beacon Falls.
The Bulldogs (1-0) got out to a 26-12 lead after the first quarter and didn’t look back. Nate Bodnar had a team-high 13 points for Woodland (0-1) and Nick DeLucia added 12. Joey Giuliani chipped in with 11.
Woodland is set to play in the Cowboy Classic on Saturday. The Hawks will host Holy Cross Dec. 30.
