WATERBORO — The Massabesic boys basketball team has been stuck in a rut for a while, and Casey Nava is tired of it. With a new coach in former assistant Ramone Jones and Nava helping lead on the court, the Mustangs are hoping to put the program on the rise.
“I’d like to get a few more than (a couple) wins,” Nava said of his major goal this season. “I hate getting blown out in games. We need to stay in games.”
Nava has experienced enough losing in his time at Massabesic. Besides all the losses in basketball, Nava was on Mustang football teams that went 0-8 in 2010 and 2-6 this season. He said all the losing is “definitely motivational.”
Jones is hoping that Nava’s motivation spreads throughout the team, as he is ready to bring more wins to Waterboro.
“Changing the culture is one of the things that we’re really focused on, so that kids believe, and they’re competitive,” said Jones.
Jones said it really helps him as a first-year head coach to have a player like Nava, who leads by nature and by example.
“It’s very important for people to see what positivity, what his work ethic actually does, and the feedback, and the results that he gets from the way that he plays and the way he approaches everything he does,” Jones said. “He’s a leader, when it comes to effort and practice, and playing hard all the time when he’s out there.”
Nava already has some experience leading younger players who are trying to learn how to win. During football season, he was thrust into the quarterback position from his regular role as running back when running mate Jake Desroschers went down with an injury.
But playing quarterback caters to Nava’s style on the basketball team, as he said his goal is “being a team player and getting assists, because I’m not really into scoring that much.”
Jones said he will need Nava to provide some scoring, as well as assists and rebounds, and just playing his style of all-out effort that can hopefully inspire his teammates.
When asked what Nava’s biggest contribution to the team is, Jones simply said, “He’s a leader. And any team that’s successful, starts with good leadership, bottom line.”
Jones ”“ and Nava ”“ hope that means victories for the Mustangs.
— Contact Wil Kramlich at 282-1535, Ext. 323 or follow him on Twitter @WilTalkSports.
Comments are not available on this story. Read more about why we allow commenting on some stories and not on others.
We believe it's important to offer commenting on certain stories as a benefit to our readers. At its best, our comments sections can be a productive platform for readers to engage with our journalism, offer thoughts on coverage and issues, and drive conversation in a respectful, solutions-based way. It's a form of open discourse that can be useful to our community, public officials, journalists and others.
We do not enable comments on everything — exceptions include most crime stories, and coverage involving personal tragedy or sensitive issues that invite personal attacks instead of thoughtful discussion.
You can read more here about our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is also found on our FAQs.
Show less