By Josh Krueger, Newport Daily News
January 25, 2012
BOYS BASKETBALL: ROGERS 71, CENTRAL FALLS 37
Vikings coach reaches milestone Jim Psaras, who has been with the program since 1988, collects his 400th career victory
CENTRAL FALLS — As has been the case with so many of his game plans over the years, this one worked rather well. This strategic move by Jim Psaras, though, didn’t have anything to do with offense or defense, the transition game or matchups. Keeping a bit of information from his players, he felt, was the best way to make sure it was not a distraction. So when the Rogers High School boys basketball players took the court Monday night against Central Falls, they had no idea what it meant to their coach. Near the end of the Vikings’ 71-37 romp, though, they figured it out. With 30 seconds left in the game, chants of “400! 400!” from the Rogers faithful who made the trip clued in the players as to the significance of their most recent victory.
It was No. 400 in Psaras’ coaching career. “It tells me I’ve been here a long time,” Psaras said of the milestone. “I’ve been around a lot of kids and been lucky enough to coach a lot of great kids and good players.” His 400th victory was all but wrapped up by halftime, when Rogers led 36-14. The Vikings started slowly, but after Central Falls took an early 4-0 lead, Rogers went on an 18-0 run and the Warriors didn’t come close to denying Psaras. “He’s a great coach and to be part of that milestone for him is a nice feeling,” said Rogers senior Trevor Morgera, who had 14 points and six rebounds in the win. “I had no idea until they started chanting, ‘400.’ That’s more games than I could ever imagine playing in, seeing or coaching. It’s ridiculous. It’s a great accomplishment.”
But it was one Psaras — who gave credit to his assistant coaches for the part they played in reaching the milestone — didn’t want to make a big deal of, especially before it happened. Before the season started, with the win total at 388, he and assistant Mike Newsome talked about how to handle the upcoming achievement. “We didn’t want to tell the kids. Just told a couple close family members, friends and that was it,” Psaras said. “I wanted the situation to be: they’re not worrying about me, they’re just worrying about their job on the court. So it was good.” After the final buzzer, past and present Rogers players in attendance offered their congratulations with a hug and a handshake. Central Falls coach Brian Crookes did the same. “Hats off. He’s done a great job for a long time, and I respect the way his kids play,” Crookes said. “Every kid goes after it hard and that’s a reflection of him, and it’s always been that way as long as I’ve been around and known the program. “Congratulations to him. I think it’s a fantastic achievement.”
Five Rogers players scored in double figures against an overmatched Central Falls team. Divon Bailey had 14 points, including a two-handed alleyoop dunk in the second half that point guard Reeyon Watts threw from beyond the 3-point line. Watts had 12 points, seven rebounds and five steals, and Cody Platt hit three 3-pointers and finished with 11. Parish Perry had six points and nine rebounds.
Psaras’ first year as Rogers coach was the 1988-89 season, and in his first five years he collected three Division I state championships. In his 24 seasons leading Rogers, Psaras has posted a record of 400-209 for a .657 winning percentage. “I just wanted to get it over with,” he said of notching his 400th win in his first opportunity. “I knew at some point it was going to happen, it was just when it was going to happen. I just wanted to win the game for these guys, because it’s the first game of the second half and we wanted to start off on a good note. Central Falls is not an easy place to play.”
Rogers (12-3, 9-1 Division II-East) made it seem easy. The small gym was far from packed, but the Central Falls fans who did attend seemed eager to erupt with any sign of life from their team. The Vikings made sure that sign never came. “Coach told us coming in it’s a loud gym, but it’s important when you come in on the road and quiet the gym down, because it’s easier to play as a team,” Morgera said. Picking up win No. 400 in Newport would have been preferable for Psaras, but as he put it, “You can’t control that, but it’s OK.” The chants of “400!” at the end of game made it feel a little like home. “It was great to have people here in support,” Psaras said.
He’ll go for his 401st victory — and more importantly, 10th league win of the season — on Thursday night at home against Cumberland. Tuesday’s league win carries no extra weight as far as the I-I-South standings or state tournament seedings are concerned, but it was obviously a meaningful one for the Vikings. “To be able to be a part of that, I can talk for our whole team, it’s a great feeling,” Morgera said.
“He’s a great coach, great guy, we love being around him day in and day out, and to be there for 400 means a lot to us.” Krueger@NewportRI.com ‘He’s a great coach, great guy, we love being around him day in and day out, and to be there for 400 means a lot to us.’ TREVOR MORGERA Rogers senior, talking about coach Jim Psaras
