COVID-19 derailed two weeks of season, then the coach got pneumonia
By CLYDE HUGHES/Special to the Sentinel
LINWOOD – It’s been a difficult year for the Mainland Regional boys basketball team, but it has little to do with their record.
The Mustangs returned to action Saturday after missing two weeks under coronavirus protocols, losing to Delsea 52-34. Mainland fell to 1-5 in the pandemic-shortened season as it goes into the final week with head coach Dan Williams, who has suffered a bout of pneumonia.
Mainland was expected to play a makeup game against rival Ocean City on Monday. The Mustangs will play Cape May Tech on Wednesday and may play at Wildwood Catholic on Friday to wrap up the season.
“No one likes this (the uncertainty of the season),” Williams said. “The coaches don’t like it but I really feel for the players. I know it’s been particularly frustrating for them, especially for our three seniors. Of course, all the seniors in the league have been affected by this.
“We knew going into this thing that more likely than not it was going to strike down or disrupt the season. We’re defying science by being involved in some risk of putting 20 guys together to practice in the same room without masks on breathing heavily and at the end of the day let’s keep our fingers crossed that no one tests positive,” Williams said.
That test was repeated on game days, where athletes played in a sport designed for close contact and heavy breathing, despite being separated during those games from parents, fans and fellow students.
“If you’re thinking you’ll get through the season without being affected, whether it’s your team or other teams that could no longer be on your schedule, that’s kind of unrealistic to think that way,” Williams said. “We felt this could happen.”
Williams said Delsea’s game was not originally on the schedule but when several vacancies occurred with other teams pausing their season because of the coronavirus, the Spartans were available for a game.
“Initially I thought it would be all (Cape-Atlantic League) teams playing each other but no one from the league was available on that date. I’m not really sure. That was actually was a good game. It was a Group III school that wasn’t too far away with a good, competitive squad.”
Williams could not attend the game because of his pneumonia. He believed he had contracted COVID-19 as well, but repeated trips to the doctor turned up negative. When doctors decided to expand on his testing, Williams learned he had pneumonia.
“I’m now on the right medication and feeling better,” Williams said on Sunday. “I’m breathing pretty easily now, but if I went back around anyone, I would be more susceptible to COVID, so I’m still out. This is our last week. I’m hoping to be back for our very last game but it’s not looking too likely.”
Williams said senior Tommy Travagline has been solid for the Mustangs most of the season. The guard scored 19 of Mainland’s 32 points against Delsea while being responsible for most of the ball-handling duties.
“He’s had some nice moments for us during the season and we’ve asked him to do a fair amount for us,” Williams said.
It was a rebuilding season for Mainland. Two seasons ago, the Mustangs reached the South Jersey Group III finals and advanced to the second round of the playoffs last season. Mainland, though, lost virtually all of its scoring and rebounding from those squads.
So in a season where time in practice and a regular slate of games would have benefitted the Mustangs the most in trying to build a successful campaign, record-wise, was severely disrupted by the coronavirus.
“We have some older, but inexperienced guys,” Williams said. “Christian Rodgers, one of our main players, is a junior but it’s his first go-around with varsity along with another senior Marvin Aguilera. Everybody’s playing hard. We relied so heavily on the seniors last year that we replaced them with guys who have no experience at this level.”
Williams said as for the rest of the season, he wants to get his team just opportunities to play and stay healthy in the process.
“Even before I knew what I had, our athletic director told me we will do whatever you think is best,” Williams said. “I know that our guys want to play. I know it’s kind of corny to say, but I want health and safety for them.
“For the guys returning, it’s good for them to get two or three extra games of experience. Obviously, we want to get the seniors as much playing time as possible, even though this was not what they have hoped for. In the summer, we will be able to get some of the inexperienced guys working and playing.”
And while Mainland has struggled in the games they have played in this season, Williams said he was happy with the positive attitudes of the players throughout the program and their willingness to do whatever it takes to get the most out of the campaign.
“With (all of our challenges) I was told by my assistants that they showed up (Sunday) for practice, had a good solid practice and were staying upbeat, working hard and all of that other stuff,” Williams said.
“That’s pretty remarkable in a season that has been as challenging and has pushed their limits as much as this season has. I’m proud of the guys for that and I’m proud of the assistants who have stepped in and probably have done a better job than I could have done in the last couple of days if I had been there,” he added.