“One of the big things going into this year with this group was they really didn’t know how to win,” Tiano said.
In addition to having to figure out how to play without Johnson, the Sawyers also lost 2017-18 starters Austin Curlin and Tavin Rell to graduation. “Out of the 32 minutes, we’re probably playing somewhere between 20 to 25 minutes of good basketball, and then those last eight to twelve minutes have been the problem and why we’ve lost five games now.” The team’s struggles have been less a lack of effort than a lack of consistency, which along with a relative dearth of varsity experience on the roster has yielded on-court lapses and losses. Since he’s returning, now other teams don’t want to try and game-plan against him, let along having to game-plan against him twice.”įor a Sawyer team yet to hit its stride, Johnson’s anticipated return will be most welcome. But if this had happened pre-Dior returning, I think the other coach would have moved the game no problem. “This is my twelfth year coaching and this was the first game I’ve ever not coached, which was frustrating in itself. “I tried to get the games moved this week because of my having the flu, and the other teams refused to do it because they thought I was doing it because of Dior,” said Tiano. The Presidents won that game 63-45, handing the Sawyers their fourth straight loss. FDR declined to postpone the game against Saugerties on Tuesday, December 18 to allow for Tiano to recover from a bout of the flu. Other teams are also keeping a careful eye on the proceedings. His first home game back might be against New Paltz on Friday, January 4, a rematch of the 2018 Section IX, Class A title game, won by the Huguenots in triple overtime. In addition to the hosts, the Queensbury Spartans and Averill Park Warriors will also be competing. It’s likely to be at the Shawn Walsh Memorial Basketball Tournament at Burnt Hills High School on December 27-28.
Now basketball fans are wondering when and where Johnson will play in the nearer future. Johnson has already gotten offers from 16 NCAA Division I schools to play point guard when he graduates high school in 2022. Johnson amassed 1098 points in two seasons of varsity basketball at SHS, becoming the youngest-ever boys’ basketball player to cross the 1000-point threshold in New York State history.
Johnson averaged 31.1 points, 3.5 steals, 3.1 assists and 4.6 rebounds last season, helping lead the team to the Section IX, Class A title game. When you have the reputation that he earned over the last two years, he’s followed by a lot of different people across the country.” “I think it was just talk,” Tiano said of Johnson considering other local schools, including Kingston High. After speaking to Johnson and his mother, the return was confirmed. Tiano said he never had any doubts about Johnson wanting to play again for the Sawyers. There was a lot of speculation about Johnson’s return, including whether he’d play for Saugerties or for another school in the area. Once we get that signature he’ll be cleared.” “When you transfer back to a school you have to have the head of the school, the athletic director and the coach all sign off that you were leaving the school in a good academic standing. “All we’re waiting for is the paperwork from IMG to return,” said Saugerties coach Mike Tiano. If not for the customary red tape, he might have already played his first games back in Saugerties. He re-enrolled at Saugerties High and is preparing himself to step onto the court in the familiar blue-and-white. Johnson, who played two varsity seasons as a Sawyer before accepting an offer to play at the IMG Academy in Bradenton, Florida for his freshman season, opted to come back home earlier this month. The Sawyers are expected very soon to get a shot in the arm before January with the return of freshman point guard Dior Johnson, one of the few players capable of causing a significant impact just by coming home from Florida and playing. The Saugerties High School boys’ varsity basketball team is 2-5 this season, a relatively young team that’s still trying to find its rhythm.
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