The source of that optimism goes beyond Southold's four returning seniors. It extends to a slew of newcomers, and Jon Cepelak, in particular.

"He's going to make a big impact," senior point guard Rob Clausen said of Cepelak during an interview before Friday's practice. "You know he's going to hit about 50 percent of his shots, which helps us a lot, especially from long range. He can dunk it, and he's a threat going to the hole, and he's a threat popping it from outside."

Then again, Cepelak, a 6-foot-2 junior shooting guard/small forward, is not exactly a newcomer. He has played with the varsity team in fall, spring and summer leagues since he was a freshman. "I'm just happy to be here finally," said Cepelak, who averaged about 18 points per game for the junior varsity team last season. "I'm excited. I think I'm ready to play. I'm just waiting for that first game."

Clausen is Southold's top returning scorer. He averaged 8.4 points, 4.6 assists and 4.0 rebounds per game last season. Fellow seniors Mitch Conway, Kevin Kritsberg and P.J. Ofrias are the team's only other returning players. But juniors Gino Dejongh, Aidan Fogarty, Kevin Parma, Trevor Perry, Connor Stepnoski and Cepelak played together on the J.V. team. Sophomore Justin Moore is a transfer from Greenport, where he played J.V. ball last season.

"We have a good corps of seniors, but we also have a really talented corps of juniors," Ellis said. "We have some size, we have some athleticism."

And that should translate into points, a good number of which should come from Cepelak's hands.

"I think Cepelak is going to be our main go-to guy," Ellis said. "He can go to the basket, he can shoot."

"I think everyone can score this year," he added. "I think we have four or five guys who can really put some points on the board."

Having lost the graduated Jamie Sawicki, who recorded 21 points per game, the ability to put the ball in the basket is a welcome sign for the First Settlers. At the same time, being bumped up from League VIII to League VII, where the competition is tougher, should make wins harder to come by for the First Settlers, but they seem just fine with that.

"League VII is a lot harder," Clausen said. "It should be exciting. Instead of blowing teams out by 20, we're going to be playing every night. Like coach said, if we don't bring our intensity every night, we're going to lose. So, every night we have to score and produce."

o

ROB CLAUSEN, who sustained a second stage sprain to his right ankle four weeks ago in a soccer game, started walking on Nov. 17, and hopes to be able to run in two weeks. He has been shooting baskets at practice while wearing an ankle brace. Clausen said he wants to recover in time to play in Southold's league opener on Dec. 16 against the Center Moriches Red Devils.

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