Detroit

Putting the pieces together

By Mike Moore
C & G Sports Writer

Bufalino and his players get the feeling things are falling into place

DETROIT — When things started somewhat slowly, there was no surprise or panic.

When the wins didn’t pile up as they had in the past, the team kept its nose to the ground and kept battling.

Now, as the victories are becoming more frequent, there is no surprise.

“We knew when the season started it was going to be slow at first,” first-year coach James Bufalino said last week before practice at City Sports Center. “You’ve got a team adjusting to a brand-new coach; you’ve got a roster with 14 new guys on it. There’s nothing you can rush about that at all. We knew we had to take our time and stick with things.”

“We came in seeing this as a sort of rebuilding process,” senior Jimmy Morris said. “The start was a little tough, but we’ve put things together of late.”

South was 6-7-1 at press time and had won two if its last three games.

But according to Bufalino, it wasn’t the recent winning that gave him confidence in his team.

“Even in some of the games we lost, to some very good teams, we were playing very well,” he said. “We lost to De La Salle — the No. 1-ranked team in Division 2 — by one goal. A couple of weeks ago, we lost to a very good South Lyon team and then bounced back to beat an equally good East Kentwood team the next game. … I truly believe we can compete with, and beat, any team we play.”

The Blue Devils’ schedule certainly hasn’t made things easy.

In an 11-day span from Feb. 3 through Feb. 13, South’s opponents include Birmingham Brother Rice (ranked No. 4 in D-2), Grosse Pointe North, Dearborn Divine Child (No. 5 in D-3) and Pontiac Notre Dame Prep.

 “Our defense is coming together; our power play has been pretty good; our offense has been scoring goals,” junior Max Corbett said about the progression of the season. “More or less, we’re putting things together, working hard and playing pretty well of late.”

Which, as Bufalino and his players all mentioned, has confidence soaring. And for a program that won a Division 2 state title just three seasons ago that can be a key ingredient for success.

“We’ve pulled together, and now it’s a matter of going for it all,” Morris said when asked about the postseason, which officially begins March 1.

“We’re learning a lot right now, as coaches, as players and as an entire group,” Bufalino added. “There’s still a lot we have to do, a lot we have to improve on, but I think there’s still a lot this group can accomplish.”

You can reach C & G Sports Writer Mike Moore at mmoore@candgnews.com or at (586)498-1038.