"You have no idea how good it feels to be out here," Fazio said before the game.
Fazio was reinstated as coach after being placed on paid administrative leave following the fallout of the hazing scandal. Seven members of the Andover basketball team were disciplined for engaging in a sexual hazing act at a basketball camp at Stonehill College in Easton. Two of the team's members, the alleged ringleaders, were expelled, according to a report in the Eagle-Tribune, which first reported the story.
The players reportedly pressured two of their younger teammates into a sexual hazing game called "wet biscuit," in which the loser was forced to eat a cookie with bodily fluids on it. One victim has since left the school district and Stonehill College has cut ties with the camp, Hoop Mountain, after being notified by Easton police of the incident.
Andover senior captain James Costello, who was named the team's captain this summer, powered his team with 19 points and 12 rebounds in the win. He said the hazing incident was a one-time affair.
"We just have to, all together, be cognizant of our actions and be real role models going forward," Costello said.
The Golden Warriors have moved on without the players involved in the incident.
"That was my only five," said Fazio of the players in the starting lineup when asked about the team's dismissed players.
"Everybody who came out on the first day of practice, we brought them back,” Fazio said before the game. "We had to make some adjustments, but everybody who came out to that first practice got an opportunity.”
For Fazio, watching this crop of basketball players, including starters Sam Dowden (13 points, seven rebounds), Chris Dunn (12 points) and Greg Dreyfus (eight points), has been the greatest reward so far.
“These guys, they understand,” Fazio said after the game. “It’s kind of difficult situation. Everybody knows that. What we’ve asked them to do is [deal with] some adversity. You can judge character by how well you handle adversity.
“At the end of the day, they just want to play basketball,” Fazio continued. “They love basketball, I think they’re happy to have their coach with them, and I love these kids. We’ve always had great kids. It’s just been an unfortunate situation.”
Methuen was led by Kyle Mansour who tallied 18 points on the night.
