BY DAVID FOLSE II

Sports Editor

RESERVE-No scorebook is kept and the clock never stops running.

Summer basketball is not about winning and losing.

It is definitely about getting your young kids an opportunity to get some much-needed playing time.

That is the approach that Tommy Monier and his Riverside squad are taking this summer.

While no one will remember the 20-point loss to East St. John on Monday night, what they will remember is the playing time that his young squad so desperately needs.

“We are so young right now that this summer is just a matter of us having the opportunity to get some of our kids to go out there and play,” Monier said. “We have a lot of new guys playing together for the first time.

“Anytime we can get together and play in a game scenario that benefits us.”

One of the biggest holes that Riverside will have to fill is the void left by former great Josh Labiche, who graduated this past May.

“The past is what it is,” Monier said. “I just think that these kids have not played a whole lot of basketball.

“We have a lot of kids that are playing organized basketball for the first time. I guess you have to not really lower your expectations, but you have to be realistic about what you are trying to accomplish. Our goal right now is to just get them out there and playing. It is a lot of fundamental work for us right now.”

Monier said having such a young team could be an enjoyable time for a coach as he is able to mold their basketball styles.

“Doing what coach’s do I don’t think you would be doing it if it was not fun,” Monier said. “Regardless of what type of team you have out there.

“I guess the true test to whether or not we are developing a basketball program is developing some young kids.”

One kid that is already very developed is sophomore-to-be Jarid Caesar. The point guard scored 12 points against East St. John Monday night and will be looked upon to shoulder much more of the offensive burden in 2005-06.

“He is going to have to score more,” Monier said. “There is no doubt about it. He is our best scorer coming back. He is going to have to look to the basket more than he has done in the past. We have to get it from him every night on the offensive end.”