Siefring Holds Important Role on the Varsity Basketball Team

Hopedale’s Robbie Siefring is a three sport athlete (football, basketball and lacrosse) and his favorite sport revolves around whatever season it happens to be. Although a three sport athlete, Siefring has been playing basketball the longest.
During his freshmen season at Hopedale he earned a spot on the varsity squad and although he didn’t start he learned a lot that first year.
“Playing on the varsity team wasn’t all that nerve racking as I knew most of the kids on the team because of my older brother Mitchell, who was on the team,” he said. “As a freshman role player I came off the bench to play defense for a few minutes here and there, but when I wasn’t on the court I was watching and learning what the older kids were doing.”
As a sophomore, last year, Siefring earned his way onto the starting lineup as the team’s point guard and in doing so actually got to take to the court with his brother. In addition to playing with Mitchell, Siefring also got to play with Brian Espanet and Tyler Miller.
“I had learned a lot from him over the years and it was fun playing on the same team with him. We had always played one-on-one but to be playing on the same team was great,” the younger Siefring said. “Brian and Tyler were also great5 leaders and playing with all three of these guys only made me better as I had to pick up my game to their level.”
While switching between point and shooting guard Siefring was known for his persistent defense on opposing players.
“Robbie is a tough, unselfish kid; one of the toughest kids I’ve coached on the court. He’s a tenacious defender,” Coach Tony Cordani said. “There are few guys like him; he’s a game changer on the defensive end. He does the little things that help the team win.”
While Siefring’s primary role last year was defense, more than anything else Cordani is looking for the junior to continue with his strong defensive play if the Blue Raiders are going to be successful on the next level.
As a freshman riding the bench for the most part, Siefring’s teammate’s wen t 17-3 only to lose to Sutton 42-39 in the Division 4 Central Semi-Finals. Last year Siefring contributed to Hopedale’s 18-2 record while falling to Maynard in the Finals. If the Blue Raiders are going to eventually get over that mountain and claim a Sectional Championship Siefring is going to have to add some offensive weapons to his arsenal.
“Last year I believe that I improved basketball wise and became much more of a defensive player than offensive,” he said. “I can hit the occasional three or drive to the hoop, but my main job is to cover the opposition’s best player and shut him down.”
Cordani is hoping that the junior comes into the season with an ability to put the ball in the net on a regular basis.
“He’s definitely capable of scoring a little bit,” the coach said. “But having lost our top two scorers from last year’s team, which not only captured the Dual Valley Conference but also went to the Central Mass Finals, we’re going to need him to pick up his scoring.”
Having lost their scoring threats and some height, Siefring knows that the Blue Raiders are going to need to switch up their style of play and go to a faster pace game if they want to be successful.
“I was looking to improve my game all around and become a better scorer,” the point guard said. “I played in some summer and fall leagues and have worked hard on my scoring. I know if we want to get back to the finals this is what I needed to do.”
Although at the time of this writing captains had yet to be named for the Blue Raiders, but either way Siefring holds an important leadership role on this Hopedale team looking to get back and capture the Division 4 Central Championships. With some big games already under his belt, Siefring is ready for the challenge.