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Rockport hopes to get boost from Emerson's return

Tuesday, December, 11 By Matt Langone
Sports editor

In hindsight, last winter's season-ending injury suffered by Rockport basketball player Corey Emerson doesn't seem so bad anymore.

Of course, that was far from Emerson's opinion last December when he learned that he had a fractured vertebrae in his lower back after playing in just his team's season-opening game.

"I was playing in our first game of the season against Georgetown and I remember we were in a close game in the first half," recalled Emerson. "Then I remember getting really slowed down, and I couldn't run as fast as I normally do. I went to the doctor the next day and got an MRI to see what was wrong, and it was a fractured vertebrae in my lower back caused from stress and activity.

"It was terrible knowing that I would miss the rest of the season. It may have been the worst feeling that I've ever had."

However, there was a silver lining from the injury that Emerson has since realized | he still has his senior year. "If an injury like that had happened this year, I think I would probably just keep playing," Emerson said. "The doctor told me at the time of the injury that I could've kept playing, but that I would probably have chronic back pains at the age of 30. It was a saving grace that I still had my senior year."

As happy as Emerson is to be completely healthy for his final year of high school basketball, first-year Rockport head coach Tim St. Laurent may be even happier to have the 5-foot-8, 145-pound left-handed point guard. Especially since Emerson is the captain and only senior on Rockport's roster.

"Corey brings a lot of leadership," said the 27-year-old St. Laurent, who is a Providence native and former assistant coach at Gloucester High School. "His ability to control the game as a point guard is something that only he can contribute on our team. He is a good shooter, he can slash and he compliments the rest of the players around him." Emerson's true value to his team is also exhibited by the fact that the Vikings finished with a 1-17 record last winter in his absence.

"Corey's injury really hurt the team tremendously," St. Laurent said. "He is a player that we can't afford to play without for extended minutes."

In Emerson's case, it's not just a matter of how many points he scores or how much he fills out the stat sheet. He is the facilitator in Rockport's offensive structure, which is basically a five-guard offense that relies on ball movement and open shots due to a lack of height.

Emerson studies the play of New Orleans Hornets point guard Chris Paul and tries to model his game after the NBA star. "I'll do whatever it takes for us to win," said Emerson. "I'll probably have to score a little bit. But I'll also need to run the offense and get everyone involved. I'll try to score when I have to."

Considering the youth that will surround Emerson this year, there's a good chance that he will have to be a do-everything player for the Vikings.

But don't tell that to Emerson, who has high expectations for his supporting cast.

"All of the guys want to play and be competitive," said Emerson. "I'm expecting a bunch of wins and I'm hoping for a tournament berth."

It will remain to be seen if the postseason is a reality for Rockport. But even if it's not, the Vikings can still play the role of spoiler.

"Teams are going to come to our court thinking that they're going to win," Emerson said. "But we'll be looking to shock them."