January
19, 2005
LYNDHURST - For years, the Lyndhurst boys basketball team has been trying to join the crowd of top teams in the BCSL-National Divison. Unfortunately, the Bears haven't been able to get the one win that could possibly get them over the hump. But this year, starting four seniors, this experienced, deep squad has raced out to an undefeated 7-0 start in league play.
A true measuring stick of Lyndhurst's strong start came last night when an equally surprising Wood-Ridge team took its three-point shooting act on the road and faced the Bears with first place in the league up for grabs. Facing the top three-point shooting team in North Jersey and an offense that averages 80 points per game, Lyndhurst had a chance to show that it is the team to beat in the league.
Bobby Peeters scored five points in a 7-0 run early in the first quarter that gave the Bears a lead they never relinquished. The Blue Devils were held to a dismal 4 of 26 from beyond the arc, but were still well within striking distance in the fourth quarter. Playing in his first game of the season, Mike McTigue converted a three-point play that fueled Lyndhurst the rest of the way en route to a 61-48 triumph.
"We knew if we held them under 60 points, we had a good chance of winning this game," said Lyndhurst head coach Chuck Martin. "You are in real trouble if you get into a track meet with Wood-Ridge. The big key was controlling tempo and playing half-court basketball. We were able to that for a good part of the game."
Harry Doneman's only field goal of the game, a three-pointer, gave Wood-Ridge its only lead of the contest, 3-2, in the opening minute. The Blue Devil defense was focused on the inside-outside combination of Barry Green and Brian Kapp, but it was Peeters who provided a spark early. He hit all three of his field goal attempts in the first four minutes to put Lyndhurst up six, 9-3.
"We picked it up defensively and it really got us off to a fast start," said Kapp, who pressured Wood-Ridge's dangerous point guard, Dave Hughes, into a 1 of 13 shooting performance. "This team is experienced and we have depth. We feel our time is now and we wanted to get our confidence going early. We took playing against a high-powered offense as a challenge and we'll take every challenge head-on."
Lyndhurst looked like it might pull away and turn the lights out early, but freshman Christian Muniz single-handedly kept Wood-Ridge afloat. He netted eight second-quarter points and played stern defense. Even though the Blue Devils shot just 7 of 31 from the floor in the opening half, they were only down nine, 32-23, at halftime.
After sitting out most of the second quarter with two fouls, the Bears made a concerted effort to get the ball into Green on the interior and he delivered. He hit consecutive lay-ups to begin the second half and picked it up on the defensive end as well. Against the much smaller Blue Devils, the 6-5 Green had a field day in the paint, blocking shots and grabbing rebounds.
"Coach just told me to stay in the key and put my hands up," said Green. "They pretty much have five guards on the floor and I knew if I just stood there when a smaller guard drove the lane, I'd block a lot of shots."
Lyndhurst held a nine-point lead and looked to be in control early in the fourth quarter, but the Blue Devils made on last push. A three-pointer by Justin Romero and a driving lay-up by Anthony Taborda trimmed the lead to four with less than five minutes to play.
After being held in check in his first game back since becoming eligible after transferring from Queen of Peace, McTigue remained patient until he saw his opening to make a game-changing play. On a fast-break, he caught the ball on the baseline and pump-faked to get his defender in the air. He then drove the baseline, got caught in midair, twisted to face the basket and dropped in a lay-up while getting fouled. The senior hit the ensuing free throw to push the lead back up to seven, 50-43.
"I knew that was my chance to make something happen out there," said McTigue, a three-sport athlete (soccer, baseball). "We fought too hard to let the game slip away. When I got caught in the air, I was hoping to draw a foul at the very least. When the basket went in, I knew we were going to win."
Wood-Ridge struggled from start to finish from long-range and never got its offense on track. The Devils connected on just one field goal in the final four minutes and fell into second place with the loss.
"That three-point play definitely took the wind out of our sails," said Wood-Ridge head coach Ed Rendzio. "We had the ball and the chance to make it a one-possession game. In a matter of seconds, we were down seven and I think that was a big blow for us."
Lyndhurst (8-2, 8-0 BCSL-National) not only moved into sole possession of first place, but now holds a two-game lead with the win. Green finished with a solid overall game on both ends, recording a double-double (13 points, 11 rebounds) along with seven blocks. Peeters had a game-high 15 points and eight rebounds. Bobby Galarza added nine points and helped hold North Jersey's leader in three-pointers made, Bob Colaneri, to an 0 for 6 performance from beyond the arc.
Wood-Ridge (8-3, 6-2 BCSL-National) fell into a second-place tie with North Arlington with St. Mary's (Ruth.) just a half-game back at press time. Muniz once again showed plenty of promise. He led the team in both points and steals with 13 and six, respectively. Taborda added 11 points and five steals.
"We weren't hitting our shots, but that has a lot to do with Lyndhurst's defensive effort," added Rendzio. "We went 10 of 15 from three-point range on Friday, but we just couldn't get going tonight. I think our team is mature enough to realize that we have to stay positive and this is just one game. The bottom line is though, Lyndhurst outplayed us in just about every aspect and they deserved to win."
TO PURCHASE A COLLECTOR'S PRINT OF THIS GAME STORY, PLEASE VISIT THE NJS.com SCHOOL STORE!
|
|
|
| About Us | Contact Us | Home | Advertise |
Questions?
E-mail the editor editor@northjerseysports.com
All contents © copyright 2002-2005 HSSportsWeb.com, Inc. All rights reserved.
