January
31, 2005
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| Brian Kapp did a little bit of everything for Lyndhurst, with 6 rebounds, 6 steals and 5 assists. | |
RUTHERFORD - Every basketball team has that game where no matter what it does, it can't seem to throw the ball into the proverbial ocean. Saddle Brook had one of those games on Sunday at the worst time, in its Jamboree opener against 13th seeded Lyndhurst.
The Falcons missed their first 12 shots and were 1 for 20 at one point, a sure sign that things aren't going their way. Their misfortune benefited Lyndhurst, which just couldn't seem to put them away until the fourth quarter.
The Golden Bears were never really threatened, but could not make it a comfortable win until late, when they pulled away for a 49-30 victory that moves them into the Round of 16 next Sunday against fourth-seeded Englewood at 11:30 a.m. at Tenafly High School.
"I think we're all pretty excited for Englewood," said Lyndhurst's Mike McTigue, who played in the Sweet 16 last season at Queen of Peace before transferring back to his hometown school. "This was big not just for the Jamboree but for trying to get the first or second seed in the state tournament."
Lyndhurst began the game with a Bobby Galarza three-point field goal on the first shot of the game, but even with the Falcons struggling, could not distance themselves, owning only an 8-2 lead after one period. A Brian Kapp three-pointer and a Barry Green basket inside made it 13-2, and it got as far as 17-4 before Saddle Brook's Brian Wiseman hit a three and scored off a steal to make it an eight-point game. The half ended at 19-11 in favor of Lyndhurst.
The Falcons (11-5) were just 5 of 28 over the opening 16 minutes as they were unable to convert good looks in the paint. Six-foot-five brothers Justin and Steve Minari could not establish an inside presence, as Green scored 6 points and hauled down all of his 10 rebounds in the opening half for Lyndhurst.
Green was saddled with foul trouble in the second half, sitting out more than seven minutes, and that helped the Falcons stay within eight points for most of the third quarter. The Golden Bears finally drove the dagger when McTigue hit a three-pointer with two seconds left in the third period and opened the fourth quarter with another trey.
"We just had to keep shooting and working," McTigue said afterwards. "We couldn't get going (in the third when they shot 4 of 14), but those threes took it out of them."
McTigue had 9 of his game-high 16 points in the fourth quarter, and he was the only double figure scorer for either team. Kapp added 6 rebounds, 6 steals and 5 assists for the Bears, who were 17 of 43 from the floor (including 7 of 13 from three point range) and 8 of 13 at the free throw line.
Saddle Brook finished 14 of 52 from the floor and missed their only two free throw attempts. Justin Maneri had 8 rebounds and Wiseman had 4 steals for the Falcons.
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