January
10, 2007
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| Dan Egorow scored 22 points to lead Cresskill to its 649th win under head coach Mary Rivard. | |
PALISADES PARK -- For the past 35 years, the success of Cresskill's boys basketball program has been built on defense. It has been the calling card of the Cougars since head coach Marty Rivard has been in charge and it was front and center on a history making Tuesday night in Palisades Park.
So it was only fitting that on the night that Rivard broke the record, it was in a game in which his defense allowed just three points, one field goal and one free throw, in the first half. When it was all over, Cresskill had a 43-32 win, the 649th of Rivard’s career and one better than former Bergen Catholic head coach Chris Donfield.
At the end of the game, the crowd rose to its feet as Rivard was handed the game ball by Cresskill principal Pete Eftychiou, who spoke eloquently before Rivard got a chance to thank the gathering, which included about a section’s worth of former players.
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| Anthony Scott led Pal Park with nine points. |
“Cresskill has a rich athletic tradition. I was thinking about all the good things that I have seen because I have been there 34 years, and this is the jewel on the crown of all the athletic history that Cresskill has had,” said Eftychiou. “I don’t think anyone one is going to break this record in boys basketball. It’s so hard now to think about a guy in his early 20s staying until he is 60, getting 20 wins a year in one place. It’s a remarkable thing.”
Mark Cieslak, who has coached just about every sport at every level at Pal Park, but who is in his first season as the boys varsity head coach, played against Rivard as a three-sport star in the late 70s.
“I think this is a great thing to be a part of. Marty was there when I was playing the game and he always has good basketball teams regardless of talent,” said Cieslak, who graduated from Pal Park in 1979. “I think it is a great tribute that guys who were here when I played were, 20-plus years later, in the stands tonight to congratulate him on that honor. That says a lot about the man.”
Rivard has been in the spotlight since the start of the season with the countdown looming and his team is off to a 5-3 start, 3-1 in the BCSL-Olympic Division. The historic win now out of the way, he can get back to what he does best -- coaching basketball.
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| Brian Fisch had four points and four assists for Cresskill. |
“The kids haven’t said anything, but they know what’s going on and it is pressure on them when they are playing and they have been great,” said Rivard. “It’s a little too much hoopla for me, but I can live with it if I have to. Tonight was great, but I am going to school tomorrow and we are going to practice. Now we can start thinking about Friday night and Emerson.”
As for the game itself, the Cougars put win No. 649 away early, starting with George Pecoraro’s putback that made it 2-0. It was not until there was 5:34 played in the game that Pal Park was able to post its lone point of the first quarter, a single Anthony Scott free throw. Cresskill led 6-1 after the first period, 12-1 when Dan Egorow went back door and scored uncontested on a Brian Fisch assist and 14-3 at halftime.
The second half was just about academic as Egorow (22 points, 6 blocks), who was the only player on either side to finish in double figures, had outscored the Tigers himself through three quarters (16-13) and the Cougars had a 30-13 lead heading into the fourth. Pal Park scored 19 points in the fourth quarter, but never got closer than 12. Cresskill finished 9 of 24 from the free throw line while Pal Park finished 10 for 18 in the game and 8 for 10 in the final quarter.
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