1/25/2011 - H/W/S Boys Hoops Preview
It seems fitting that on the day schools must submit their records for seeding the Hunterdon /Warren/Sussex Boys and Girls Basketball Tournament, Mother Nature sent another calling card showing us who is the boss.
As the area was hit with another snowstorm (Is it spring yet?) I can’t help but remember that last year’s tourney was delayed several times due to snow, including a monster storm that dumped over two-feet of the white stuff the week of the semifinals and finals.
I also remember that no teams from Sussex made the final in either in the boys and girls tournaments, making the realization that the Sussex County Interscholastic League was dead really sink in.
Well, I believe that will change this year with High Point’s girls playing as well as anyone in North Jersey right now and Pope John and Vernon’s boys teams legitimate threats to make it to the final Feb. 25 at Hopatcong.
The seeds and pairings should be released by the end of the week with preliminary round play for both tourneys to be completed by Feb. 2 at the home of the higher seed.
The tourneys will continue at the higher seed throughout the tournament until the final. First-round games will be Feb. 5, quarterfinals on Feb. 12 and semifinals Feb. 19.
Here is a quick reminder about how the tourney is seeded and competed. Coaches from Sussex will seed their schools 1-through-10 as will the coaches in the Hunterdon/Warren area. Then the two sides will be put in brackets against each other with no one seeing a team from its area in the first round or until there is an upset after that.
Ok, now that is out of the way, I will give you my mock seeds for Sussex on the boys side. These seeds are based on head-to-head matchups, common opponents and my own personal observations.
I will seed the girls tourney in my next blog.
- VERNON-- The Vikings are 7-3 and own wins over Pope John and Sparta. Vernon is hurting right now with Dan Tintle, its leading scorer out with a hand injury, but the Vikings play a terrific team-oriented game on both ends of the floor. Rhett Moroses is capable of going for 20 any night, while Ethan Vallellanes, Michael Cooper, Dylan Moroses and Travis Eustace have excelled as a unit.
- POPE JOHN—The Lions on paper have the most talent in the area, especially with the addition of East Stroudsburg transfer JaQuan Bryant. The Lions are 8-2 and sport a formidable front line with Tyler Sabino and Malachi Moore. Glen Gavan, Tommy Breslin, Ryan Krueger and Noah Brown are also very capable and make the Lions a definite threat to go deep in the tourney.
- SPARTA—The Spartans are 6-4 and are a team no one wants to play because of the tough-minded way they play. The Spartans, who own a big win over Hopatcong, will go as far as sophomore point guard Zack Frick will bring them. Sparta also counts on its big man Nick DiSomma, and sharpshooter Chris McIlvaine.
- HOPATCONG—The Chiefs have a puncher’s chance in any game they play because of senior guard Matt Tobin, who is closing in on 2,000 points for Hopatcong (9-4). Not only can the East Stroudsburg University-bound senior score but he makes fellow players Hunter Guard, Joe LoBue, Jon Parker, Feyi Olugbenga and Dan Sullivan better. The Chiefs are closing in on winning the Freedom Division for the second straight season and will be a tough out.
- WALLKILL VALLEY—You want to watch a fun team? Then check out the Rangers (10-5) who fly up and down the court when they are on their game. They are led by dynamic senior Keith Yearwood, while Kaje Cowans, Kodie Hilbert, Bobby Russell, Skyler Dorney, Owen Law Donny Gunderman and Charlie Buvis are big contributors. The Rangers are seeded fifth due to their tough two-point home loss to Hopatcong.
- LENAPEVALLEY—The Patriots (6-6) are right in the mix in the Freedom with tough losses to Hopatcong and Wallkill Valley. Billy Sabo, Brian Krueder, Matt Ciampaglio and Ryan Newson are an experienced bunch and come at you every night for coach Dan Moylan.
- NEWTON—Coming into the season the Braves (6-7) had some question marks, but like all John Davey-coached teams, they play hard and have gotten better as the season has gone on. Nate Sammans paces the attack, but freshman Steven Kelly, former Newton coach Dirk Kelly’s son, is also playing well of late.
- HIGH POINT—Bill Percey has made himself an early candidate for Coach of the Year as he has the Wildcats at 6-8 despite being decimated by graduation last year. Powerful center Nick Boyle, who will play football at Delaware next year, anchors the Wildcats, who own a nice win over Jefferson. High Point also looks to Alex Lafranco and Brendan McEvoy.
- SUSSEX TECH—The Mustangs are 6-7 under first-year coach Sharvez Brown and look to Kenny Davis, Tech’s best all-around player, to lead the way. Brian Murphy is deadly from the perimeter and Brenton Black is tough on the boards.
- KITTATINNY—It has been a rough season for first-year coach Mike Lupo and the Cougars as they are off to a tough 0-14 start. Injuries have hurt the Cougars but Sam Oliveri, Dan Leppert and Brandon Swet come to play every night.
All right, that is how I see it; we’ll see what the coaches say when the seeds come out.
As far as the Hunterdon/Warren teams, last year, Hunterdon Central with a sub.-.500 record made noise and topped No. 1 seed Vernon. The Red Devils are tough again despite their 6-8 mark under their outstanding coach Brain Glennon.
Evan Klimchak, as we saw last year can score, and Ryan Noonan and Zack Schreck are also solid. North Hunterdon will most likely be the top seed as it topped HC earlier in the season. The Lions are 7-4 and are paced by Chris Bellofatto and Brendan Logan
Defending champ Warren Hills is 6-10 and fellow finalist Phillipsburg is 4-8 despite the fine play of Mike Diamond. Hackettstown is also tough, while North Warren will be tough behind Glen Nanius, Garrett Becker and Maxx Sweet.
So who will win it? Your guess is as good as mine, but I will give it a shot. I see Pope John, which stunned North Hunterdon last year, making the final and topping Hunterdon Central.
Jefferson, the other team from our area, is obviously in Morris County and the Falcons (4-7), are the 14th seed and will host No. 19 Randolph Saturday at 1 p.m. in the opening round of the Morris County Tournament.
The winner will face No. 3 Mendham in the first round. The Falcons, who are paced by Evan Valentini, Drew Hall and Jeff Oster, are young but dangerous and should advance to see Jim Baglin and the crew.
That’s it for now, see you on the sidelines.
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