Boys varsity basketball stays in title mix with win

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Photo Credit: Sophie Ferreri

The team gathers with a minute left in the fourth quarter.

by Sophie Ferreri, Senior Staff Writer

After two consecutive tough losses, the boy’s varsity basketball team’s achieved redemption against rival Rutherford. Coach Mittleman is on the hunt for a share of the division title.

The team previously lost to Rutherford in the third game of the season. Rutherford guard Dom Mignone had scored 37 points including six 3-pointers.

Last night, Mittleman encouraged his team to slow Mignone down and limit his previous outstanding performance. The team succeeded to do so, as Mignone only scored 14 points and did not connect on a single 3-point shot.

The team played well on the offensive end in the first quarter, but struggled later on both offense and defense. The score at the end of the half was 28- 23 Rutherford. Matt Kopyta (’18) tied the game in the third quarter with a layup. The team came back in the second half, especially in the fourth quarter. Grahm Reese (’17) made a three pointer with five minutes and thirty seconds left in the game and Josh Frissora (’17) made a free throw to solidify the lead. The final score was 60-50 Glen Rock.

Captains Luke Nuzzo (’17) and Frissora showed exemplary leadership in the game.

“We were able to toughen up and play the way coach wanted us to. I am very proud of the way we played,” Nuzzo said.

Before the game, Mittleman emphasized the need for communication on both offense and defense, to “check out, block out, and rebound” and to work hard to take and make only great shots. The top three leading scorers were Frissora, Reese, and Nuzzo.

The team hopes to play the first round of the state tournament home and win.

“We are almost at the cutoff for the state tournament seedings,” Mittelman said. “We want to build momentum going into the home stretch.”