TCA scores season-high 89 in blowout of B’town
BORDENTOWN >> In the aftermath of arguably the most dominant boys basketball performance in Mercer County this season, 17th-year head coach Fred Falchi sought out his Trenton Catholic Academy players in the visiting locker room at Bordentown Regional High School with a confession.
“I’ve been doing this a long time: This is probably one of our best offensive teams,” Falchi told his Iron Mikes.
That is high praise from a perfectionist who annually sings a motto that anything less than a Tournament of Champions state title is a disappointment, but the Iron Mikes (15-5) earned it Wednesday night following an 89-66 pummeling of Burlington County Scholastic League rival Bordentown.
In one of the more highly anticipated central Jersey showdowns this season, TCA executed an offensive clinic: 39 field goals, 10 3-pointers and too many assists to count.
Six different Iron Mikes connected from beyond the arc including senior True Alton, who burned the Scotties with four treys including one from the wing in transition which gave TCA an early 17-5 cushion that the Iron Mikes seized and never wanted to squander.
Sophomore Roderick Massenat finished with 19 points, senior Boku Mupungo tacked on 14 and TCA broke their previous season-high in scoring of 78 points established on Jan. 10 against Rancocas Valley.
“When we make shots, it’s kind of hard to guard us. The offense just flows and everybody gets open,” Alton said. “Everybody was ready for the game, and we knew we were going to get a win.”
Before the season began, TCA’s proud program was faced with a myriad of injuries, several newcomers and transfers, four new starters and many unanswered questions. But the Iron Mikes have gradually accepted their individual roles and embodied the nuances of Falchi’s motion offense. It is predicated on passing and screening away to keep everyone moving. When executed properly, quality looks become the norm without needing to run many rigid sets.
“It just seemed like we did what we wanted tonight,” Falchi said. “In defense to (Bordentown), when they gave us the outside shot, we made it. When they covered the outside shot, we passed it in. That’s how you’re supposed to play.
“We play team ball. We’ve got the kids to do it. We have guys off the bench that might’ve scored double digits tonight that a lot of teams don’t have. They’re very accepting to it. It’s a whole new group, so they’re kind of just finding their way.”
Bordentown (16-7), meanwhile, is “running in mud right now,” head coach John Myers said following the Scotties’ fourth straight loss. Wednesday marked Bordentown’s sixth game in 10 days, a gauntlet which has entailed the likes of St. Thomas More of Connecticut, Paul VI, Moorestown and now TCA. The previous three defeats were by a combined eight points.
But this is precisely what Myers wanted when he put together what he considers the most difficult toughest in the area — especially for a Group II public school.
“To me, it’s all about making sure that my kids learn how to play under duress, under that microscope. It’s hard. It’s really hard,” he said. “Today was all about character: What did you learn about who wants to play as hard as they can when it really sucks? When you’re embarrassed, who’s willing to say, ‘You know, I’m going to box out, and I’m still embarrassed’?
“I’ve got a tremendous amount of faith in these kids and I’ve got a tremendous amount of faith in this program. I really think we can do some damage still.”
Area Player of the Year candidate Manny Ansong, a 6-foot-3 senior, dropped a game-high 28 points, but few came in bunches to generate enough momentum. The senior received little support as the Scotties were repeatedly run off the 3-point line and struggled to cope with the Iron Mikes’ bulk, Myers said.
“He does a lot off the boards, and when games get out of hand, a lot of times your kids don’t want to do the fundamental things anymore,” Falchi said. “But he’s a good player. We did a good job on him when it counted.”
Falchi remains unsure how far this group can advance come state tournament time, but he knows this: If the Iron Mikes can ignite a hot streak of raining buckets from the outside, the sky is limit for TCA in Non-Public B South, which he still considers probably the best section in the country.
“When we shoot it well, we could beat anybody,” Falchi said. “We’re in a great parochial (league), so if you win that, you’re one of the best teams in the country. That’s what our kids strive to do.”
Alton 4-0-12, Evans 3-0-7, Horne 1-1-3, Labelle 5-0-11, Lane 3-0-6, Massenat 9-0-19, Mupungo 7-0-14, Ryland 3-0-7, Watkins 3-0-8, Wright 1-0-2.
39-1-89
Ansong 12-4-28, Brown 6-4-19, Martin 2-2-6, Mendez 3-2-8, Sheehan 2-0-5.
29-12-66.
Alton 4, Watkins 2 Evans, Labelle, Massenat, Ryland (T), Brown 3, Sheehan (B).