Talented TCA squad must overcome injuries, tough schedule
Despite graduating a pair of sharpshooters, Trenton Catholic Academy boys basketball is back with plenty of talent.
The Iron Mikes have won four of the last six Mercer County Tournament titles but hope to make more noise in South Jersey Non-Public B, where they were upset in the first round last season by Rutgers Prep.
Senior guard Quashawn Lane, the reigning MCT MVP, is one of the area’s best facilitators and a Player of the Year candidate. He leads a deep squad of seven seniors and five sophomores.
Even for TCA standards, the schedule is exceptionally difficult with games against the likes of Camden, Roselle Catholic, Linden and St. Augustine.
The Iron Mikes will also be coping with injuries to two of their bigger bodies, as 6-5 senior Roderick Massenat and 6-7 sophomore Naji Wright are sidelined for at least the first month of the season.
Bordentown’s Jacquey Mendez and Northern Burlington’s Josh Jackson are two of the area’s finer seniors in the Burlington County Scholarship League.
BORDENTOWN
Amania Harris-Morales 6-0 Sr. Christian Burnett 6-2 Jr. Eric Price 6-4 Sr.
Gavin Shriver 6-1 So. Jacquey Mendez 6-2 Sr. Jaeden Sheehan 6-1 Jr.
Joe Yeboah 6-0 Sr. Jordan Martin 5-11 So. Kyree Adams 5-8 Sr. Osvaldo Urena 5-11 So. Roshon Vankline 5-7 So. Head Coach — John Myers (fifth season).
Assistant Coaches — Steve Perry, Kevin Wright, Robert Pina.
Last Season — 20-9 overall, 11-1 BCSL Patriot, Patriot Division Champions, NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II semifinals.
Outlook — The Scotties are young after graduating Area Player of the Year Manny Ansong and 3-point sniper Darnill Brown. But they still have Mendez, one of the most dynamic defenders around, and Myers is excited about the program’s sophomore class. By the time February rolls in, expect Bordentown to again be in the thick of things in Group II.
NORTHERN BURLINGTON
Josh Jackson 5-10 Sr. G Karsten Johnson 5-9 Sr. G
Ezra Jones 6-2 Sr. F Khalifhatun Lewis 5-11 Sr. G Anthony Thomas 5-10 Sr. G Xavier Dukes 6-3 Jr. F
Lorenzo Repack 5-9 So. G Diondre Pearson 6-3 So. F
Sam Irvin 6-4 Sr. F
Ziamere Davis 5-10 Sr. G
Jake Fryc 6-4 So. C
Head Coach — Gene Darling (10th season).
Assistant Coaches — Steve Malcolm, Kenny Mauss, Zak Westerberg, Last Season — 13-13 overall, 4-8 BCSL Patriot.
Outlook — The Greyhounds are confident they can win more close games this season with four of five starters back. Along with Jackson (17.9 points per game), Northern Burlington returns Jones, Lewis and Thomas.
TRENTON CATHOLIC
Quashawn Lane 6-2 Sr. G Donovan Ryland 5-10 Sr. G Latrell Reid 6-2 Sr. G Roderick Massenat 6-5 Sr. G Tahrell Horne 6-3 Sr. F Naji Jamison 6-1 Sr. F Wellington Bogar 5-10 Sr. G EJ Evans 6-3 So. G Naji Wright 6-7 So. F Jean Bernard 6-5 So. F Julian Diamond 6-4 So. F Dwayne Francis 5-10 So. G Head Coach — Fred Falchi (19th season). Assistant Coaches — Bob Fuscik, Dave Broach, Donny Williams. Last Season — 19-7 overall, 9-1 BCSL Liberty, Liberty Division Champions, Mercer County Tournament champions, NJSIAA Non-Public B South first round. Outlook — The Iron Mikes may take some lumps early with injuries to their two tallest players. But there’s plenty to like about a growing TCA team. Lane and Ryland are threeyear starters, Evans made noise as a freshman and Reid impressed Falchi with his improvement over the summer.