THE HIGH LIFE
• Rams roll over Old Bridge • Tornadoes rally past Hunterdon Central • All-CVC semifinal in Central Group IV
HIGHTSTOWN » It took just two defensive stops, and the Hightstown High boys’ basketball team was on its way.
The 3rd-seeded Rams completely dominated 6thseeded Old Bridge in taking a 72-36 victory in Thursday night’s NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV semifinal.
Hightstown (21-6), which tied the school record for wins, exited the gym thinking it would be traveling to Hunterdon Central for Saturday’s semifinal but soon learned it will be hosting Trenton after the Tornadoes used an incredible comeback to win in overtime.
And while TCHS had to outscore the Red Devils 23-2 in the fourth quarter just to force OT, the Rams had no such worries as they led wire to wire and held a double-figure advantage over the final three quarters.
The Knights (19-8) won the opening tap and took over a minute off the lock before Jamal Anderson blocked a shot that resulted in Devon Shropshire-Sands’ fast-break lay-up. Old Bridge set up a second time, Hightstown forced a turnover and Kamrin Choice’s bucket made it 4-0.
“That right there set the tone for us,” coach Matt Durstewitz said.
It sure did. The Knights came back with a lay-up, but Anderson countered with a 3-pointer that started a 24-6 run to bridge the first and second quarter. Old Bridge cut a 21-point deficit to 31-18 but would get no closer. Anderson, who finished with 18 points, hit two foul shots to end the half and start Hightstown on a 19-0 run.
After three quarters, when a 52-28 advantage allowed the reserves to enter, Hightstown was shooting 56 percent (20-for-36). And while Durstewitz was surprised at how easily his team won, senior forward Shane Ragland felt otherwise.
“Not really,” he said. “We already had confidence coming into the game. We felt real comfortable. We played as a team, we executed.”
Ragland, a first-year varsity player, came up with 14 points and a game-high eight rebounds, while also playing strong defense.
“He has a lot of athleticism, a lot of talent and he really turned it up defensively today,” Durstewitz said. “He locked into practice yesterday about playing better defense and I think it just built his confidence and it showed on the offensive end of the floor as well.”
The coach was thrilled with the Rams defensive effort, saying “we’ve been trying to do that all year long and we put it together at the right time.”
Old Bridge entered the game having made over 200 3-pointers, but hit just four while the Rams buried eight.
“We were closing out and taking the shot away before they could get to it,” Ragland said.
The Knights even misfired on open looks.
“I think we made them question the shot early because we kept flying at them with hands up every time they caught the ball,” Durstewitz said. “They’re such good shooters, they’re rhythm shooters, and if you can’t get your rhythm it’s going to be a long night for your shot. I know because that’s happened to us a lot.”
The Rams now gear for a highly-anticipated rubber game with Trenton, as the two teams previously won against each other in their own gyms to share the Colonial Division crown. The Tornadoes will be sky high after their comeback in Flemington, but Hightstown is feeling pretty good about itself as well.
“We didn’t play well on Tuesday against North Brunswick and we still scored 74 points,” Durstewitz said. “When you’re not satisfied with how you play and you still score, that kind of gets you believing that when you do play well, you can beat anyone.”