HS BOYS BASKETBALL
Local hoops continue to feature intelligent players
Intelligence quotient gets mentioned frequently in athletic competitions. For instance, a basketball player may receive praise for having a high IQ, which references a performer who exhibits smarts, understands court situations, opposing defenses and shoots high percentage shots.
Kelly Williams remains a personal choice for big man on campus basketball IQ as his stellar point guard play guided Ewing High to the 1986 New Jersey State Group III championship, the first state title the school had ever won.
Williams, like most solid points, played as an extension to coach Emil Wandishin — joined at the mental hip and believing that hustle, hard work and team play delivers victories on and off hard courts.
Successful point guards embody coach mentality as they follow instructions, frequently initiating set plays and being the pet of peevish instructors.
Williams, who would coach at Mercer County Community College and The College of New Jersey, played basketball as a strange doppelgänger for Wandishin.
No doubt Tal Brody will be referenced as one of the city’s best leading men. Never witnessed the star play of Brody and George Lee who pulled Trenton High to its last Group IV state championship with a 24-0 mark. Greg Grant played point guard, but his real goal involved scoring for Trenton State College and then numerous NBA teams.
Best point guard of all-time seen here? Bobby Hurley, Jr. hands down. Played as an extension to his dad, Hurley, Sr. at St. Anthony Jersey City then starred as Duke point guard from 1989-1993 where he helped the Blue Devils claim NCAA championships (1991, 1992).
At Duke, Hurley, Jr. scored 1,032 points and dealt 1,076 assists. Hurley became a first-round draft pick (No. 7 overall) by the Sacramento Kings. ***
Flashes of brilliance occur infrequently as many high school basketball programs play a frenetic style, running around without purpose, design or set plays.
Michael Kane displayed high intelligence during a home game against Moorestown last week. Kane found himself doubled-up and under duress by two Quakers defenders near the Irish foul stripe.
Kane, who had a team-high 12 points, netted two of those on a slick play that befuddled defenders. The senior shot the ball off the backboard then raced into the lane, grabbed his miss and scored.
Brilliant stuff and appreciated by all basketball fans, although Moorestown countered with hot-shooting guard Jagger Zrada who finished with 22 points, including five treys.
This night, “Dagger” Zrada benefited from solid coaching as the Quakers escaped a 30-24 halftime deficit by going inside during the early third quarter minutes which eventually produced jump shot opportunities.
Moorestown breezed 63-48 as the Quakers appear ready for a second consecutive Group 3 title run after being derailed last year by Nottingham High. ***
The unexpected departure of Fred Falchi as Trenton Catholic Academy coach caused disappointment although at the end of the day, taking care of one’s health remains more important than sports.
There’s been some turbulent episodes in Falchi’s life as he alluded to in a published article. Falchi (366 wins), who spent 18 years as head coach and won a TOC title in 2010, resigned on Dec. 22.
TCA holds a 1-6 record as the Iron Mikes’ difficult schedule delivered losses to Roselle Catholic, St. Mary (Elizabeth), Hudson Catholic, Gill St. Bernard’s, plus, West Catholic and Sankofa Freedom, both from Pennsylvania.
Witnessed the TCA contest against St. Mary on Dec. 20 when the Iron Mikes led by 16 points with four minutes remaining. Tied at 63 through regulation and again at 72, St. Mary outscored TCA 14-0 for a double-OT 86-72 victory. TCA lost another double OT game against West Catholic a week later in the ESCIT holiday event at the Iron Mikes’ Palace.
Iron Mikes own a Dec. 16 win over Our Savior New American (NY), 72-63.