Hightstown rolls to CVC win
HIGHTSTOWN » You can typically count on the Hightstown boys basketball team to be versatile, to develop a deep rotation and most of all — to be prepared for the next opponent on the schedule.
The Rams proved from the outset of Friday night’s CVC battle that they had a firm handle on what Allentown planned to do offensively, and the result was a convincing 6936 victory.
“I think we have the best coaching staff in the league with scouting and letting us know who their guys are and what they do,” senior guard Ayden Hogan said. “I feel like if they tell us what to do, we execute it perfectly. I really like the team this year and how hard we all play.”
Hogan (13 points), Kyle Reiss (14 points), Danny Wersching (12 points) and Robert Eaves (14 points) all scored double figures to lead a balanced attack for Hightstown.
But the story of the game was how soundly Hightstown (3-4) manned up Allentown (2-6) defensively. The Rams shut off driving lanes, stayed conscious of cutters and forced contested shots to lead by 10 at halftime and 22 after three quarters.
Offensively, Hightstown settled for fewer 3s as the game wore on and became a free-flowing unit with eight different scorers.
“We started getting stagnant kind of in the first half, and in the third quarter we really picked it up, started getting steals, getting to the rim,” Hogan said. “We feed off of our defense and a lot of our offense comes from our defense and our turnovers that we force. We fly around.”
Hightstown is playing a more conventional style this season after running a “five in, five out” system with quick possessions and fresh lineups last year.
Coach Don DeLeo went that route to get more people playing time because COVID-19 shortened the campaign, but this winter the Rams are emphasizing the defensive end more.
“I think it’s very apparent that our willingness to want to play defense is there again,” DeLeo said. “Even going back to those Don Hess days, Hightstown has always been a very
strong defensive team and we really are priding ourselves on that.”
DeLeo also wanted to challenge his team with the schedule. Hightstown suffered growing pains in a loss Wednesday night at Westfield, a strong North Jersey team, and played a holiday tournament against Archbishop Carroll (Pennsylvania) and Shawnee.
“We wanted to play anyone, anywhere, anytime to prepare us for our CVC schedule because we believe that there are some great teams,” DeLeo said. “Robbinsville is great, Hamilton West is great, Notre Dame is great. The list goes on and on of the great teams that we need to be ready to play against and to compete against. We thought that a tough nonconference schedule would do that for us.”
Hightstown is 3-1 so far in the CVC and should be one of the area’s stronger teams. The Rams recently scored 94 points against West Windsor South and competed well with Robbinsville, who may be the CVC’s top team this year, before the Ravens pulled away late.
It helps to have a few seasoned veterans like Hogan, who was a sophomore on Hightstown’s 21-7 team in 2019.
The athletic wing is hungry for a big senior season after missing all but two games last year with a broken ankle.
“This year I’m just looking to be a leader,” Hogan said. “We had a few really good senior leaders (last season) like Spencer Kenny and Ali Ahmed. They were super great for us, and I just want to take after them and really lead the team this year.”
Hightstown has several speedy guards again this year, but a key x-factor is Reaves down low. The 6-foot-5 junior is a strong rim protector and has one of the most polished post games in the CVC.
“If I’m not going, if Keenan’s not going, Robert gets the ball and he gets it done,” Hogan said. “We love to go to him early, often, late — whenever. He’s a big piece for us.”
Hightstown plays again Saturday morning at Bishop Eustace before getting back into the CVC grind Tuesday at Steinert.
The Rams plan to continue doing their homework and being prepared.
“We know how they play,” Hogan said. “Most teams have a similar system they did to the year before, so we have a good idea going into it of what they’re gonna do.”
ALLENTOWN (36)
S. Harrill 3-0-7, Kozlosky 4-0-8, Lerman 2-0-5, Gooley 2-1-6, Greenbaum 3-1-7, Doran 1-0-2, Bassi 0-1-1. Totals — 15-3-36.
HIGHTSTOWN (69)
Hogan 5-0-13, Reiss 5-3-14, Wersching 5-0-12, Elhosseini 2-0-4, Eaves 7-0-14, Alford 2-3-7, Hernandez 1-1-3, Olsen 1-0-2.
Totals — 28-7-69.
Allentown (2-6) 13 7 6 10 — 36
Hightstown (3-4) 14 16 18 21 — 69
3-point goals: S. Harrill, Lerman, Gooley (A), Hogan 3, Wersching 2, Reiss (H).