No cure for Basketball Jones as hoops action ramps up
The world always will remember Cheech and Chong’s outrageous tribute to basketball lovers. Yeah, NFL play and the Big Game produces unimaginable hype this week but basketball attracts more eyes in a season.
It’s the most wonderful time of the year. Andy Williams sang blasphemy as most everyone knows high school and college basketball tournament time ranks as more special than holiday greetings and gay happy meetings when friends come to call.
County tournaments and NJSIAA playoffs deliver scintillation as crowds pack gymnasiums to determine hardcourt supremacy. Important late-season contests have started as teams attempt to confirm identities.
Fortunate to have a woman friend who enjoys accompanying me to basketball games locally and throughout New Jersey. Last week, we attended numerous games, beginning with Hightstown High at Pennington School.
The Pennington School claimed a 73-55 victory over an inspired Rams squad after the Red Hawks’ girls team defeated Hillsborough, 62-57. Morgan Matthews poured in 35 points with Clemson in her Pennington gym.
Fascination surfaced as Pennington coach Chandler FraserPauls subbed in sophomore Zio
Kim who sank three consecutive 3-point baskets. He missed his fourth and final attempt. Memorable stuff.
Every Pennington School visit allows conversation with Athletic Director Jerry Eure who nears 40 years in that position. Plus, any gym visit offers a glance at the beautiful young daughter of Pennington Pauls and wife, Marisa.
Trenton at Ewing extricated memories of past showdowns between two squads with incredible histories. Crowd members included former Trenton High Coach Bill Clark and Trey Lowe, a past Blue Devils’ stalwart.
“You always remember Trenton and Ewing games. The atmosphere and fans, it’s just great. Trenton got the best of us in my freshman and sophomore years. We beat them the next two,” Lowe noted.
In March 2015, Lowe ended a stellar high school career with 2,492 points, second behind Mercer
County great Ron Payton of the Hun School who totaled 2,624 points by the end of his career in 1978. Lowe currently holds the player development position for men’s basketball at La Salle University.
Clark said he enjoys retirement from teaching and three grandchildren. Of course, he considers past Ewing vs. Trenton basketball contests better than current showdowns.
“In the old days it was standing room only and each team had one or two star players. I mean ballers,” Clark said.
Saturday delivered Montgomery High at Lawrence at high noon. We sat in front of a woman who shouted “money” each time a Cougars player fired a 3-point shot. Not a lot of coinage and though fond of the trey, weariness arrives when that’s all teams do. Basketball needs inside action by players who can operate with their backs to the basket.
Former Ewing High star Trey Lowe attended his alma mater’s game against Trenton.
Plus, Lawrence missed a bunch of free throws which would have made a world of difference in their 57-43 defeat. Free throws win basketball games.
We traveled to Philadelphia on Sunday for an American Athletic Conference rematch between Temple (14-11) and Houston. In late January, the Owls stunned the No. 1 Cougars, 5655. No such fortune this time although Temple held a 37-33 halftime lead.
Then No. 3 Houston (23-2) outscored Temple 48-28 in second for a 81-65 victory. Former TCA star Khalif Battle scored a gamehigh 24 points on 6-of-12 shooting and 8-for-8 from the stripe for the Owls in front of 10,000 plus fans.
Monday meant a travel day to St. Thomas Aquinas as Trenton High claimed a 81-70 victory over the highly regarded Trojans. The Tornadoes exude confidence as they prepare for the MCT and NJSIAA tournament.
A wild affair at St. Thomas Aquinas as two fans were ejected and another drew a reprimand. Even more amazing, a Trojans player received a technical foul when he cursed fans. The incident occurred as time expired. Officials did not pursue meting out punishment and walked off.