In each of the last two seasons, the Secaucus High School basketball team had high hopes in the Hudson County Tournament, but fell to the same team both times.
The Patriots had a tough overtime loss to Lincoln two years ago in the title game. Last year, it was more of the same in the semifinals. The Patriots, undefeated this season at 26-0, were determined to not feel that same level of disappointment again.
“We were not going to let it happen again,” said senior point guard Andie Lennon. “We just were going to play our best. We were ready for it this time.”
“You could see that they had a little extra focus,” said Secaucus head coach John Sterling. “They had some motivation. Agonizing over those tough losses always helps to make you improve as a team.”
The Patriots faced the Lions, the three-time defending county champs, in the title game last Friday night at Yanitelli Center on the campus of St. Peter’s University. This time, there was no drama, no last second frustration. The Patriots led from start to finish and earned a 54-34 victory, with Lennon leading the way.
It was the first time that Secaucus ever claimed a county championship in basketball, boys or girls.
Bound for Caldwell College in the fall, Lennon made four huge 3-pointers in the first period en route to a game-high 23 points, earning the tournament’s Most Outstanding Player.
“I knew that I had to come out and set the tone for the rest of the game,” Lennon said of the strong start. “I just took everyone on my back.”
“I said to a few friends that I thought we needed to knock down a few perimeter shots,” Sterling said. “Andie made a couple of deep ones. She came out with great hustle and that spurred everyone else on.”
The Patriots then all contributed to the win. Kendall Caruso, who has been rock solid in recent weeks, added six points and continued her prowess from the perimeter. Julia McClure (nine points, eight rebounds) has been consistently strong all season and Kristina Ulrich (10 points) and Lindsay Mack have added big plays. There’s a reason why the Patriots head to the state tournament as northern New Jersey’s lone undefeated squad. The reason? They’re very good in every aspect of the game.
“Each game, we’re showing up and doing the best we can,” Lennon said. “I can’t even explain how I felt after it was over. I’m just so happy for my team and for Coach Sterling. I know he wanted this for a while. I don’t think it’s sunk in yet. We’ve been so busy that we don’t have time to think about it. We certainly don’t want to let it get to our heads. It is a great accomplishment, being on the team to be the first one to win the county championship.”
It’s been a great senior year for great friends like Lennon, McClure and Caruso, who all helped the Patriots win the NJSIAA Group I state title in volleyball in the fall as well.
“Not bad at all,” Lennon laughed. “We’ve won a lot of championships together since we were in third grade.”
“They’ve won a lot in a lot of sports,” Sterling said. “They’re very good athletes. They’re hard working kids. This win is very special, because it was the first one. It was a long time coming.”
Sterling said that he was fortunate to win a Passaic County championship as a player for Passaic Valley in 1977, but he had never won a title as a coach, first at Bogota and then the last nine years at Secaucus.
“It’s something my friends from high school and I talk about a lot and have remembered for a long time,” Sterling said. “These girls are going to remember this for the rest of their lives.”…
As the NJSIAA state tournament began Monday, North Bergen’s girls presented their veteran head coach Dan Reardon with a special gift. With the Bruins’ 52-51 win over Passaic County Tech, Reardon reached the 400-win plateau for his career.
It’s a win total that only a handful of girls’ basketball coaches in Hudson County attained, joining legends like the late Bill DeFazio (Marist and St. Anthony), Pat Longo (Holy Family Academy), Jack Rodgers (Harrison) and Jeff Stabile (Bayonne). All of those aforementioned coaches are members of the Hudson County Hall of Fame. Looks like Reardon should be considered for such an honor in the future…
The Hoboken boys’ team didn’t enjoy a ton of success during the regular season, but the Red Wings certainly made up for it when the state tourney began. The Red Wings, the No. 15 seed in the North Jersey Section 2, Group I bracket, upset No. 2 seed Dunellen, 76-64, to advance in the tourney, despite a sub-.500 record at 7-14. It was Hoboken’s first win in the state tourney since 2009.
Sophomore forward Tyshon Hanberry continued his brilliant play with 25 points. Hanberry has flown under the radar all season, but he is averaging 21 points over the last two weeks. Justin Davis, another sophomore, was averaging 18 points and 13 rebounds per game over the last five games. Jimmy Rosa had 16 points in the win. Rahmel Mixson had 13. A huge upset win in the state playoffs can make the stinging of eight losses of three points or less in the regular season feel just a little better…
The Burkert twins of St. Peter’s Prep earn the Co-Athletes of the Week this week, but they are not the only locals headed to Atlantic City this weekend for the state tourney.
The Marauders crowned a total of four Region 4 champions last Saturday, with 113-pounder Alec Kelly and 220-pounder Christian Colucci joining Ryan Burkert Jose Palomino won his second title. Palomino, headed to Assumption College on a football scholarship, missed last year’s postseason due to injury.
Also, Nick Santos (126 pounds) and Stephen Kellner (160 pounds) finished third (along with Connor Burkert) to punch their tickets to Atlantic City, making it a strong contingent of Prep wrestlers there.
Two North Bergen wrestlers were second at Region 4 in 113-pounder Dan Ortega and 120-pounder Devin Garrido. Teammate Leo Subiza was third at 170 pounds.
Union City heavyweight Jonathan Beltre was runner-up to Palomino at Region 4, so Beltre also heads to Atlantic City this weekend…
Hudson Reporter Boys’ High School Basketball Top Five: 1. St. Anthony (23-1). 2. Hudson Catholic (22-3). 3. Marist (20-5). 4. Union City (17-7). 5. Dickinson (16-9)…
Hudson Reporter Girls’ High School Basketball Top Five: 1. Secaucus (26-0). 2. Lincoln (21-5). 3. North Bergen (15-10). 4. Ferris (17-7). 5. Marist (14-8)…--Jim Hague
Jim Hague can be reached at OGSMAR@aol.com.