Bob Hurley has enjoyed a remarkable 775 victories in his brilliant 30-year coaching career at St. Anthony High School, but his team’s last win may rank among the finest.
“This was the best we’ve ever played in a big game, ever,” Hurley told his team Sunday, soon after the Friars put the finishing touches on a 69-49 victory over Neptune in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions finale at the Continental Airlines Arena. “You hear me? Ever.”
Hurley had every right to heap that kind of compliment on his team, which had just completed a 29-1 season, avenging their only loss of the season, a two-point loss to Neptune in January.
The 20-point lambasting gave the Friars their eighth Tournament of Champions title in the 14-year history of the tournament, which pits the six state champions (four public schools, two Parochial) against each other. No other New Jersey school has won the tournament more than once.
Last Sunday, the Friars were downright dominant, hitting every shot from every angle, led by their three senior guards and leaders, who all had major contributions in the win. Elijah Ingram, who will participate in the McDonald’s All-America Classic this Thursday at Madison Square Garden, paved the way for the Friars with 18 points. Donald Copeland added 16 points and Dwayne Lee added 10.
The Friars were also bolstered by the inside presence of junior center Terrence Roberts, who scored 13 points, many of which were from close range. When you take the Friars’ prowess from 3-point range (eight threes compared to Neptune’s one), add the inside presence of Roberts and throw in just a dash of the Friars’ smothering defense, you have the recipe for a dominating performance.
“I was amazed at how well we played,” Hurley said. “We went out against a very good team and made it look like a scrimmage. Every kid was brilliant. It was as well as a high school team could play.”
“I think everyone was shocked with the way it turned out,” Ingram said. “I mean, Neptune is a really good team and we beat them by 20. It was amazing.”
Even Neptune head coach Ken O’Donnell admitted that his team was completely overmatched.
“I don’t know if we could have beat them today,” O’Donnell said. “In fact, I don’t know if anyone could have. They were that good. They were fantastic. There’s no shame in losing to a team like this.”
The Friars never trailed in the game, taking an 11-2 lead in the first three minutes, and coasted from there. Ingram set the tone with 10 first quarter points and Roberts added seven as the Friars led 19-11 at the end of the first quarter.
Far ahead
The Friars increased the lead to 37-24 at halftime. By then, the game was already over.
“When the other team sees that we get that early start, it really sets them off,” Copeland said. “When we have them on the ropes, we do that something extra to put the pressure on them.”
“You can’t play this team from behind,” O’Donnell said. “When we played them before, we had the lead. Once this team gets a lead, you’re in trouble. That’s the main difference. And the way they shot the ball? There’s just no way.”
“We just came out right away with a lot of enthusiasm and intensity,” said Ingram, who was named the Most Valuable Player of the Tournament of Champions for the second straight year. “We played our game and took our shots. We were aggressive. All three guards played great games and it’s a great feeling to go out on top.”
Two years ago, the Friars lost eight games and finished the season with a 17-8 record. A lot of people thought that the program was finished.
However, with the play of three talented seniors like Ingram, Copeland and Lee, the Friars won back-to-back T of C championships and left St. Anthony basketball with their own legacy of excellence.
“Last year was a great accomplishment,” Hurley said. “But the hardest thing in sports is to repeat as champions. These kids did that. Looking back two years ago, they weren’t good enough to lead this team, but with their great pride and dedication, they worked extremely hard and walked away with back-to-back state championships. You can point to the three of them and their dedication.”
Added Hurley, “I’m going to miss them an awful lot. It’s the end of an era.”