Highland Park hex eliminates Monroe from GMC boys hoop tourney
By: Redd E. Patrick
The Monroe High School boys basketball team is trying to become the very best one in school history.
If it wasn’t for this darn Highland Park team, there would be no question about it. The Falcons lost to the Owls on Wednesday for the third time this season, falling to 16-5. This time, however, the stakes were higher than in the regular season as the winner advanced to the quarterfinals of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament. The game was played in Highland Park.
On the second night of the season, Monroe dropped a 66-57 decision to the Owls. Highland Park won the rematch 73-61, then Wednesday’s game, 58-52.
The high-flying Falcons came into the game with a three-game winning streak, and had won eight of nine. They were averaging 68.6 points per game, while giving up 51.5.
So when they went ahead 13-2 to start the game, things looked good.
"We were ready,” said Monroe senior guard Chris Felix, who finished with 18 points. "There was a lot of emotion.”
The 15-6 Owls, who had also won three straight and five of six coming in, settled down and trimmed to gap to 18-10 after one quarter, then tied the game at the half by outscoring Monroe 15-7 in the second quarter.
Monroe regained the momentum and claimed a four-point lead heading into the fourth quarter. Then, with just under four minutes to play, the Falcons took command with a 10-point bulge. From there, however, it was all Highland Park.
"We had the game going at our pace, up-tempo,” said Felix. "We got out to the 13-2 lead, then they tied it at the half, but we got it going again. The last four minutes, though, we just turned the ball over too much. I still haven’t realized we lost. I keep seeing us ahead by 10 with just a few minutes left. It’s not only frustrating, but it’s so hard to understand why.”
Marcello Henriques added 14 points for Monroe, while Matt Gigliello added 12 as the Falcons’ backcourt accounted for 44 points. Amir White, who had scored 26 the first time against Monroe and 41 the second time, led Highland Park with 17 points, including 10 in the fourth quarter.
BUZZER BEATERS: Monroe reached the second round by taking a 79-39 decision over Dunellen Monday night. Felix had 17 points while Gigliello added 16, Dan Palma had 11 (on three 3-pointers) and Henriques added 10… Monroe is trying to schedule one more game before the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II State Tournament begins next week. The Falcons will take on John F. Kennedy. "We’ll bounce back because we always do,” said Felix. "In fact, the last time we lost to Highland Park, we beat JFK in our next game (72-54).”