Pats’ Impastato is District’s newest 1,000-point scorer
Becomes fourth Patriot male to reach milestone
Everything fell in place for Freehold Township point guard Andrew Impastato this year as the senior joined three other Patriot males as 1,000-career point scorers.
"The first goal was the Shore Conference, and the second was the state playoffs," said Impastato. "If 1,000 points comes—great, but the team goals were first."
Freehold Township would achieve its team goals and qualify for both post-season tournaments, and along the way Impastato became a member of the 1,000-point club that includes Jeff Peras (1,628), the late Steve Smith (1.146) and Bob Belitz (1,096).
"It definitely means a lot," he pointed out. "Only three people had done it. It was important to the team as well. All of my teammates wanted me to do it."
Impastato joined the exclusive club on Feb. 22 as the Pats got ready for the state playoffs with a game at Toms River North. Impastato needed 12 points to get over 1,000, and he kept his anxious teammates in suspense until the fourth quarter when finally he scored his 12th and 13th points on a basket in the Pats’ 61-52 win.
"I kept shooting, but my shots just weren’t falling," he recalled. "My teammates kept getting me the ball, and finally I got it, and everyone went real crazy."
To Impastato, the 1,000 points is a culmination of what has been an outstanding career.
"After my sophomore year, I had 236 points, and I had it in the back of my mind," he recalled. "I never thought I’d do it. What it means to me is that if you work hard, you can do it. It lets others know that if you work hard, it can be done."
Impastato has been a starter for the Pats since his sophomore year and has blossomed into one of the most complete point guards in the Shore. The 5-11 senior is having another terrific season. He is among the Shore Conference leaders in scoring (15.5) and assists (4.5), three point shots (47) and free-throw shooting (81.0).
His free-throw shooting is one of the biggest reasons that Freehold Township wins a lot of close games. The Pats get the ball in his hands with the lead, and he can sink the pressure free throw, or if doubled, find the open man for an easy lay-up.
For Impastato, what has been most memorable about this season is how well the Pats have jelled as a team and gotten along. The team’s 15 wins are the most ever under coach Brian Golub and a total surpassed by only a very few Patriot teams. As a senior, Impastato took it upon himself to be the leader who brought it all together.
"When I was a sophomore, I stepped back and let the seniors lead," he pointed out. "This year as a senior, I wanted to play my game and elevate the other players’ game.
"Everything is starting to click, and it’s a perfect time, the state playoffs," he added. "The 1,000 points is great, but getting the others to raise their level has been more rewarding."
Impastato’s scoring is down this year because he has done his job of getting everyone else involved in the offense.
"I didn’t have to score as much this year because a lot of guys like Manny Ubilla and Walter Roberson have stepped up," he explained. "This season has been interesting. It’s been a lot of fun, and we’ve played together."
Freehold Township enjoyed a nice run in the state playoffs last week
The Pats opened the playoffs at home against Old Bridge on Feb. 25 and conquered the Knights, 69-35, behind a 21-1 second-quarter outburst. It was the last home game for the seniors and a fitting way to end their careers.
"We came out on fire," Impastato said, whose 12 points brought his total to 1,013.
Roberson (16) and Ubilla (14) teamed up for 30, as the Pats improved to 15-9.