Rams’ boys’ basketball hoping to put end to losing streak

The HHS boys’ basketball team was 8-6 heading into last night’s game against Trenton.

By: Kyle Moylan
   Obviously, this is not the worst time for the Hightstown High School boys’ basketball team to go on a losing streak. Then again, it is not the best either.
   Hightstown waited until it clinched a spot in the state playoffs. Going into action last night at home against Trenton, however, Hightstown was 8-6 and on a three-game losing streak. And Trenton isn’t exactly the best team on earth to try and break a losing streak against.
   Hightstown’s latest two losses came this past week, including a 65-57 setback to Steinert last Friday.
   Kurt Rodgers recorded 20 points and five rebounds in the loss to Steinert. Don McCall added 12 points, five rebounds and two assists. Nate Kostar recorded 10 points and eight assists.
   "We buried ourselves in that game in the first quarter," noted Hightstown Coach Don Hess. "They had four three-pointers in the first quarter. Our game plan was to get out on them. I don’t know what happened. We got down 20-12 and played even after that."
   This past Tuesday night, Hightstown’s comeback in the fourth quarter simply ran out of time as West Windsor North held on for a 54-52 win.
   "The kids played hard and managed the clock well, but we ran out of time," Hess noted.
   "We’re just not playing defense like we are used. We also got killed on the boards. Most of their points came on second shots and putbacks."
   McCall did have a solid all-around game with 17 points, six rebounds, three steals and a blocked shot. Rodgers added 12 points, six rebounds, a steal and two assists. Karl Burrowes recorded seven points, six rebounds, five steals and three assists. Kostar added four points and five assists.
   "We had lost so many players that in the beginning of the year I wasn’t sure what to expect," Hess said. "Then we’re 8-3. Now, we have lost three in a row and we’re not playing defense.
   "We were supposed to be playing for a home game or two. Now, we’ll be lucky to get any games at home. We just didn’t turn it up enough."