Cornfeld scores 27 to pace Pirates
By: Bob Nuse
Based on what he had seen during his team’s preseason scrimmages, West Windsor-Plainsboro High South boys’ basketball coach Eric Mooney never expected the kind of offensive performance he saw from his team Friday night.
The Pirates, who never scored more than 68 points in a game last year, erupted for 76 in a season-opening 76-57 win at Ewing. It was a nice way to start the season for a team that returns just two players who saw significant playing time a year ago.
"We hadn’t done that in any of our scrimmages," said Mooney, whose team was led by the 27 points of Josh Cornfeld. "It was a nice way to start off the season. The guys played very well and we shot the ball well. Cornfeld came out and he was just unconscious. He shot the ball very well.
"He’s done that in practice where everything he puts up goes in. Matt Howell had a nice game, although he got into some foul trouble. Neil Kapil also played well."
In other openers Friday, Princeton dropped a 61-43 decision at Lawrence, while WW-P North lost to Steinert, 59-55.
Mooney was quite happy to see different people step forward for his team against Ewing. In all, four different players reached double-figures in scoring, led by Cornfeld. Kapil and Howell each added 12 points, while Grant MacQueen had 10 points.
"We’re a team where for us to do well, everyone has to contribute," Mooney said. "It’s different from last year where we had Uche (Ndubizu) on the inside and Kevin (Turner) shooting three’s. Everyone needs to chip in. We’ll have to have a more balanced attack."
And they’ll have to play strong defense, which they did against the Blue Devils.
"The first quarter we played really good defense," Mooney said. "We picked up the pace and created some turnovers and then hit the shots. The guys really challenged each other in practice all week and it was nice to see them come out and do well."
The Pirates are back in action tonight, when they host Princeton in a 7 p.m. start.
Princeton received 16 points apiece from Anthony Brown and Ben Guervil in its loss at Lawrence on Friday night. The Little Tigers were scheduled to play at Monroe on Monday before heading to South tonight.
WW-P North rallied in the fourth quarter against Steinert but still fell short. The Knights were led by the 19-point effort of Connor Hayes, while John Byrnes added 10 points. North was scheduled to play at Howell on Monday night and will play at Trenton tonight at 7.

