By: Kyle Moylan
While the schedule has played a factor, the New Egypt High School boys’ basketball team is on one of the best runs in the history of the program.
After starting the season 0-3, New Egypt has won four out of its last six games and is now 4-5.
"The schedule was better for us, but we have played better," noted New Egypt High Coach Jonathan Corby. "The kids believe in what we are trying to do here."Playing in the Freedom Division, New Egypt was handed games against the likes of Florence, McCorristin and Palmyra. New Egypt didn’t have to go outside of the division to find games to push its team. It was already getting pushed enough.
"When I go outside of the conference, I try and get us some games we can win," Coach Corby noted. "That is a very difficult conference."
New Egypt won two of the three games it played this past week. A sign of how things are starting to change for New Egypt is the fact Corby believes the team should have won all three.
On January 5, New Egypt defeated Calvary Academy, 54-37. New Egypt opened with a 16-9 spurt in the first quarter and steadily built on its lead from there.
Despite only scoring in two quarters six in the first and 10 in the third Tom Partyka finished the game with a team-high 16 points.
Josh Howard kept the pressure on Calvary Academy in the second quarter, scoring six of his 13 points.
Don Bunce scored 11 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Rounding out the scoring, Andrew Weingart scored six, Ricky Mackesy four, and Matt O’Connell and Dan Henninger two points each.
Last Thursday’s 55-52 loss to Lakewood Prep is a game Corby believes his team should have won.
"We were leading the whole game and then we let it get away from us," Corby noted.
Allentown was down 13-11 after the first quarter, but grabbed a 26-20 lead at the half. The lead stayed at six points (40-34) after the third quarter. Unfortunately, Lakewood Prep finished with a 21-12 run over the final eight minutes of play.
Partyka delivered another big game for New Egypt, scoring at least four points in every quarter and finishing with 23 for the game.
"I always knew he had it in him," noted Corby. "He can really score. He’s averaging over 20 points a game."
Not too bad for a junior.
"He went to camps this past summer and got better," Corby said. "He’s a match-up problem for teams."
At 6-2, 200 pounds, Partyka has the ability to go to the basket or go outside for a jump shot.
"Last year he was dealing with how to be a scorer," Corby said. "He’s learning the game. As a sophomore, he was putting up a shot whenever he got the ball. Now he has a better understanding about what’s a good shot. He’s good about making the pass to the open man."
Against Lakewood Prep, Bunce added 10 points, Howard nine and Henninger six. Mackesy and Weingart rounded out the scoring with a basket each.
New Egypt regrouped from this loss to defeat Maple Shade, 53-46, this past Saturday at home.
Partyka had another big game with 26 points, but Howard also played a huge role in the win in the decisive fourth quarter.
New Egypt entered the fourth quarter down, 38-36. Howard scored nine of his 11 points in the fourth quarter as New Egypt rallied for the win. Bunce also hit a big 3-pointer in the fourth quarter and finished with nine points in the game.
Rounding out the scoring, Weingart put in three points and Nate Hlad a basket.
New Egypt was scheduled to face off against a talented Florence team on Tuesday night. The team will be back in action today when it hosts Westampton at 7 p.m. New Egypt will be at BCIT Medford for an 11:30 a.m. start on Saturday. New Egypt will also be away for a 6:30 p.m. start at McCorristin on Tuesday.
The schedule is getting tougher, but that’s okay. New Egypt is also getting tougher.
Because of injuries, New Egypt usually has only sophomores and juniors on the floor.
"I think we can improve from game to game all season," Corby noted. "We have kids that believe in the system and are willing to work."
According to Corby, the talent and work ethic just keep improving.
"Going back a few years, if you were just a good athlete, you could pretty much start on any team in the school," Corby noted. "Now there are 10 to 15 good juniors. And there are 10 to 15 good players in the grade behind them. I’m excited about the future. Even the eight-grade class coming in next year has a lot of talent.
"I’m excited by what’s going on around here. I’m excited to see how it will all work out."
AHS
The Allentown High School boys’ basketball team has already proven it will do just fine taking on teams its own size. Allentown now has to figure out a way to handle the big boys of the Colonial Valley Conference.
Allentown lost all three games it played this past week and is now 3-4 on the year.
Allentown opened up with a 72-63 setback to Steinert on Tuesday, January 4. Scott Anacker made six 3-pointers and finished the game with 28 points. Chris Mazzella made three 3-pointers and finished with 18 points. Eric Nutt put in eight points. Greg Amatrudo, Currie Mooney, Kyle Sullivan, Billy Bacovin and Navid Faryar also scored.
This past Friday, Allentown was defeated by Lawrence, 64-43. Mazzella and Anacker scored 13 points each. Mooney added seven points. Sullivan, Nutt, Amatrudo, Faryar and Jeff Pulmich added a basket each.
Allentown had a game outside of the CVC on Saturday, but ran into a very hot 6-1 Bordentown team. Despite 27 points by Anacker and 22 by Mazzella, Bordnetown emerged with a 77-69 win. Sullivan and Mooney scored six points each and Nutt tossed in five points.
Allentown was scheduled to play at Trenton on Tuesday night. Allentown also had a game at Westampton, a non-conference foe, Wednesday night. Allentown is also scheduled away tonight (Thursday) for a 7 p.m. start at West Windsor South. Allentown will then be off until Tuesday when it hosts Nottingham at 7 p.m.
