Hopewell Valley boys basketball
By: Mike Molaro
Opponents are learning quickly that the Hopewell Valley Central High School boys basketball squad is more than just senior guard Jeff Molinelli and senior center Brendan Rutledge.
While Molinelli and Rutledge carry the bulk of the scoring load, the surrounding cast has played a huge part as the Bulldogs (8-2 overall, 5-2 in the Colonial Valley Conference) are off to one of their best starts in recent history.
Each game it seems that a different player steps up to help bring about a victory.
In the 64-51 home triumph over Steinert on Jan. 11, senior forwards Dave Coville and Chris Gardner did it with their scoring and defense. Gardner again was a defensive force in Sunday’s 47-39 victory at Southern Regional, and sophomore guard Pat Jablonski and senior guard Brian Noyes stepped in for injured senior guard Aksel Gungor at point guard and anchored Tuesday’s 54-42 home win over Hightstown.
HoVal fell to Lawrence 54-36 on the road last Friday.
Molinelli led the way against Hightstown with 22 points, Coville had nine, and Rutledge just missed his second straight triple double with eight points, 11 rebounds and 10 blocked shots.
With eight guys in the scoring column, the Bulldogs played without Gungor, who suffered a concussion against Southern Regional. HoVal’s balance and depth ensured it didn’t miss a beat.
"Pat (Jablonski) and Brian (Noyes) filled in nicely for Aksel," Bulldogs coach Tony Mormile said. "They had low turnovers and kept our offense moving. They both had great all-around games. They were the key to the game.
"Jeff had a great all-around game from start to finish. Brendan has 20 blocks in his last two games. He changes the game for opponents."
HoVal, which led 27-17 at halftime, notched a key league win as it keeps steamrolling along toward a team goal of winning the CVC Patriot Division. The Bulldogs also flexed their defensive muscles, led by Gardner.
"Chris did a great job on Corey Nelson," Mormile said. "He held him to six points. Nelson was the difference the second time Hightstown beat us last year.
"Chris has been terrific on defense all season. He takes pride in his defense. He understands his role. We need the type of defense he has been providing."
With Molinelli scoring a game-high 18 points, Rutledge adding 12 points, 10 rebounds and 10 blocks, and Coville contributing seven against Group IV power Southern Regional, the Bulldogs topped the host school in the Ocean County Challenge.
"We played pretty well," Mormile said. "We built a 16-point lead midway through the third quarter, but Southern cut it to four before we pulled away at the end. It was nice for us to work on some things. We had some trouble with their pressure. We needed to address that at Monday’s practice prior to the Hightstown game.
"Chris (Gardner) had another great defensive game. He held their point guard to two points."
Facing new competition was one of the reasons HoVal scheduled the South Jersey school.
"We got out of Mercer County and played a team we never saw," Mormile said. "They were about our size, and it was good for Brendan (Rutledge) to go against someone 6-7. It was a long bus ride, but that was good for us. The guys handled it well."
The victory over Southern also served two important roles.
"We wanted to prove that we are a good team on the road," Mormile said. "We’ve played most of our games at home so far and winning on the road is a key for any good team.
"Also, we were coming off the loss to Lawrence, and we wanted to get back into the win column quickly. We needed this win."
Molinelli scored 16 points and Rutledge added 10 in the setback to the Cardinals, who the Bulldogs defeated to win the inaugural John Molinelli Holiday Classic a few weeks ago. The loss ended HoVal’s six-game winning streak.
"Lawrence outplayed us," Mormile said. "They deserve all the credit. Lawrence is better than most people think. We didn’t play badly. This was only our second road game in eight games. We weren’t ready for this game.
"We had opportunities to pull away in the first half but only led by one point (23-22) at halftime. Lawrence came out strong in the second half, and we didn’t."
The Cardinals showed the Bulldogs a different look from the first time they played, with Jamil Brown starting at forward.
"Lawrence matched up better with us with Brown in the lineup," Mormile said. "He didn’t play in the first game. We know Lawrence about as well as any team can know another team, and they know us. There was nothing new in this game. They outplayed us."
Gardner topped HoVal with 16 points including four dunks in the triumph over the Spartans. In winning for the sixth straight game, the Bulldogs received 13 points from Coville and 12 from Rutledge.
With a 33-19 halftime lead that increased to 58-34 after three quarters, the Bulldogs were able to clear their bench and get everyone into the game. Again, it was the defense that keyed the win.
"Chris (Gardner) held their point guard (L.D. DiMatteo) to two points," Mormile said. "He had 19 the night before. Dave (Coville) was making the hustle plays and playing hard. Every high school team needs a player like him. Dave draws the tough defensive assignment, he boxes out and he does the dirty work. He doesn’t worry about scoring or shooting.
"A lot of what Dave does doesn’t show up in the box score. The coaches notice it and appreciate it."
Molinelli and Rutledge are HoVal’s bread and butter, but Coville, Gardner, Jablonski, Noyes and Gungor provide the superb supporting cast that has keyed the 8-2 start.
"You have to have more than two guys, and we’ve had that third guy consistently," Mormile said. "It just hasn’t been the same guy."
It’s a lesson opponents are quickly learning.
NOTES: The Bulldogs visit Nottingham on Friday and play host to Princeton next Tuesday.

