Allentown basketball teams lose MCT openers

By: Kyle Moylan
   With his team playing its best basketball of the season, Allentown High School girls’ basketball Coach Bob Dubina wanted to start the Mercer County Tournament the day after a big win against West Windsor North.
   Instead, the team had to wait six days. Six days with no games at all.
   This past Monday, Allentown was defeated by Hopewell in the Mercer County Tournament opener, 40-27.
   "We had twelve turnovers against West Windsor North," Dubina recalled. "(Monday night) we had 27. We played West Windsor North last Tuesday and we were playing our best basketball. A week layoff. Did it hurt? Yes, it did."
   It was one of those nights where the passes were just off the fingertips, where the transition runs were a step away from being breakaways. You know, it was just one of those nights.
   "I’m real disappointed," noted Dubina. "We had just put together two of our better basketball games. My hope was to get to Trenton and to just roll the dice."
   Instead, Hopewell got a shot at top-seeded Trenton yesterday. Allentown was scheduled to play one of its two Mercer County consolation games yesterday when it faced Princeton. Allentown will also have a consolation game on Friday. Allentown will conclude the season next Wednesday on Senior Night against Hightstown. Allentown will be trying to prove it can play better than it did Monday.
   Although it struggled on offense throughout the game, Allentown’s hustle on defense gave it a 17-16 lead at the half.
   Hopewell came out and hit a quick 3-pointer in the opening seconds of the third quarter. Lindsey Leck answered with a 3-pointer for Allentown. Unfortunately, Allentown was held to just seven other points the rest of the second half.
   Scoring was especially difficult for Allentown in the fourth quarter. In fact, its only two points of the quarter were put in by Jen Richard with 1:15 to play after Dubina had removed all of Allentown’s starters.
   "We’re just having problems scoring," Dubina said. "We can’t seem to put the ball in the basket. That’s been a problem for a while."
   Usually when Allentown has trouble scoring, it gets the ball to Barbara Jones, who has put in over 1,000 points during her high school career. Allentown tried this Monday night as well, but Hopewell came up with a good defensive plan.
   Whenever Jones got the ball down low, Hopewell double teamed her, trying to force her to pass the ball back outside. Hopewell then used its speed to cut off the passing lanes.
   "We just kept pounding the ball in to Barbara and she got frustrated because they were double teamming her," Dubina said. "We just weren’t running anything on offense."
   While frustrated by the loss, it was one Dubina could take because the effort was certainly there. Actually, the same could be said about the whole season.
   "I can’t say this year has been disappointing because the girls have worked so hard," Dubina said. "From wins and losses, yes it was frustrating. But the effort has been there. We just lost two games in overtime and six by six points or less. If we had given up, it would have been a different story. That never happened. We go hard for 32 minutes with what we have."
   And, including yesterday’s game, it will do the same in the final three contests as well.
   NOTES: Jones led Allentown with 10 points, all of which came in the first half. Lina Sancilio scored six points, Leck four, Liana Hernandez three and Lauren Van Hise two. All 14 of Allentown’s players — which includes Alisha Richmond, Dominique Cerulo, Erin Kelley, Amie Ballo, Christine Beal, Allise Mantel, Brittany O’Brien and Caitlyn Ryan — played in the game.
   BOYS



   The Allentown High School boys’ basketball team will also be playing a pair of games in the consolation round of the Mercer County Tournament. Allentown was, however, in a great position to win its opener this past Monday night.
   Allentown took a five-point lead into the fourth quarter, but it was defeated by West Windsor South, 80-78.
   Allentown was up by two after the first quarter, but trailed 44-36 at the half. Allentown then came through with a great 23-10 run in the third quarter.
   Scott Anacker was hot from the outside. He made six 3-pointers and finished with 38 points. Chris Mazzella also had a great game. He made three 3-pointers and finished with 28. Eric Nutt added five points and Greg Amatrudo four.
   Allentown made out much better against the other West Windsor team on Tuesday, February 8. Allentown defeated West Windsor North, 67-54.
   Anacker scored 24 points in that game. Mazzella scored 19 and Amatrudo 12.
   Even before his game against West Windsor South, Anacker led the Colonial Valley Conference in scoring average and 3-pointers. Anacker has 60 3-pointers this season. His scoring average in right about 20 points a game.
   Allentown was scheduled to host Princeton day last night. Allentown will also have a MCT consolation game on Friday night.