BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer
EDISON – Bishop Ahr’s Cory Francisco posted 26 points, 13 rebounds and five steals to lead the boys basketball team to a 75-56 win over Highland Park last week as the Trojans improved to 8-3 on the season.
Prior to the win over Highland Park, Francisco contributed 15 points in the team’s 58-57 loss to Middlesex.
“Cory has exceeded all expectations,” Bishop Ahr head coach Dennis O’Keef said. “He’s averaging 21 points per game and he continues to get better defensively.”
The Trojans and Highland Park battled through a close first half before Bishop Ahr pulled away in the second half by outscoring the Owls 40-25. Francisco scored 10 of his 26 points in the fourth quarter to help put the game out of reach. He buried four 3-pointers during the course of the contest.
“He’s come through for us in the way we hoped at the beginning of the season,” O’Keef said. “We knew he’d have to score some points for us this season and he’s been everything we hoped for.”
Also finishing in double-figures for the Trojans in the win over Highland Park were Martese Street and Jordan Madsen. Madsen ended the contest with 11, while Street chipped in 10.
Despite another valiant effort from Francisco and a team-high of 19 points from Mike Williamson, the Trojans started last week with a tough 58-57 loss to Middlesex.
“We were off that day and the team was terrible,” O’Keef said. “We committed to many turnovers and took poor shots. Overall, it was just a bad game for us.”
Middlesex junior forward Nick Fariella led his team with 17 points and a dozen rebounds. His layup with time expiring sealed the upset.
This week, the Trojans will play Blue Division rivals Metuchen and Cardinal McCarrick as the second half of division play kicks into high gear. Bishop Ahr beat Metuchen the first time through but lost by 12 to McCarrick.
“We hope we can do the same exact thing we did when we played Metuchen the first time,” O’Keef said. “McCarrick shot the ball pretty well against us that first time, so we’ll have to make some adjustments. What those adjustments will be I’m not quite sure of at this time. We’ll have to do a little bit of everything better on the defensive end. We just haven’t been consistent defensively.”
In addition to Francisco’s solid play, O’Keef has liked what he’s seen out of Martese, Madsen and Zack Widdoss. The three combined for 25 points in the team’s win over Highland Park.
“All three have rebounded the ball well and played well defensively,” O’Keef said. “Zack played particularly well for us in the Highland Park game.”
With Francisco averaging 21 points per game and the trio of Martese, Madsen and Widdoss contributing on a consistent basis, the Trojans appear in top form to make another run for the Blue Division title. This week’s action against two of the division’s top teams should provide some answers.