Slow start dooms Raiders at Freehold
By: Rudy Brandl
The Hillsborough High boys’ basketball team started playing a little bit too late in Wednesday night’s Central Jersey Group 4 quarterfinal game at Freehold Township. The result was a 79-59 elimination loss for the Raiders.
Top-ranked Freehold scored 20 straight points to end the first period with a 20-2 lead and never looked back. The Raiders fought back with 29 points in the third quarter and cut the deficit all the way down to 11 early in the fourth. Freehold clinched the victory at the free throw line.
"Take away the first quarter and we lose by two," HHS head coach Ian Progin said afterward. "We played hard and didn’t give up, but they’re a very good team and there’s a reason they’re ranked sixth in the state."
Senior point guard Tom Pappalardo led the Raiders with 17 points and six assists. Rob Champouillon (15) and Tom Molarz (12) were also in double figures for Hillsborough, which ended its season at 11-12.
For complete coverage of all the HHS teams in the state playoffs, see Thursday’s Hillsborough Beacon.

