MUSTANG ROUNDUP
by Rudy Brandl, Sports Editor
The Manville High girls’ basketball team entered the week still in search of its first victory.
Manville had its best chance of the season last Thursday afternoon at Sussex Tech, a team the MHS girls defeated twice last year. Tech is improved this year and won its fourth game of the season with a 42-37 victory.
It was a see-saw game that saw Sussex Tech open an 8-4 lead after one quarter. Manville stormed back with a big 13-4 surge in the second and led by five points at the half. Sussex Tech won the third quarter to take a two-point edge into the fourth and made enough free throws to win it.
Seven MHS girls scored but nobody could match Tech’s Sarah Miebach, who led all players with 21 points.
MHS junior Amy Evanylo, the team’s leader in scoring, rebounding and blocked shots, tallied 10 points. Amanda Furka and Dana Mortensen added nine points apiece. Kim Jones (5), Tara Covert (3), Christine Pohl (2) and Kate Pornovets (2) also scored in the loss.
Manville fell behind by a big margin early and couldn’t recover in a 59-36 loss at South Hunterdon. MHS trailed 18-2 after the first quarter and was down by 22 points at the half.
Mortensen netted a season-high 17 to lead all scorers. Evanylo tossed in 10.
The Lady Mustangs were looking forward to this week’s rematch with Sussex Tech in Manville. The game was scheduled for Thursday but was moved to Monday, Feb. 2 because of a conflict with the Somerset County Tournament, which begins Saturday.
MHS has games scheduled for Thursday vs. Tech and Friday vs. Delaware Valley. Teams may not play on three consecutive days, so one of the two regular season games had to be moved.
Wrestlers drop
four straight
The MHS wrestlers faced some bigger schools and tough competition last week.
County rival Somerville won six of eight contested bouts in a match that ended with six consecutive forfeits. The Pioneers enjoyed a 24-12 edge in free points and posted a 51-21 victory.
Manville sophomore Eddie Yakobchuk and freshman Peter Hando won bouts. Yakobchuk edged Vinny Triozzi in a 2-0 decision at 125 pounds and Hando pinned Zachary Sanders in 1:40 at 135 pounds.
Somerville prevailed in two tight bouts that went down to the wire. MHS sophomore 112-pounder Devin Burke was hoping to avenge two losses to Jimmy Sutphen in the Somerset County Tournament but dropped a 1-0 decision. County runner-up Nick Janner of Manville couldn’t get a takedown in his 2-1 loss to Connor Williams at 130.
Janner, David Olmsted (135) and Hando won in succession in Saturday’s 48-15 loss to Franklin. Janner posted a 5-2 decision, Olmsted won by forfeit and Hando produced the team’s only fall of the match when he decked Gael Sovon at 4:30.
Manville also dropped matches to Ridge (52-18) and North Brunswick (53-22) at Saturday’s quad. Janner went 3-0 on the day to lead the Mustangs. Hando added a major decision victory against North Brunswick.
The Mustangs (4-12) were scheduled to remain on the road vs. North Plainfield on Wednesday night and vs. Johnson and Plainfield in Clark on Saturday morning.
Boys fall short
in close one
The Manville boys rallied but came up just short in a 57-55 loss to South Hunterdon. Senior Dan Pierrot fired in a season-high 22 points for the Mustangs, who closed the game on a 19-11 surge.
Sophomore Mike Hopkins contributed a career-high 15 points and Eric Hall netted 11 for the Mustangs. Pierrot, Hall and Doug Bradley (5 points) hit 3-pointers in the loss.
Manville was playing short-handed, missing starters Matt Zangara and Karol Blicharz. The Mustangs also weren’t at full strength in their 45-44 loss to Hackettstown on Jan. 9.
Two days later, with everyone back, Manville defeated Sussex Tech. The Mustangs hope to have a full squad for their rematch with South Hunterdon on Feb. 17.

