LAWRENCE: Close-knit boys hoops grows from narrow losses

By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
   The Lawrence High boys’ basketball team has suffered through its share of tough losses this season.
   There was a double-overtime defeat at Hamilton last week, followed by a last-second loss at Steinert. But more often then not, the Cardinals have pulled out the close ones.
   On Tuesday, as Ewing rallied in the fourth quarter to cut an 11-point lead to two, the Cardinals’ confidence never wavered and in the end they held on for a 66-60 win. With the victory, Lawrence improved to 12-4 overall and 8-2 in the Colonial Valley Conference, clinching the Valley Division title in the process.
   ”It gives us toughness down the stretch,” senior Corey Thomas said of having played so many close games. “In the beginning of the year we had a couple close games and that made us ready for these types of games at the end of the year.”
   Thomas and Terrence Bailey led a balanced Lawrence offense with 17 points apiece in the win over Ewing. Nick Brackett had 13, while Junior Austin added 10 points and Paul Grant scored six points off the bench.
   That’s the sort of balance the Cardinals have had all season. They’ve proven to be the type of team where the sum is greater than the individual parts.
   ”We’re not going to beat you individually and I try to stress that to the them,” said Lawrence coach Pat Tarrant, whose team will play at West Windsor-Plainsboro South on Friday. “But we can beat teams collectively. We have some pieces and guys in roles.
   ”Since the first practice we’ve had very good chemistry. The guys came in with a good attitude and they really wanted to be successful. You could just tell that from the first day.”
   Thomas has sensed that from the very beginning of the season this was a team that could have a special year.
   ”Our leadership is strong,” Thomas said. “We try to keep our heads up all the time. We have a lot of leaders on the team this year. We love playing with each other. That is what a team is. And we play hard. Anything can happen when we play hard.”
   Tarrant knows that every night out he’s going to get the maximum effort from his team. And the Cardinals have shown the ability to shake off tough losses and bounce right back.
   ”The teams are tough,” said Austin, who added four assists and three steals to his 10 points. “We play physical and we play hard. We just need to learn to finish at the end. We take no one lightly. Every team is capable of winning any game. We need to finish and play right to the end.
   ”We all play together. That’s how you win the games. The five players on the court and everyone on the bench are together. We can’t win without the bench and we can’t win without each other.”
   Against Ewing, the Cardinals won with everybody doing their part. Four players were in double figures on offense. Thomas did what he needed to do inside and outside. Austin was his usual pesky self on defense. And the rest of the cast did their part.
   ”I’m a versatile player,” Thomas said. “I play wherever the coach needs me to play. Inside or outside, it doesn’t matter to me. Every game he usually puts me down there. I just play tough and try to get as many rebounds as I can.”
   Added Austin: “I just try to disrupt people and create a lot of turnovers. I try to get us on the fast break. Our defense creates offense.”
   As a coach, Tarrant loves having players who can do all the little things it takes to win games.
   ”Corey grew up playing inside,” Tarrant said. “Now he can play all over the court. He’ll be a nice Division III player because he can do a lot of things. Junior did so much for us offensively and defensively. He gathered loose balls. Showed leadership. This might have been his best game.
   ”Terrence didn’t score much early. But he got loose balls and he hustled and really played hard. They all play hard.”
   And they held on at the end of a close game, clinching a Valley Division title in the process.