MHS rallies to top Rancocas Valley
By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
The Montgomery High boys basketball team was in a dire situation in its Central Jersey Group IV quarterfinal game against Rancocas Valley.
The Cougars top player, James Loupos, had picked up three fouls in the first four minutes of the game, sending him to the bench for the remainder of the half. In addition, starting point guard Brian Testa fractured his finger in the opening minutes and was also lost for most of the first half.
But fortunately for Montgomery, depth is not an issue. Christian Benz and Mike Reynolds came in off the bench and kept the Cougars in the game until Loupos and Testa were able to return.
Montgomery erased a 10-point halftime deficit and topped Rancocas Valley, 53-52, to stay alive in the state tournament.
”We’ve been working all season and we have plenty of depth on our team,” said Benz, who came off the bench to score 11 points in the opening half. “Other guys stepped up, me included, and I was ready. I’ve been ready all season and it was a good opportunity for me to come in and help the team. We helped keep the team in it in the first half and then in the second half we pulled through.”
As much as Montgomery coach Kris Grundy would have loved to have had Loupos and Testa on the court, he also had that much confidence in the guys coming off the bench.
”Mike played real well in the first half and Christian basically played the entire game,” said Grundy, whose team needed 18 second-half points from Loupos to pull out the win. “That’s what makes us such a tough team. This isn’t Christian’s coming out party. In our holiday tournament against Wayne Hills he had 18 points and 10 rebounds. He is capable of doing that. It’s nice to be able to bring 6-6 off the bench.”
Benz stepped on the court with Loupos in foul trouble and got the job done. It’s something the 6-foot-6 senior is always ready to do.
”The fact they were trying to take out our best player was extra motivation for us and just made us push harder,” said Benz, who finished with 13 points and seven rebounds. “We knew in the second half we were still in the game and we could come back the way we did. It was a high-scoring game, but I thought defensively we did a good job shutting them down in the second half.
”We have plenty of depth. Mike did a great job and Jon Lott stepped in and he is a very good defender. Even the guys who didn’t play today, they do a great job helping the team get ready for every game.”
Matt Mignon hit some big shots, Josh Prevost started to dominate the boards, and Loupos was Loupos as the Cougars rallied to defeat a talented RV team.
”Starters or coming off the bench, it makes no difference,” Benz said. “I’ve always come off the bench. As a team we’re a family. We use family all the time. The players, the alumni, the fans, the coaches, we’re all a family.”
Benz has never been a player to sulk because he has to come off the bench. And last Thursday the senior answered the call in a big spot.
”State tournament time is about seniors,” Grundy said. “Brian Testa unfortunately fractured his finger so he was out. I could not be more proud of my four seniors and my entire team for the way we came back.”