Facing tough competition pays off
By Bob Nuse, The Packet Group
Even after opening the season with four straight losses, Byron Conover never lost confidence in his Robbinsville High boys basketball team.
That confidence was rewarded with the Ravens won back-to-back games to capture the tournament championship at their own holiday tournament.
”We had played some pretty good teams,” said Conover, who is in his second year as the Ravens head coach. “The kids really stepped up. I told them to hang in there and I was happy about that. The four games we played, except for the South game, we were right in each game. We hung with Trenton until the last two minutes. We could have won the games against Wall and Lawrence. (West Windsor-Plainsboro) South was the only team that really took it to us.”
The Ravens bounced back from those four losses to defeat Riverside in the opening round and then Morrisville, 51-39, in the tournament championship game. Sam Burum and Steve Kowalski led the Ravens with 12 points apiece. Joe Carruba added eight points.
”I told the seniors this was their last holiday tournament and also their first two home games,” said Conover, whose team had opened with four straight road games. “The kids responded. We have eight veterans back and they really responded. They stepped up and I was really proud of the way they responded. Hopefully this will be a nice springboard for us into 2011. We have some tough ones coming up.”
Burum was named the tournament Most Valuable Player.
”Sam played very well,” Conover said. “I thought he played within himself and is doing more of what we have asked him to do for us. He has grown a lot with his overall game from his sophomore to junior year.”
Conover is hoping the two wins help his team as it heads back into the regular season schedule.
”It’s all about confidence with these guys,” Conover said. “Most of these guys are starters on the baseball team and have been to two state finals and three Central Jersey finals. They know how to compete. They have been in big games before. These guys know how to win. It’s a different animal between baseball and basketball, but you still have to go out there and compete.
”We’re trying to change the culture. The school is only six years old, but there has always been the mentality that you come into the season in November and then you put the ball down in February. We’re holding them to a different standard. We had a great summer and that was a key. We had 27 kids at team camp at Villanova.”
Conover likes his team’s chances to compete no matter who they play. And in winning the tournament they did not back down from the challenge.
”My philosophy is they have five and we have five, so let’s lace them up and play,” the Robbinsville coach said. ““It was nice because we have not won before. It’s another boost to their confidence.”
In other holiday tournament action, New Egypt dropped a 59-47 decision to Medford Tech in the championship game of its own Warrior Classic. Desmond Hubert had 16 points and 12 rebounds to lead the way for New Egypt.
Allentown won the consolation game of the Ravens Holiday Classic at Robbinsville. Matt Morini and Dennis Brophy scored 13 points apiece to pace the Redbirds in the consolation game.

