The Metuchen High School boys basketball team entered last week a disappointing 3-4 on the season. The goal was to get above .500 with three straight wins. The team’s 43-41 victory over J.P. Stevens on Saturday capped off a 3-0 week after wins over Highland Park and Spotswood left them 6-4.
“We did not play our best in any of the three games, but the good thing was that we achieved our goal of winning all three,” said Metuchen head coach Rich Stoner. “We had been averaging near 60 points a game going into last week, but we just didn’t put up the offensive numbers we’re accustomed to. Instead, we needed to rely on the little things and making crucial plays.”
Senior Mike Crusco led the team with 17 points, and teammate Elijah Sellers dropped 14 on the Hawks.
“Mike came up with a big rebound at the end of the game to seal the win,” Stoner said. “Our opponents had a chance to tie or win the game in their last possession in all three of our games last week. We made the stop and grabbed the rebound each time. These are things that don’t show up in the box score, but are crucial to winning games.”
The team’s three straight victories put Metuchen into a three-way tie for second place in the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue Division with John F. Kennedy and Carteret. All three teams enter this week 4-2 in the division. Bishop Ahr remains the front-runner, a team Metuchen hoststonightfora7p.m.tilt. “We didn’t play well defensively in our first match up with Bishop Ahr,” Stoner said. “We got down big early in the game and that put pressure on us offensively. As a result, we took some bad shots. Hopefully, we can do things a little differently and defend better.”
Metuchen’s ability to protect slim leads on the final possession on three separate occasions last week should give the defense a boost of confidence.
“Those late game stops told us we can get important stops when needed,” Stoner said. “Early in the season, we gave up a lot of points in our losses, especially a lot of easy points.”
After taking on the division’s top team tonight, the Bulldogs will close out the week on the road against Middlesex Jan. 28. Middlesex entered this week 3-3 in the division, just a game out of second place.
“Although we didn’t play exceptionally well last week, we did step up as a team,” Stoner said. “In all three wins, somebody different seemed to come through at a crucial moment.”
Against Stevens, Sellers took over the game in the fourth quarter. When Crusco, the team’s leading scorer, left the game due to injury just seven minutes into the contest, Troy Mallory stepped up his game in Crusco’s absence.
“It was a good week for us, and hopefully, the inspired play will carry over into this week,” Stoner said.