Van Zandt Jam remains undefeated in Crazy Johnny Memorial League

Through the first three weeks of the Crazy Johnny Memorial Basketball League, Van Zandt Jam remains the lone undefeated team.

The Jam are 6-0 followed by Crazy Johnny’s, which is 4-2. E-Street Ballers (2-4), Springsteen Shooters (2-5) and Thunder Road Magic (2-5) complete the high school summer league standings. Playoffs are set to begin on Aug. 5.

Games are played Friday and Saturday evenings at Walloo Park in the Port Monmouth section of Middletown. In case of rain, the games are moved inside to St. Catherine’s gym in Middletown.

Van Zandt Jam got 14 points from John Burks and 12 from Adam Sanzillo as they rolled to a 61-42 win over Thunder Road Magic in last weekend’s play. Nick Calabro led the Magic with 17 points.

Crazy Johnny’s topped the Shooters, 82-63, behind Frank Derise’s 27 points. Derise is a perfect 17-17 from the foul line .

Rob and Brian Esser chipped in with 10 and 17 points, respectively, for Johnny’s.

Tyler Gonnella led the Shooters with 17.

The Jam improved to 6-0 when they beat the Shooters, 77-66, on Saturday as John Balitico put in 20. James Cochran poured in a game-high 30 for the Shooters.

The E-Street Ballers edged the Magic, 49-41 behind a red-hot John Dini, who hit for 36 points in the win. Matt Russo and Nick Calabra had 13 each for the Magic.

Dini leads the league in scoring with a 24.3-points-per-game average. Derise is averaging 23.2 ppg and Tyler Walters has 22.2 points per game.

Dini also leads in three-point shots (12). Derise, Gonnella, Russo and Steve Goldstein all have nine.

The league’s top defenders have been Dan Markilum, Pete Jerimich, D.J. William, Rob Esser and Gonnella.

Sign-ups for the Crazy Johnny Memorial fall league will be held 5-6:30 p.m. July 29, 30, Aug. 5, 6 and 12 at Walloo Park, Main Street, Port Monmouth (next to the Sunshine Deli). The fall league will begin play on Sept. 10 and will run through the month of October.

Players are guaranteed half-game playing time and a minimum of 10 games played. The league will play eight-minute quarters with a stopped clock.

The fee is $90 per player with a $10 discount if you are a returning player from the summer who plays on the same team. The league uses IABBO referees.

For additional information, call 732- 671-9319.