By Justin Feil, The Packet Group
A thrilling finish to their Hillsborough Holiday Classic opener paved the way to a championship for the host Raider boys basketball team.
The Raiders needed a last-second three-pointer from tournament Most Valuable Player Devonn Foster to pull out a 41-38 win over Hightstown last Wednesday in their first game, then in the title game ran away from Marist for a 64-33 championship win last Thursday.
”Any time you can win a tournament or bring home a trophy or hardware, you’re happy,” said Hillsborough head coach Ian Progin. “I think more of it is about how you played and performed. The kids played and performed very well in the championship game. We all had a little of an off night the night before.”
Hillsborough actually seemed headed for a blowout win against Hightstown after taking a commanding 16-5 lead after the first quarter, but things tightened significantly when the Rams owned the third quarter, 11-2. Foster, though, hit a pair of three-pointers in the fourth quarter, including one with 1.6 seconds to play to snap a 38-38 tie for the win.
Foster finished with 14 points, the only player in double figures. Greg Faenza had seven points, Matt Hornich had six points, Nick Alaimo scored five points and Kevin Greck, Nigel Herbert and Jason Jolliffe all had three points apiece.
”Hightstown is a pretty good team, maybe a little better than we realized,” Progin said. “We had a little bit of an off night. They were able to dictate the pace and tempo of the game. We weren’t. As the game was going on, it was slowing down more and more. We like to play a little quicker.
”Finally in the fourth quarter, we made some adjustments and did some different things to pick up the pace of the game. It was nip and tuck. Devonn Foster stepped up big time. He made two 3s. He made one basically at the buzzer. He carried us down the stretch.”
It was the Raiders’ closest game of the young season. Aside from Tuesday’s 39-29 loss to Bridgewater-Raritan in a battle of previous unbeatens, Hillsborough hadn’t been in such a tight late-game situation yet this season, and Progin was pleased with how they hung in despite a tough offensive night.
”We still played pretty good defense that night in terms of number of points we gave up,” Progin said. “I wasn’t disappointed with that, but we did have a couple breakdowns that we could have been better at. But it goes to show if you play defense and rebound, that keeps you in the game and you have a chance. And then we had a senior step up.”
The thriller seemed to spur the Raiders in the title game. They again jumped out to a big lead, 17-6, after the first quarter, but they didn’t let up after halftime as they built a 23-point advantage before closing out the fourth quarter in dominant fashion.
”That’s what made me very proud of them the second night,” Progin said. “They bounced back within 24 hours and controlled the pace and the way the game went in the championship game. For a group that’s a little less experienced, to go from not being able to dictate the pace of the game, to be able to do that, shows you a little growth early on.
”We did play well. Everyone actually played well. Everyone that got an opportunity to play pitched in. Matt Hornich dominated the game. They had a big man who was good too. Matt had 17 points and 10 rebounds, career high in both categories.”
The Raiders gave Hornich plenty of help. Foster was good again with another 14 points. Alaimo chipped in with 10 points. Jolliffe had seven points, while Faenza and Alec Johnson had six points apiece. Greck and Aaron Severson had two points apiece.
Progin felt better about his team’s performance all-around in the title game. He’s looking for more progress as the season continues. He’s already seen plenty of growth from the likes of Foster, whose MVP performance cemented the senior’s spot as a team leader. Through the first five games of the year, he averaged 13.2 points per game.
”Last year, as a junior, he did come off the bench, but we were fairly senior heavy,” Progin said. “He got some little minutes here and there. As the year progressed, he got better and better. In the offseason, he improved a lot and he’s having a nice senior year to this point.”
Foster brings some experience and is leading by example a young team that has impressed early. His play has been a key to the 5-1 start going into today’s game against Immaculata.
”He has a better overall understanding of our concepts, principles and philosophies, things that when you’re new the varsity level, take some time to learn,” Progin said. “He had the opportunity to slowly work his way in last year. He’s been more of a leader by example on the floor. He’s competitive. He picks up on things. As a coach, it’s nice to see the improvement. He’s a better rebounder this year. He’s a better shooter. He’s a better passer with fewer turnovers. He’s completely able to play at the speed of the varsity game this year. Although he was quick and athletic, it just took him some time. He had a little more of a role last year at the end. I think that helped prepare him for this year.”
The Raiders need to maintain their play as they get back into conference play. Hillsborough will be taking on teams that are more familiar with them and will know better how to slow the Raiders.
”In general, it gets harder from here,” Progin said. “With every win, the target gets bigger. Immaculata, they’re always tough. We’re going to start playing some better competition. It’s only going to get tougher from here. We have to make progress every day. We try to preach, with every quarter and practice and game, are we getting better as a team, as individuals, as a unit. Are we learning? Lot of it sounds like coachspeak, but that’s what it’s about. It’s a progression. You have to continue to make progress. Are we getting better as the season goes on?
”You can’t control every win and loss, but you can control how you play,” he added. “Are you doing things right and properly?”
The Hillsborough boys showed progress in their holiday tournament wins, and the Raiders are hoping with continued growth there could be other championship opportunities down the road.
