SPORTS: Greyhounds continue quest for championship

Florence, Bordentown and Northern Burlington coaches reflect on basketball seasons

By Mike Mack, Special Writer
   Basketball fans, March Madness may still be a few weeks away but on the high school level, it’s tournament time.
   Bordentown Regional High School earned a 13 seed in the Central Group two tournament and took to the road to take on Spotswood Monday night.
   As a heavy underdog, the Scotties had a lot to overcome. The team had to play a Spotswood team with a 20-7 record on their home floor. Unfortunately for Bordentown, it was too much to handle.
   ”Spotswood is a good team,” said Bordentown Head Coach Kevin Wright. “They are disciplined and well coached.”
   Bordentown got off to a slow start and trailed by 10 points after the first quarter. Spotswood never let up, winning or tying every quarter thereafter and taking the game by a final of 74-49.
   ”It was a good learning experience for our underclassmen,” Coach Wright said. “And a disappointment for our seniors, who have worked hard for several years to get to this point.”
   The loss brings Bordentown’s season to an end with a final record of an even 13-13. Despite the loss, Coach Wright has maintained a positive outlook on this season.
   ”When we look at the season as a whole, our program took a huge step forward this year,” Coach Wright said. “Next year, we look to take the next step and win in the playoffs.”
   Florence Memorial High School also earned a 13 seed in the Central Group one tournament, and traveled to take on Shore Regional Tuesday night.
   With a 12-11 record, Florence was also a heavy underdog against the 17-4 Shore Regional team. Head Coach Cesar Pereda was optimistic, despite the odds against his team.
   ”We prepare for each team the same,” Coach Pereda said. “If the other team takes us lightly, then it’s on them.”
   Shore however, did not take them lightly. Florence found themselves down 14 by halftime and Shore blew the game open in the third. For Florence, the season came to an end with a 62-37 loss.
   ”It was an off game for us,” Coach Pereda said. “Things were just not going our way and everything was clicking for them, We lost to the better team tonight.”
   Still, like Coach Wright, Coach Pereda is willing to look at the silver lining for the season as a whole.
   ”I felt that we grew from December to now,” Coach Pereda said. “[I’m] Proud of my boys and how they played all year long to get better.”
   The story was a bit different for Northern Burlington County Regional High School.
   The Greyhounds boasted a 15-11 record going into the post-season and earned itself a third place seed in the Central Group three tournament. NBC was home Tuesday night to take on Jackson Liberty.
   Head Coach Gene Darling was happy with his team’s seed and their achievements this season.
   ”Our goal was to try and be inside the top four to try to guarantee ourselves two home games,” Coach Darling said. “We saw a major difference playing the first game at home last year and then traveling in our second round.”
   And Coach Darling will continue to be pleased with his team’s performance after they were able to advance past their first round challenge with a hard fought overtime victory.
   ”(The) team played well enough to win,” Coach Darling said of the 50-44 final. “Everyone contributed and we are now focusing on our next opponent.”
   That next opponent will be the fifth seeded Lawrence High School tonight, Thursday. The Greyhounds will be home again, possibly for the last time this season, to continue its quest for a championship.