By Mike Mack, Special Writer
MANSFIELD — After sneaking past Jackson Liberty in its first round matchup, the boys basketball team of Northern Burlington County Regional High School has continued its quest for a championship.
Last Thursday, Feb. 28, the Greyhounds took on sixth seeded Ocean Township at home. NBC got off to a decent start in its second round game, leading by three after the first and by six at halftime.
The Greyhounds extended its lead to 10 going into the fourth quarter, but continuing the theme it had set in its first game, and the players seemed determined to play a close game.
Ocean came back in the fourth and made the Coach Gene Darling and the fourth seeded Greyhounds sweat a bit before the final buzzer.
Northern Burlington gave nine points out of its 10-point lead away in the final quarter, barely hanging on to a one-point win, by a score of 55-54, and advancing onto the third round.
Coach Darling expressed how important home court advantage was to him and his team, after NBC was bounced in the second round of last year’s tournament when the team had to take to the road.
This year their three seed in the tournament guaranteed the Northern players two home games. But going into the third round, the Greyhounds would likely have to travel for the next game.
This was not the case — however — NBC ran into a bit of luck, as the 10th seeded Middletown North team upset the second seeded Woodbridge team, giving NBC another home game.
When Middletown North came to Mansfield on Saturday, March 2, the team came ready to play. The Greyhounds got off to a slow start this time and trailed the heavy underdogs by five at halftime, after putting up just four points in the second quarter.
Whatever Coach Darling said to his team at halftime must have worked.
The Greyhounds came out in the second half and looked determined to defend the home floor.
In the third, the Greyhounds took back the lead, and then some, carrying a four-point lead into the final quarter. And this time, NBC was able to close the game out, taking it by a final of 52-48. This win clinched a spot in the group championship for NBC.
Coach Darling’s squad ran into a spot of luck again after that win. If top seeded Colts Neck had won in the other semifinal matchup, NBC would have had to take to the road to face them.
The boys at Lawrence High School had a different plan though. The fifth seeded Lawrence team knocked off the top seed in the tournament to claim the other spot in the championship game, giving NBC yet another home game.
Tuesday night, March 5, Northern played for all the marbles. Again, NBC got off to a slow start and found themselves down by 10 at the half.
”We weren’t able to capitalize on great opportunities early,” Coach Darling said. “I think some of our guys started to let the pressure get to them instead of settling down.”
Lawrence extended its lead to 17 in the third quarter, all but crushing the Greyhounds’ championship dreams. But once again, NBC came on strong late in the game.
”We put together a nice run at the end of the game and got it to four points,” Coach Darling said. “But we were never able to come up with a big basket to put us over the top.”
Northern won the fourth quarter by ten. Unfortunately for the Greyhounds, that left the team down by seven, 56-49 — when the final buzzer rang — bringing a strong season to an end.
Despite the loss, Coach Darling is pleased with the overall performance of his team.
”Our season became an immediate success when we made the sectional final for only the second time in school history,” Coach Darling said. “It would have been great to win, however I am still very proud of this team’s accomplishments.”
Northern’s boys basketball players finished the season with an impressive record of 18-12.

