By Bob Nuse, Sports Editor
Over the last few years, the Princeton Recreation Men’s Summer Basketball League has served its primary purpose for the players from The College of New Jersey men’s basketball program.
Th league has given the players from the Lions a chance to play together over the summer and work on their individual skills as well as get them playing together as a team. But one thing has eluded the team while playing in the league – a championship.
“We’re hoping we can win the championship this year,” said Bobby Brackett, a Lawrence resident who was a key contributor in helping their Majeski Foundation team capture the regular season league title.
“We’ve been playing in the league for four years and we always get to the semifinals or the finals but we haven’t won it yet. We believe we can win it all this year.”
After going 8-1 during the regular season, top-seeded Majeski Foundation opened the playoffs with a 74-60 win over Pediatric Therapy Solutions on Monday night. The win advanced the team to tonight’s semifinals, where they will face Rogue’s Gallery, a 63-46 winner over Clarke Insurance in the opening round.
Tonight’s other semifinal will pit second-seeded Jesse Krasna Hoops Training against King’s Pizzarama. Krasna Hoops, which also went 8-1 in the regular season, topped Ivy Inn, 52-44, on Wednesday in the quarterfinals. King’s Pizza, the third seed, topped Dr. Palmer, 63-54 in Wednesday’s other quarterfinal game.
Brackett’s 13 points led a balanced scoring effort in Monday’s win. Eric Murdock scored 11 points and Jordan Glover added 10 in the win. Nick Brackett, who played for TCNJ last year, had 24 points and Anthony Brown added 12 in the loss.
For Bobby Brackett, this has been a different kind of summer. He missed all of last summer and all of the winter season at TCNJ with an achilles injury. He’s back now and feeling better being on the court again.
“For me this is good to get me back into the groove of things.” said Bracket, who averaged 10.9 points or game this summer. “I was out the whole year because I was hurt. This summer league has gotten me into better shape in preparation for next year.
“The first game of the summer I had to sub myself out because I was so tired and not ready to play. Now, I feel like I can play as long as I can which is good leading into the winter. I didn’t want to go into the winter without having played a single game. This summer league has helped out a lot.”
Balance has been the key for Majeski. In Monday’s win, all nine players had scored by halftime. Each game a different player seems to be the top scorer as the team looks to build some momentum heading into the regular college season.
“It’s great to get back into the swing of things with everybody else,” said Brackett, who was named a first team All-League selection this summer. “It’s great for them playing with me again and it is great for me getting to play with them again. They played a whole year without me and now the summer league is bringing us back together and it is bringing me back in.
“We’re trying to win the NJAC this year. We lost to Stockton by six in the finals last year so we are right there. We’re hoping we can get over the hump this year.”
They’d like to start by winning a championship this summer in Princeton.
In Monday’s other semifinal, Jeff Dzierzawiec scored 25 point, while Alex Pavlovic and Nick Santalucia scored 10 each in the win for Rogue’s Gallery. Lior Levy led Clarke Insurance with 23 points.
In Wednesday’s games, Terrence Bailey and Kris O’Conner each scored 15 points in the win for King’s Pizza. Cliff Pollard finished with 22 points for Dr. Palmer. Tim Guers scored a team-high 18 points in the win by Krasna Hoops. Tai Crutchfield scored 20 points for Ivy Inn.
Brackett was joined on the All-League first team by Davon Black ofClarke Insurance, Dzierzawiec of Rogue’s Gallery, Guers of Jesse Krasna Hoops Training, and Bailey from King’s Pizzarama.
The second team selections were Skye Ettin of Ivy Inn, Cliff Pollard of Dr. Palmer, Nick Brackett from Pediatric Therapy Solutions, Matt Margolis of Jesse Krasna Hoops Training, and Zavon Johnson of Ivy Inn. The third team selections were Ryan Johnson of King’s Pizzarama, Chris Edwards of Dr. Palmer, John Coolahan of Jesse Krasna Hoops Training, Kevin Johnson of Majeski Foundation, and Chris Bellofatto of Rogue’s Gallery.
Honorable Mention all-League went to Anthony Brown of Pediatric Therapy, Jordan Glover of Majeski Foundation, Corey Stanford of Majeski Foundation, Max Alton of Clarke Insurance, Kenny Gan of Rogue’s Gallery, and Zack Kumor of Jesse Krasna Hoops Training.
