By Wayne Witkowski
The Robbinsville/Allentown Ravens co-op ice hockey team has been off for the winter break, as coach Dan Bergan had the team pass up playing in a Christmas tournament this year to rest, which may have turned out to be an even wiser decision with first line forward Joe Pontrelli out for two weeks with an injury.
Pontrelli is expected to return some time after next weekend.
Although Bergan feels that line, which includes Josh Rosenbaum and Shawn Camisa, continues to play fairly well, losing a little manpower can make things more challenging for the Ravens, who have struggled of late at 5-4.
They had started off 4-1 with a 38-12 scoring edge but then lost three of four games against Lawrence High School, 7-5, Notre Dame High School, 8-3, and Manasquan High School, 5-1. The Ravens only collected a 6-2 victory over Steinert High School in that stretch.
Notre Dame is the only Colonial Valley Conference (CVC) Colonial Division opponent the Ravens have played thus far this season.
“Shawn and Josh are outstanding players and two of the best forwards in the CVC,” Bergan said.
Rosenbaum has scored 18 goals with nine assists, and Camisa has 11 goals and 14 assists.
“It didn’t happen by accident,” the coach said. “They’ve put in more time than most to get there.”
Actually, it’s the second line of Brian Eider, Noah Duggan and Liam Hartmann that Bergan said needs better production against the stronger opponents. Eider leads the way with seven goals, and Hartman has six goals and eight assists.
Hartmann has been filling in on the first line in Pontrelli’s absence, and a number of players have shared taking Hartmann’s spot on the second line over the last four games.
“I’m looking for continued development from our next tier of players to provide the competitive depth we need to have a successful season,” Bergan said.
Goaltending by Nick Koch and Justin Cooper has been inconsistent, but the defense has played well despite its lack of seniors.
“Ryan Van Duren has done a solid job on the back lines and has been the glue there for us. We are young on defense, and he is a good mentor for a couple freshmen defensemen we have,” Bergan said. “Our goaltending has been excellent at times and spotty at other times. We need consistency there.”
Bergan said the team also needs more pride and assertiveness in its defensive zone coverage.
The Ravens resumed action Jan. 3 at Chatham High School, one of the top 10 ranked public school teams in the state, and plays Paul VI High School the following day at Mercer County Park.
Wrestling
Liam McDermott is 4-0 at 170 pounds and freshman Joe Lamparelli continues to impress with a 6-1 start at 106 pounds for Allentown High School.
McDermott upheld his No. 1 seed with a major decision in the finals and gained a semifinal victory by technical fall as Allentown finished in fourth place at the Hawk Classic at Manchester Township High School.
Lamparelli finished in third place, rebounding in the consolation finals after losing in the semifinals, 5-3, to Gateway High School’s Dante Minino, who is regarded as the No. 1 wrestler in the state at his weight. Lamparelli also beat district place-winner Christian Carache, 11-0, while wrestling at 113 pounds in a 45-25 dual-meet victory Dec. 21 over Hightstown High School.
Nolan Pecci got a crucial pin against Hightstown at 160 pounds that gave the Redbirds momentum. Pecci and John Kuchar at 152 finished in second place in the Hawk Classic, and Isaiah Saiz was third at 145 pounds. Freshman Matt Puglia at 126 pounds and Dion Allicock at 195 finished fourth.
Lamparelli won by technical fall, 18-0, and McDermott by major decision, 12-1, but state-ranked Colts Neck High School won, 62-9, Dec. 20. Allentown coach Mitch Nock faulted the slow start in the season opener to the cancellation of the Icebreaker Tournament at Old Bridge High School that was scheduled to start the season Dec. 17 before the Colts Neck meet.
Allentown also had an important quad meet scheduled at home Dec. 30 with Holmdel High School, Manalapan High School and Nottingham High School. Nottingham is a leading contender with Allentown in the CVC Valley Division.
Allentown won the division last season and has never won back-to-back division titles.
After the holiday break, Allentown wrestles at Lawrence Jan. 4 and at Christian Brothers Academy Jan. 5.
Girls’ basketball
Ryan Weise scored 26 points when Allentown raised its record to 4-0 after a 61-41 rout of Pope John XXIII Regional High School in the Vaughn Stapleton Classic at Bridgewater-Raritan High School.
Sarina Campanella and Marin Hartshorn each fired in a dozen points to move the Redbirds into the championship game Dec. 29 against Montgomery High School.
In regular-season action, Weise single-handedly outscored West Windsor-Plainsboro High School South with 15 points, as Allentown won, 59-13, Dec. 22. Campanella and Lauren Coiante fired in 12 and 10 points, respectively.
Weise sank 26 points when Allentown raced to a 44-11 lead at halftime over Nottingham Dec. 20 before winning, 66-33. Campanella scored 17 points, and Hadley Borkowski added 11.
Boys’ basketball
Fourth-quarter rallies figured in a split of games for Allentown (3-2) in the Prime Time ESCIT Tournament at Trenton Catholic Academy.
Nahshon Taylor led four players into double figures with 19 points when Allentown beat Solebury High School from Pennsylvania, 63-56, in the consolation game. Robert Hynes dropped in a dozen points, while Anthony Alexander and Elijah Kelly followed with 11 and 10 points, respectively, as Allentown went on a 21-10 surge in the final quarter.
Taylor scored 26 points, but Princeton Day School went on a 25-10 run in the fourth quarter to beat Allentown, 74-66, in the opening round Dec. 27.