BASKETBALL
By Mike Mack, Special Writer
MANSFIELD – The Northern Burlington County Regional High School boys’ basketball team suffered a home defeat to the Chimeras of Willingboro last week.
Despite a very strong scoring performance by senior Stephon Gadiare, the Greyhounds could not overcome its own scattered offensive play and excessive turnovers.
The theme of the Feb. 6 game right from the beginning was that a faster pace was in favor of Willingboro. When the Greyhounds were able to slow the game down the players gained momentum and outplayed the Chimeras. Unfortunately for Northern Burlington, this game was played with a high tempo for the most-part.
Willingboro brought a full court press early in the game that forced the Greyhounds into some mistakes. The Chimeras were also able to shoot NBC out of its 3-2 zone with a few early three-pointers. That may have backfired however, as the Greyhounds picked up some momentum after switching to a man defense.
Early in the second quarter it appeared that NBC was playing with high energy and had all the momentum. Behind nine first half points from Gadiare and eight more from senior point guard Joey Montalvo, NBC took a 27-25 lead into half time. The one thing keeping Willingboro in the game was the number of turnovers by the Greyhounds.
The Greyhounds got off to a quick start in the second half, after a three then a steal and a dunk by Gadiare put some distance between the two on the scoreboard. The Greyhounds extended its lead to seven before the momentum started to turn in the other direction.
The Chimeras found a hot streak from long range once again and, combined with its press creating turnovers, that got the team back into the game. Willingboro carried a five-point lead into the fourth quarter.
Northern Burlington brought more of the same offensively in the fourth. Coming from behind in the final quarter is never easy, and it becomes much more difficult when the offense turns the ball over seven times.
Gadiare did his very best to help his team overcome that however, pouring in 10 fourth-quarter points. The Willingboro defense was able to lockdown the rest of the Greyhounds though and managed to extend its lead in the closing minutes, winning the game by a final of 67-57.
Gadiare finished the game with 24 points, while Montalvo and fellow senior Marcus Brown added 10 each.
Next up for the Greyhounds is a road game at Pemberton township tonight, Monday, Feb. 11. It was scheduled to begin at 5:15 p.m.