By Warren Rappleyea
Sayreville War Memorial High School’s boys’ basketball team upped its record to 11-5 with a 66-61 victory over previously undefeated Hunterdon Central Regional High School in the Investors Classic at Kean University Jan. 20.
The Bombers have won six of their last eight games. However, the Blue and Gray came off a disappointing loss, 67-65, to John F. Kennedy (JFK) Memorial High School (5-8) Jan. 19. After getting out to a 21-11 lead in the first quarter, Sayreville could not put the Mustangs away.
Despite the loss, Sayreville is 7-1 in divisional play and still leads the Greater Middlesex Conference’s (GMC) White Division.
Against Hunterdon Central, coach John Wojcik’s team persevered through a first half that saw it go into the break down by six points. Playing without leading scorer Ryan O’Leary, five Sayreville players scored in double figures, led by senior forward Jayson DeMild, who scored 15 points. Jahsim Floyd added 14 points to the winning effort.
“The Kennedy game was not our best,” Wojcik said. “You have to give them credit, but we got up early and kind of took it for granted. That can’t happen. We need to play every minute, and that’s what happened in the Hunterdon Central game.”
After reaching the finals of the Red Bank Regional High School Buc Classic during the holiday break, Sayreville opened the new year with a loss to powerful Gill St. Bernard’s School (12-2). The Bombers then reeled off wins against Edison High School, Bayonne High School, Woodbridge High School and New Brunswick High School before dropping a 60-53 decision at St. Mary of the Assumption High School in Elizabeth (11-3). Wojcik’s team then bounced back and defeated North Brunswick Township High School for the second time this season prior to the loss at JFK Memorial.
Sayreville’s varied offense has proven difficult for opponents to contain and has produced 65 or more points 11 times this winter. O’Leary, who has nailed 25 3-pointers, averages 17.1 points — tops on the team. The senior has scored 20 points or more five times, including a season-high 27 in a victory over North Brunswick.
Floyd is a presence under the hoop on both ends of the court. The 6-foot-7 senior leads the team in rebounding and blocked shots while also averaging 12 points. Xavier Townes, who transferred from Saint Joseph High School of Metuchen, averages 11.5 points and has shown an ability to draw fouls and crash the boards. Captain Henderson Mautes is averaging 10.1 points and has 22 treys to his credit.
DeMild has been solid at both ends as well. Limited to 14 games a year ago after an injury during the football season, the senior has been a factor throughout, averaging six points. Senior Ope Olaloko and junior Elijah Clark give Wojcik depth to call upon. Olaloko is averaging six points and is strong under the rim, while Clark has averaged four points.
The Bombers were scheduled to host Colonia High School Jan. 24 and are set to visit Edison Jan. 26. Sayreville will head to Union City High School Jan. 28 for a nonconference game.
