https://linebet-bangladesh.com/en/mobile
Home The Atlantic-Hub Atlantic-Hub Sports

Lancers stay on winning track with boys’ hoops win over Blue Devils

Scott Jacobs
Shore Regional High School's Chris Panduri (20) tries to beat out Saint John Vianney's Chris Mikos (25) for the jump ball to start the game on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.

Teamwork and energy were on full display for the Saint John Vianney High School boys’ basketball team in a key victory recently over Shore Regional High School.

The Lancers led the entire game that was played in Holmdel on Jan. 29, securing a 44-31 victory against the Blue Devils for their fifth straight triumph.

Shore Regional seemed to always be within striking distance, with Saint John Vianney only leading, 9-8, at the end of the first quarter, 18-12 by halftime and 27-20 after the third quarter.

It wasn’t until late in the fourth quarter when Saint John Vianney ran away with the game, thanks to both timely defensive stops and even more timely baskets.

Junior point guard Christian Booker and sophomore point guard Jahmal Garraway both pointed to Saint John Vianney’s effort and energy as the differences in the game.

“I think we played really well,” Booker said. “I think we played as a team today. We brought the energy, which we normally don’t really do, but we’re improving on that. I’m very happy with our energy today.”

“In the first half, we didn’t play that well,” Garraway said. “[Shore Regional] played great defense, so shout out to them as well. But luckily, in the second half, we were able to pick it up and get the win.”

The two players believe the win will give the Lancers much-needed momentum heading into the postseason.

“This definitely boosts our confidence,” Booker said. “We’re on a streak now. We have to keep it going.”

“If we can win these next games, we’ll be ready for the Shore Conference [Tournament],” Garraway said. “This was a big win for us.”

The Lancers fell to 10-11 after a 47-48 loss to Matawan Regional High School on Feb. 1 in Matawan.

The Lancers will have a major test on Feb. 9 when they play as the host to Shore Conference A Central Division leader Rumson-Fair Haven Regional High School at 6:30 p.m. They follow with a game on the road against Immaculata High School in Somerville on Feb. 10.

For the Blue Devils, head coach Erik Mazur and junior point guard Kyle Koob were happy with their defense despite the loss, although they wish that the team’s offense performed better.

“I thought we defended well at times,” Mazur said. “I thought we rebounded the ball well. We’re improving in that. Our offense struggled a little bit today making shots. I think that was the big difference in the game right there. We had some opportunities, but we couldn’t knock them down when we needed to.”

“We definitely got better on the defensive end, especially our 2-3 zone,” Koob said. “We’re definitely rotating better in it better than we were in the beginning of the season. We couldn’t get some looks offensively, and sometimes, we got lazy with the ball.”

Mazur said he hopes Shore Regional will continue to make strides on the defensive end. He is in his first year with the Blue Devils, having previously coached at Barnegat High School from 2006 to 2014.

“We just want to keep working hard and getting better, especially on the defensive end.” Mazur said. “We kind of pride ourselves on being better defensively. It’s my first season [at Shore Regional], and that’s one of the first things we talked about when I first got here at the beginning of the year, is getting better defensively. We’re working to continue to get better at it, and we want to get better at rebounding, so we can push the ball in transition and be more effective on the offensive end.”

Koob believes improvement will come if the Blue Devils produce at a higher level during practice.

“We need more leadership in practice, and I take that upon myself and a lot of the seniors as well,” Koob said. “We all need to step up and make sure we’re having better practices. [On Jan. 28], we didn’t have a great practice. So, tomorrow, we need to make sure that we have a great practice, so we’re prepared for our next game.”

The Blue Devils fell to 6-12 after losing, 53-38, to Red Bank Regional High School on Feb. 1 in Little Silver.

Shore Regional was scheduled to be home to Rumson-Fair Haven on Feb. 6 and will remain in West Long Branch to face Raritan High School on Feb. 8 at 6:30 p.m.

Shore Regional High School's Kyle Koob (10) dribbles the ball through his legs during a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Coach speaks to his team during a timeout at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Chris Panduri (20,left) blocks a shot at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Chris Panduri (20) looks for a scoring oppurtunity at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Chris Panduri (20) rushes the basket at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Chris Panduri (20) dribbles the ball up the court at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Chris Panduri (20) rushes the defense at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Ryan Paglia (15) protects the ball after a collected rebound at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Leonardo Montesinos (2) tries to beat out a defender at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Leonardo Montesinos (2) rushes the basket at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Leonardo Montesinos (2) takes a shot from deep in the corner of the court at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Kyle Koob (10) rushes the basket at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Saint John Vianney Cheerleaders perform during halftime at a game against Shore Regional High School on Jan 29. Saint John went on to win the game 44-31
Shore Regional High School's Kyle Koob (10) takes a shot at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Kyle Koob (10) rushes the basket at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Shore Regional High School's Kevin DuBois (12) tries to find a scoring oppurtunity at a game against Saint John Vianney on Jan 29. Shore Regional Went on to loose 44-31.
Saint John Vianney's Head Coach speaks to his team during a timeout at a game against Shore Regional on Jan 29. Saint John went on to win the game 44-31.
Saint John Vianney attempts to collect a defensive rebound at a game against Shore Regional on Jan 29. Saint John went on to win the game 44-31.
Saint John Vianney's Zach Moran (0) brings the ball up the court at a game against Shore Regional on Jan 29. Saint John went on to win the game 44-31.
Saint John Vianney's Chris Mikos (25) looks for a scoring oppurtunity at a game against Shore Regional on Jan 29. Saint John went on to win the game 44-31.
Saint John Vianney's Chris Mikos (25) tries to beat out defensive pressure at a game against Shore Regional on Jan 29. Saint John went on to win the game 44-31.
Saint John Vianney's Chris Mikos (25) takes a foul shot at a game against Shore Regional on Jan 29. Saint John went on to win the game 44-31.
Saint John Vianney Cheerleaders perform during halftime at a game against Shore Regional High School on Jan 29. Saint John went on to win the game 44-31
Exit mobile version