The Scotch Plains-Fanwood High School boys basketball team defeated the Cranford Cougars, 53-38, in Scotch Plains on January 11. Three days later, the Montgomery Cougars, trailing 37-34, outscored the Raiders, 14-6, in the fourth quarter to salvage a 48-43 victory at Kean University.
Against Cranford, Raider Anderson Pollack banged in 14 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, and added five steals and a rebound. Sam Sponheimer scored 12 points, including two 3-pointers and 4-for-6 from the line, to go with four rebounds, two steals and an assist. Jaden Carpien finished with eight points, three rebounds, two blocks and two steals. Kyle Hunter had five points, five rebounds, four assists and two steals. Jacob Handy (rebound, 2 assists) and Brayden Gal (3 rebounds, steal) each sank a 3-pointer. Caleb McDowell had four points and four rebounds. Jack Merkel (rebound) and Jack Wall (assist, steal) each scored two points.
Pollack also led the 8-5 Raiders against 9-1 Montgomery with 13 points (2 3-pointers) two assists, two rebounds and a steal. Carpien finished with nine points (3-pointer), four rebounds, two assists and a block. Hunter scored eight points (2 3-pointers) and added three assists, two rebounds and a block. Wall had six points, two rebounds and a block. Sam Sponheimer had four assists, five points, five rebounds and a steal. Jack Sponheimer had two points, a rebound, assist and a steal. Gal grabbed three rebounds.
Ethan Lin led Montgomery with 17 points, including trip 3-pointers. Bohdan Biekietov netted 12 points (3-pointer). Steve Donahue scored nine points, Jack Fromelt had a pair of 3-pointers and Brandon Davis scored four points.
