McGUIRE 17 PTS, AMITIE 14 PTS BY HALF, TEEL 11 RBS

Misfortune just before halftime put the top-seeded Cranford High School boys basketball Cougars in a very tough situation when they hosted the fourth-seeded Millburn Millers in front of a jam-packed house during the semifinal round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 Tournament at Cranford High School on February 29. With Cranford leading 30-25 at the half, senior NickAmitie, the team’s leading scorer by far, was benched due to an ankle injury, but the rest of the Cougars reached down deeply and nearly pulled off a victory only to fall short, 53-49.

“Great atmosphere at the game,” Cougar Head Coach Sean Trotter expressed. “That’s the type of game you work so hard to get to play. That’s why we all do it but it’s unfortunate to lose with the best player on the sideline.”

Amitie scored 14 points in the first half, which included a pair of 3-pointers. Junior Jack McGuire scored 10 of his game-leading 17 points in the second half. Additional burden under the boards was in the hands of senior Chase Teel (6 points), who led the 217 Cougars with 11 rebounds. Sophomore Dylan Aveno and McGuire stepped up even more to set up the plays.

The first quarter was a tradeoff of points as the Cougars took a 17-15 lead.Amitie scored nine of the points, including a 3-pointer, McGuire sank a pair of free throws and a 2-pointer, while Aveno and Teel each scored two points. Santiago Fernandez (2 rebounds, assist) scored all six of his points for the 22-6 Millers. Zach Benmorits (10 points, 9 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals) netted five points, including a 3-pointer. Noah Ravitz (12 points, 7 rebounds, 4 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals) scored four points.

The Millers shocked the Cougars early in the second quarter with backto- back 3-pointers (Benmorits and Chace Redler, who would lead his team with 13 points, including trip 3pointers). The Cougars, however, answered with a 10-0 run to seize a 27-21 lead midway through the quarter. Amitie got it started with a lay-up then he assisted Teel on a lay-up. Amitie then dropped back and banged a 3-pointer, so Josh Ketschke (3 rebounds) followed up with a 3-pointer of his own. Ravitz stopped the run with a 2-pointer then Ketschke assisted McGuire on a 3-pointer. Ravitz scored the final points of the quarter as the Cougars led 30-25 at the half.

The third quarter began well for the Cougars. Senior Chris Santarelli (2 rebounds) fed McGuire for his second 3-pointer. Aveno was fouled and sank one of two then Santarelli (4 points) was fouled and sank both free throws to stretch the lead to 36-25. Redler got rough and sank a pair of 3-pointers to cut the lead to 36-31. Wolk and Ravitz added two points each to narrow the lead to 36-35. McGuire was fouled twice and sank all four free throws. Wolk went up and under for two points then Ravitz set him up for another two points as the quarter ended 14-10 Millburn with Cranford clinging to a one-point lead. The Cougars were 7for-8 from the line in the quarter and would finish 10-for-12.

The absence ofAmitie really began to take hold in the fourth quarter as the Millers rolled with an 11-0 run to grab the lead, 50-40, with three minutes on the clock. Chase Plotkin (2 rebounds, 2 assists, steal) got it started with a 3-pointer.

But the Cougars began to chip away at the lead. McGuire fed Teel for two then Aveno shot through for a lay-up and Santarelli added a put back to cut Millburn’s lead to 50-46 with 1:22 remaining. After a bad inbound pass by the Millers, McGuire capitalized and squeezed the lead to 50-48. Fouling was necessary, Wolk went to the line and sank one of two but McGuire was also fouled and sank one of two, making the score 51-49. After Ravitz was fouled and missed both free throws, McGuire attempted a 3pointer to give the Cougars the lead with 18 seconds showing but it bounced off the rim. Benmorits was fouled and sank both free throws to finalize the scoring.

“It’s been the same way all year,” Coach Trotter commented. “Guys step up and the way this season ended was how this year started with this group, last March, and that’s with everyone on our team giving everything they have. It was truly an honor and an absolute joy coaching this group.And I am excited for the future.”

Millburn would face the thirdseeded Colonia Patriots for the title on March 2.

Millburn 15 10 14 14 53 Cranford 17 13 10 9 49