Bergen County Jamboree: D.B.P., Teaneck, Pascack Hills, St. Joe’s Win!

                   Wolfin Leads Pascack Hills Comeback 59-55

Senior Jake Wolfin was simply put” the man” in Pascack Hills 59-55 comeback win over a tough Old Tappan H.S. Down the entire game and at one point trailing by as much as 14, Hills grinded their way back into the contest. Throughout the comeback if a play was needed, Wolfin provided it. He scored 31 points with 4 assists and 3 steals, finally putting them up 52-50 with 1:52 left in the in the 4th on a three from the top of the key and finishing off with two free throws with 7 seconds left to clinch it. Old Tappan had jumped out early behind the shooting of Tim Fougere, who scored 19 of his 22 points in the first half. He got help from Anthony Messina (11 pts., 5 rebs.) and sophomore point guard Shane McLaughlin(10 pts., 4asts.,2tls.). Pascack Hills senior Mike Friedberg (14 pts.,6 rebs.) also came through with a couple of big plays late. Pascack Hills kept their unbeaten record alive and will face St. Joseph H.S. next week in the semifinals.

                        St. Joe’s Survives Paramus Catholic In O.T. 55-53

Paramus Catholic gave St. Joseph H.S. all they could handle,but in the end a three by guard Alex Aitkens and a free throw by Mike Marchman proved to be the difference in a 55-53 overtime St. Joe’s win. The game seemed to be well in hand as Joe’s pushed the lead up to 10 with 3 minutes left. PC went into a 1-3-1 press that caused problems with St. Joe’s as the pressure resulted in PC getting a three from the top of the key from junior guard Andre Blackwood to send the game into overtime. Blackwood had a marvelous game for PC scoring 23 points in the contest. The overtime went back and forth until Aitkens three put Joe’s up 54-53.  P.C. missed after a time out and fouled Marchman, who made one of two. The miss resulted in a desperation three from Eddie Johnson that came off the rim. Kai Dominquez had 17 points in the first half for Joe’s but couln’t find the basket in the second, finsihing with those 17. Joe Efese took over in the second half scoring 10 of his 14 points and adding 11 rebounds. Justin Harris scored 13 points for Paramus Catholic.

                     Dudas 3 Helps D.B.P. Escape Mahwah 52-50

As Mahwah H.S. continued to play inspired basketball it became more of a reality that they were going to pull the upset off against Don Bosco Prep H.S. Mahwah played like a team not intimidated at all. Then, with 1:2 seconds on the clock it came crashing down, as Mike Dudas hit a 3 pointer to give Prep the win. Mahwah led most of the way led by senior Julius Defreese. Defreese finished with 22 points, 4 rebounds and 4 steals and was very hard for D.B.P. to contain. Prep’s sophomore guard Vaughn Gray(18 pts., 4 rebs.) kept his team in the game, hitting three shots late to close Mahwah’s lead 47-46,but Defreese basket made it a three point game. Dudas had tied it with a 3 with a little over a minute left. He was fouled, but missed the free throw. John Ebeling, a Maine recruit for football made one of two to put Mahwah up 50-49. It set the stage for Dudas’s heroics.

                                 Teaneck Downs Ramapo 63-58

Teaneck overcame some sloppy play late and the shooting of Ramapo guard Eric Halejian to beat Ramapo 63-58. Teaneck had a balanced attack as 4 players reached double figures. Javae King- Gilchrist led them with 15 points. Kyle Steinbergin(11pts.), Jonathan Blue (13 pts.) and Aaron Qualls (13 pts.) all reached the double figure plateau. They overcame the 29 point effort by Halejian, including 16 in the second half. His shot to tie late hit the front of the rim. Ramapo’s Ryan Brew contributed 12 points and 8 rebounds, while Donny Fletcher added 6 points and 11 rebounds. Teaneck got a scare when Gilchrist hurt his foot and had to sit for a while. He returned late and help clinch the game with a layup at the buzzer.