Sayreville boys looking for big results in the new year
Coach is looking for defense to lead the way
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
After a disappointing loss to Greater Middlesex Conference (GMC) White Division foe Monroe on Tuesday, the Sayreville High School boys basketball team is 1-1 heading into this evening's game at South Plainfield.

FILE PHOTO Sayreville's Ricardo Harding (No. 3) in game action from last season. Harding tallied 11 points in his team's 57-53 loss to Monroe last week. Teammates Glenn Cannon and Paul DeLaCosta had 13 points apiece in the loss. In its previous game, Sayreville defeated North Brunswick, 62-40, as 6-foot-9 center Chris Matagrano had 10 points and 10 rebounds. The team's next game is tonight against South Plainfield. The Bombers return to action next week in the Wildcat Tournament (Sussex County).

The Bombers led at the half, 33-29, but Monroe picked up six straight points at the start of the third quarter, and the two teams battled it out to the buzzer, with Monroe prevailing 57-53.

"It was a one-possession game for most of the second half," Sayreville coach Shawn Currie said. "It was a game that could have gone either way. We got into a little foul trouble, but it was a game we could have won."

Juniors Glenn Cannon and Paul DeLaCosta scored 13 points apiece to lead the Bombers' attack, while guard Ricardo Harding added 11 points.

The loss was a reminder of last season when Sayreville compiled a 10-14 record, yet was tantalizingly close to having a much better ledger. The Bombers were quite competitive overall and eight of their 14 losses were by four points or less.

Lest too much emphasis be put on one game, Currie pointed out that his team was solid in its opening-night 62-40 triumph over North Brunswick, another division rival. Chris Matagrano, the Bombers' 6-foot-9 senior center, had a double-double, posting 10 points and pulling down an equal number of rebounds.

Next up is South Plainfield, 1-1, another divisional opponent, which is coming off a 71-64 victory over Woodbridge. Their loss came against Monroe, 55-53.

Currie said his team's hallmark is a scrappy, hustling man-to-man defense. Over the course of the season, the coach said defense will win games. With Matagrano and 6-foot-4 junior forward John DeMild under the hoop, the Bombers should get their share of rebounds.

"I want 32 minutes of solid defense," the coach said. "Our opponents should have to work for everything they get."

Offensively, Sayreville likes to pound the ball inside to Matagrano, and the center has proved to be adept at reading the double teams and often kicks the ball back out to open teammates for midrange jump shots.

Cannon, a 6-foot-2 junior who moved up from the junior varsity, has done a good job up front as well.

Junior Lavone Graham runs the offense from the point,

where he averaged three assists

a year ago. DeLaCosta and Harding give Sayreville

a pair of shooting guards

who can hit from three-point

range, with Javone Hodges

also helping out in the backcourt.

That's particularly important,

because guard Ray Rodriguez is out for the season with an ACL injury. Rodriguez along with Matagrano and Harding serve as tri-captains.

Forwards Michael Cunningham and Jahmar Moodie, two seniors, provide depth off the bench. Two juniors, guard Robert Pizzi and swingman Michael Greco, will split time between the varsity and JV, at least for now.

"We're excited about this season, and our goal is to make the state [CJ Group IV] tournament," Currie said.

"We just have to look at things one game at a time. Right now the most important thing for us is the South Plainfield game. That's all I want our guys concentrating on."

Following the South Plainfield game, Sayreville will be off for a week before heading to High Point School to compete in the Wildcat Tournament. Besides the host team, opponents will include Madison and Woodbridge.