-By: Pete Vincent
Hudson County Boys Basketball update for the week of January 13th, 2012
H.S. Boys Basketball Top 5
1-St. Anthony (10-0)
St. Ant’s still remains the only unbeaten team in the county going on 3 years now, but faces what some would say is Hurley’s toughest test of the season so far against the #4 team in New Jersey, Atlantic City H.S. This is a rematch of last year’s T.O.C. semi-final which St. Ant’s won by 30…Can the Friars prove that they are still the better team without “Slow-mo” aka Kyle Anderson (UCLA)? The game takes place this Saturday at 5:45 at the Jersey City Armory as the Showcase game in the Dan Finn Classic and is one of this week’s 14A Sports H.S. Games of the Week.
2-Hudson Catholic (13-1)
After running through the county competition by an average margin of 38 points, can they be beaten? Surprisingly, Snyder gave them a scare last week when Hudson squeaked by with a 56-53 victory in what was their toughest test of the season having to play without star sophomore, PG, Nassir Barrino. This week they host a heated rival in Marist on Tuesday at 7pm. It is also one of 14A sports games of the week.
3-St. Peter’s Prep (7-4)
Regarded as one of the best coaching staffs in the county by many, second to St. Ant’s of course, St. Peter’s Prep is coming off probably the toughest independent schedule of any team in Hudson County. Playing teams like the #1 in the country, Montverde Academy (FL), Bishop Kearny (NY), Hudson Catholic and St. Joseph’s Met., has prepared Prep for another post season run as they begin to roll through county opponents.
4-Marist (9-1)
After playing what many in the county described as a very week schedule to begin the season, Marist opened the season 9-0. Currently, midway through a gauntlet of tough (to say the least) opponents beginning with convincing wins against Snyder and then Ferris, Marist suffered its first loss to Prep on Sunday and now face rival Hudson Catholic on Tuesday night. Many predict a blowout but Marist is determined to prove otherwise.
5-Snyder (8-2)
With stud transfer from St. Anthony’s in James Richardson, Coach Shelton Gibbs has the back court he needs along with William Conyers to compete with any team in the county. Even though they took two back-to-back losses against Hudson Catholic (By 3 points) and Marist (by 13 points) many people believe in Snyder and think they have what it takes to make a strong playoff run in late February.
Boys Players to watch:
Hallice Cooke (St. Anthony): an Oregon State commit, Hallice is truly one of the top players in the state. A deadly 3 point shooter with long range, Hallice is also one of the top offensive rebounders on the team at 6’3”. Saturday’s match up against Atlantic City is where Hallice needs to prove that he and teammate Josh Brown can lead the Friars to victory without Kyle Anderson.
Reggie Cameron (Hudson Catholic): a Georgetown commit, Reggie is ranked as not only one of the top players in the state but as one of the top 3-pt shooters in the country. Reggie is on his way to scoring over 1,500 points in his H.S. career and is guiding the Hawk offense to an average of 80 points per game.
James Richardson (Snyder): starting to get a lot of college looks after averaging 22 points per game in Snyder’s first 10 games of the season, teams will now look to box and 1 and double team him in an effort to cripple Snyder’s offense. How Richardson handles the pressure will either solidify him as one of this year’s top players or just prove that is wasn’t so much him but rather the lack of competition he faced.
Devyn Ransom (Marist): also unsigned, Ransom has put up some big numbers for Marist so far this season averaging a double double in points and rebounds for the Royal Knights. He is a key contributor when C Manny Suarez gets double teamed they look to Ransom to bail them out and he does. Averaging 18 points per game and 11 rebounds Ransom has proven to be one of the top players in the county and when teams come to scout Marist, you can bet that they scratch their head on how to stop him.
Trevis Wyche (St. Peter’s Prep): a St. Peter’s University Commit, Wyche is a true floor general in every sense for the Marauders. A transfer from St. Pat’s, Wyche has given Prep an added advantage over most teams in the county, not only with his experience, but with his passion and tenacity on the court. Recently dropping 26 out of the teams 58 points in a victory over Marist on Sunday, Wyche is someone on everyone’s scouting radar during this season.
14A Sports Games of the Week:
#1 St. Anthony vs. #4 Atlantic City
5:45 this Saturday, January 19th, 2013 as the showcase game at this year’s Dan Finn Classic located at the Jersey City Armory 678 Montgomery Street.
#3 Hudson Catholic vs. Marist
7:00pm this Tuesday January 15, 2013 at Hudson Catholic H.S. located at 790 Bergen Avenue, Jersey City, NJ.
Dickinson @ Bayonne
5:30 this Tuesday January 15, 2013 at Bayonne H.S. located at 667 Avenue A.
and now the ladies……
Hudson County Girls Basketball update for the week of January 13th, 2012
H.S. Girls Basketball Top5
1-Lincoln (10-0)
The Lady Lions have set themselves apart from the rest of the county with convincing wins against nearly every county opponent so far this season, with margins of victory averaging near 40 points. Led by a talented group of upper classmen, mainly Sr. standout and returning Hudson County player of the year in Brianna Bey, Lincoln’s post presence is nearly unstoppable. This also marks one of the best incoming freshman classes in Coach Tommy Best’s career. It seems like Lincoln will be at the Top of the Hill for a long time to come.
2- Secaucus (11-1)
Playing outside of the county regular season schedule has handed Secaucus some harsh criticism, but that seems to matter very little to this young but extremely talented bunch. Mainly comprised of sophomores and freshman, Secaucus girls have had their share of big wins this season against Colts Neck, Ridgewood, and Paterson Eastside. Their only loss this season was to a very tough and experienced Neptune team earlier in the year.
3-North Bergen (8-2)
A surprising addition to the Top 5 after a very disappointing 2012 season where they were pretty much manhandled by the top teams in the county last year. North Bergen has emerged as a very tenacious and gritty team capable of giving anyone in the county a tough game. Just ask the Bayonne Bees, this past week North Bergen went into the infamous “ICE RINK GYM” and handed Bayonne their first loss in the county this season to chants of “Over-rated” by the Bruin faithful. Led by senior standout Doris Illic who is averaging 20 points in the last 3 games for North Bergen along with sophomore stud Icis Hammer averaging 10, this team has brought the Bruins back as top contender in the county.
4-Bayonne (8-2)
Just two weeks after being ranked in the top 20 in the state at #17, Bayonne suffered its first loss in the county to North Bergen one year after defeating North Bergen handedly 53-35. The loss marked the first since losing to Lincoln in the 2012 County Championship game and a loss that Coach James Turner obviously did not expect. Bayonne’s only other loss came by way of the Bill DeFazio Memorial Christmas tournament when Bayonne lost to eventual Champion Curtis H.S. of Staten Island (NY). Do not count Bayonne out! Regardless of the loss to the Bruins, they are still one of the favorites to return to this year’s county championship game, this loss might actually be what the doctor ordered to motivate the Bees to capture yet another county title.
5-St. Dominic (8-3)
A team that found itself searching for a leader after the completion of the 2012 season found one very early this season when sophomore guard Hannah Johnson (daughter of legendary St. Anthony Friar Mandy Johnson (Marquette University)) stepped up to led the team in wins against St. Anthony, Snyder, Hoboken, University Charter and most recently Marist. Hannah is leading St. Dom’s with 141 total points on the season and is averaging 15.5 points per game. Along with guards Shannon Hester and Amanda Lewis, they have given St. Dom’s one of its best starts in the past 5 years.
Players to watch:
Brianna Bey (Lincoln) senior, forward: already achieving the 1,000 point mark earlier this season Bey is focused on the task at hand; winning not only another county title but a state title as well. Aside from being the reigning county player of the year, Bey is without a doubt the county’s best low post scorer and rebounder. Team’s frantically search for an answer to her season double double average by double teaming and sometimes even triple teaming her. Nothing seems to get in the way of her and the Lady Lions success so far this season.
Andie Lennon (Secaucus) sophomore, guard: after achieving first team all county status as a freshman what more is there to prove? A lot according to Andie Lennon, this year her and her teammates have one goal in mind; to win the Hudson County Championship. Averaging 14.6 points per game this season Lennon is one of the most prolific point guards in the county. Her natural shooting ability, ball handling ability, and court vision have made her a top prospect in the state of New Jersey, and yes she is only a sophomore. Teams will be searching for the next few years on ways to stop her and her fellow teammates.
Aneia Williams (Bayonne) junior, guard/forward: a combo guard/forward, Williams has stepped onto the HCIAL scene as one of the top players in the league this year. After playing behind 1,000 point scorer/all-county first teamer/HCIAL MVP, Lisa Rovatsos last year Aneia was able to learn from one of the best on how to play the game the Hudson County way. Averaging about 14 points per game as junior, Williams has potential to be the most unstoppable player in the county next year.
Doris Illic (North Bergen) Senior, forward: Illic is simply put; “a scoring machine”, Illic has been scoring in bunches all season long and is currently averaging 20 points per game this season. Her post presence is not all she is limited to on the court. She can run the floor and even distribute the ball well for a forward. Illic is definitely a player to watch in the weeks to come. It will be interesting to see what college she chooses as well.
Denesia Mitchell (Marist) freshman, guard/forward: although very young and raw, this freshman has unlimited potential due to her unique athletic ability. Mitchell at 5’10” is currently averaging 8 points per game for the Lady Knights but is truly the X-factor on the team. Playing an average of 30 minutes a game as a freshman is very unique in Hudson County, but Mitchell has stepped up to the challenge and embraced the roll. Not only helping on the offensive end but on defense as well with and average of 7 rebounds and 2 blocks per game, she will be a player to watch the remainder of the season and for many years to come.
Hannah Johnson (St. Dominic’s) sophomore, guard: at first glance you might assume Johnson is a senior by the way she carries herself and by the amount of confidence she plays with but that is just the “Johnson way”. Following in a long line of family success in the county beginning with her father Mandy at St. Anthony’s, then her brother Matthew and sister Amanda both at Hudson County Prep, Hannah Johnson has accepted the challenge set forth by her siblings and has proven to be a standout player in Hudson County at such an early age. Look for her to stand out as St. Dom’s leading scorer for years to come.
14A Sports Games to Watch:
North Bergen @ Union City
This Tuesday January 15, 2013 at 7pm located at Union City H.S. 2500 Kennedy Blvd. Union City, NJ
St. Anthony @ Marist
This Thursday January 17th, 2013 at 7pm located at Marist H.S. 1241 Kennedy Blvd. Bayonne, NJ
Kearny @ Bayonne
This Thursday January 17th, 2013 at 7pm located at Bayonne H.S. 667 Avenue A, Bayonne NJ
The Safe House 