The Central New Jersey Home News from New Brunswick, New Jersey • 28

PAGE CIO www.thnt.com Home News tribune MONDAY, MARCH 13,2006 NJSIAA BASKETBALL GROUP CHAMPIONSHIPS LINDEN 64, ATLANTIC CITY 39 HADDONFIELD 82, NEWARK CENTRAL 57 Zoubek-led Bulldogs roll to third straight title vy. t. AW '4 I I '-I 3 points. Zoubek, Reed and Wilson combined to shoot 26-for-40 from the floor as Haddonfield shot 54 percent as a team. The Bulldogs also outrebounded Central 49-29.

Marquis Moore led Central with 19 points and was the MVP for his team. Newark Central, trailing 14-6 after one quarter, fell behind by as many as 13 in the second quarter before creeping to within 28-19 at the half. In the third quarter, Marquis Moore opened things up with a basket as Central traied 28-21. But Zoubek followed with a short jumper, then Wilson hit consecutive 3-pointers to put Haddonfield on top 36-21. Central got as close as 36-26 with 5:15 left in the third, but an 8-0 run by Haddonfield stretched the margin to an unsurmountable 18.

NEWARK CENTRAL (57): Moore 5-121-3-19, White 00. Smith 2-1-5. Richardson 36, Sorey 4-5-13, Gordon 0-(1)3, Ayers 12, Morris 12, Martin 00, Higgs 00. Williams 2-1-5. Totals 19-(3)-10-57 HADDONFIELD (12): Wilson 6-(3)21, Reed 6-(1)-2-21, Zoubek 8-5-21, Sobolewski 1-3-5, Malcamey 24, Ciemnicki 1-1-3, Hurley 00, Steinberger 00, Za-leski 0-(1)3, Oakley 00, MacFester 00, Barnes 00.

Totals 28-(5)-1 1-82 NEWARK CENTRAL (22-4) 613 1523 57 HADDONFIELD (30-1) 1414 3024 82 STAFF REPORT PISCATAWAY The Had-donfield High School boys basketball team entered yesterday's NJSIAA Group II Championship as the two-time defending champion with the nucleus of those teams still intact. It certainly showed as Most Valuable Player Brian Zou-bek, a 7-2 center heading to Duke, led a balanced charge as the Bulldogs (30-1) won their third straight title with an 82-57 decision over Newark Central before a crowd of close to 3,000 at Rutgers University. Newark Central (22-4) was making its first apperar-ance in a title game since losing to Salem in 1986. Zoubek, who came in averaging 23 points and 12 rebounds per game, poured in 21 points, while adding 17 rebounds and 10 blocked shots. He now has 2,027 career points.

Junior forward Spencer Reed posted 21 points and 10 rebounds for Haddonfield. Princeton-bound Blake Wilson, a 6-4 guard who was the MVP of the last two title games, also fininshed with 21 By JOHN HALEY STAFF WRITER PISCATAWAY Defense has been a staple all season for the Linden High School boys basketball team and yesterday was no exception, but when combined with pinpoint accuracy from 3-point range and a high percentage from the foul line, the Tigers become unstoppable. That was the case as Linden put it all together in posting a 64-39 decision over Atlantic City in the NJSIAA Group IV championship game before a crowd of over 3,000 at Rutgers University. Linden (25-6) won the second state group title in school history, the last one coming in 2000. Defending champion Atlantic City (24-6), which came in averaging 67.3 points per game, including 73.6 in five state tourney games, was held way below its average, which Linden has been doing to opponents all season.

Linden came in giving up 45 points per game and held its fourth opponent to under 40 points in six state tourney contests. The Tigers forced 20 turnovers, scoring 24 points as a result. Linden harassed the Vikings' All-South Jersey point guard Frank Turner (who avergaed 17 points and eight assists) all game and made it tough for him to run the offense as he finished with eight points and four assists. "I've said all season this team's defense reminds me of those great St. Anthony teams," said Linden coach Phil Colicchio.

"Our best offense is our defense. To hold Columbia, Plainfield and Atlantic City to under 40 points is amazing." Offensively, Darrell Lampley came off the bench to lead the team with 22 points and was chosen as the game's Most Valuable Player. Lampley, a 5-9 junior, shot 5 of 8 from 3-point range, including 5 of 7 in the opening half. Linden was 7 of 13 from long range for the game, but 7 of 10 in the first half when it built a 36-25 lead, a lead which was never challenged. Sophomore point guard Desmond Wade was his usual steady self as he finished with 14 points and five assists.

Senior guard L.J. McGhee added 11 points, while Mohammad Wil-kerson scored 10. "We put together a very tough scchedule this season to showcase our kids and to prepare ourselves for the tournaments," said Colichhio, whose 2005-06 schedule featured several state and nationally- HAMILTON WEST 66, SHABAZZ 34 Hamilton West rolls to Group III title It 11 of 13 from the line in the first half, while A.C. shot just 2 of 8. For the game, Linden was 21 of 29, while A.C.

was 2 of 10. "It seemed like every shot we took in the first half went in," said Colicchio. "But I told the kids at halftime that we couldn't continue to shoot like that and that defense was going to have to win it for us." Talk about being a prophet. Linden went out and limited Atlantic City to seven points in the third quarter and seven in the fourth in a dominating display of suffocating defense. With 3:21 left in the third quarter, Linden led 42-32 when 6-5 Charles Miller went to the bench with his fourth foul.

A.C., which scored 18 of its 25 maki n. dULLivAriunier pnotograpner Linden's Charles Miller goes up for a shot as Atlantic City's Darnell Davis (53) and Dante Bailey i to defend in yesterday's NJSIAA Group IV boys basketball championship game. STAFF REPORT PISCATAWAY Hamilton West made seven of its first nine shots from the floor and never cooled off much from there as it posted a surprisingly easy 66-34 victory over Shabazz in the NJSIAA Group III Championship game before a crowd of 2,000 at Rutgers University yesterday. Senior forward Najee Lane scored 24 points on 11 of 20 shooting to lead Hamilton West (23-6), which shot 61 percent from the field, including 4 of 5 from 3-point range. Lane, who added 10 points and four assists, was chosen as the game's Most Valuable Player.

Senior forward Ed Griffith-Williams added 16 points on 7-for-7 shooting, while senior forward William Picatagi added 10 points and was 5 of 6. Shabazz shot 23 percent and was 0-for-16 from 3-point range. i 1 points from the paint in the first half, expected to make its move at that point, but Linden closed out the session with a 9-0 run, all resulting from its fast break. Atlantic City never recovered. "When Charles got his fourth, we brought in Laron (Capers)," said Colicchio.

"He gives up four inches or so, but the kid defends. All of our kids do, so I wasn't overly concerned." LINDEN (64): Umplsy 2-(5)-3-22. McGhee 2-7-11. Capers 0-1-1, Oltxys (MM). Cahailes 1-0-2, Wade 2-12)4-14, Thomas (MW), Harris 0-0-0, Wilkerson 2-6-10, Jones 0- 0-0, Miller 2-0-4, Szczepanik 00-0, Ostratcky 0-0-0.

Totals 11-(7)-21 -64. MUflTIC cm (391: Tombs 0-ID-0-3, Jones OO0, McNai 1- 0-2, Lloyd 0-1-0-3, Turner 3-2-8, Owens 4-1-0-11, Davis 3-M, Bailey 3. Totals 14-(3)-2-39. LINDEN (25-6) 23 1314 14 64 ATLANTIC CITY (24-6) 1411 7 7 39 in unfamiliar territory late, as Monmouth's Kristen Dalton nailed a shot to break a 36-36 tie with 19 seconds left in the third quarter. But immediately thereafter, senior guard Jania Sims hit a 3- pointer with under a second remaining, and the one-point lead Shabazz took would never be erased.

To fend off the upset bid, Shabazz turned to a weapon it doesn't often use: the 3-pointer. The Bulldogs took 18 of them, hitting six. MONMOUTH REGIONAL (SO): Shaw 67-19, Powell 4- (1)-2-13, Daton 2-(2)-1-11, Curtis 1-(1)-2-7, Willman 00, Femandes 00, Ford 00, Togisala 00. Totals 13-(4)-12-50, MALCOLM X. SHABAZZ (60): Zackery 7-4-16, Sims 2-(2)-8-18, Harris 1(4) 2-16, Hemingway 3-2-8, Wilson 00, Dukes 00, Robinson 00.

Judson 00. Totals 13-(6)-16-60. MONMOUTH REGIONAL (21-7) 12 81812-50 MALCOLM X. SHABAZZ (31) 11171121-60 come to an end. Absegami never trailed and held some double-digit leads early on, but the Bees battled back and only trailed by five at halftime.

The Braves, though, took command with a 10-3 run in the third quarter and kept Bayonne at bay for the rest of the night. ABSEGAMI Booker 7-5-19, Rosark) 5-2-12, Mostafa 5-1-11, James 2-5-9. Taylor 1-3-5, Brown 12. Abdilla 000, Jenkins 00, Jackson 000. Totals 21 -1 6-58.

BAYONNE (41): Altamirano 69-21, Young 4-t)11, Sweeney 1-(1)5, Devaney 1-(1)5, Callaway 1-2-4, Hayes 12, Ostaszewski 00, Bodayle 00, Clarke 00. Totals 14-(3l-11-48. ABSEGAMI (24-5) 13121419-58 BAYONNE (27-3) 7131016-48 i BLOOMFIELD TECH 73, LEAP ACADEMY 51 Spartans storm to title BLOOMF1ELD TECH SHABAZZ 60, MONMOUTH REGIONAL 50 Tech wins third straight Bulldogs survive scare Hamilton, playing in its first title game in over 50 years, is now 3-0 in those games having won in 1935 and 1953. Defending champion Shabazz, meanwhile, is now 9-5 in Group III finals and 9-8 in all state finals. The Bulldogs, led by their MVP Alray Black-mon (10 points), finished the season at 19-7.

Hamilton West led 23-11 after one quarter and still led by 13 at the half before Hamilton went on to outscore its Essex County opponent from Newark 21-10 in the third to put the game out of reach. Hamilton shot over 65 percent after three quarters. SHABAZZ (34): McGloster 24, Watson 00. Barrino 2-2-6. Johnson 2-1-5.

Blackmon 510, Himant 00, Odom 0-3-4, Willis 00, White 24, Grisham 00, Lioon 12. Totals 14-6-34. HAMILTON WEST (66): Una 112-24, Griffith-Williams 7-2-16, Picatagi 510. Smith 0-(2)6, Hobbs 02-2, Pieszchala 00, Bryant 00, Paul 12. Schwaeble 00, Matthews 1-2-4, Ponder 0-2-2, Broach 00.

Totals 23 141-8-66. SHABAZZ (19-7) 11 10 9 3 34 HAMILTON WEST (23-6) 2310221166 Drummond was chosen as the game's Most Valuable Player for Bloomfield, which outrebounded Leap 50-27. Senior forward Dante Rollins and sophomore forward Todd Fleming chipped in with 10 points each, while Dasean Butler, a 6-7 forward heading to West Virginia, finished wih eight. Will Mace (13 points, six rebounds) was chosen as the MVP for Leap, which finished its season at 25-6. Bloomfield Tech led 23-7 after one quarter and stretched its lead to 40-18 at the break and never looked back.

Bloomfield Tech scored 46 points in the paint. LEAP ACADEMY (51): James 4-1-9, Talley 12, Craig 36, Mace 2-7-11, Crawford 1-2-4, Knight 12 Gilliam 2 I3)-1-14. Cooper 0-3-3 Totals 14-(3)-14-51. BLOOMFIELD TECH (73): Hall 0-1-1, Owkjhl 416. Fisher 00, McGhee 00.

Hay 00, Rollins 4-2-10, Morris 00, Fleming 4-2-10. Weoster 00, Jenkins 36. Drummond 1122, Butler 48, Rider 00. Totals 29-15-73. LEAP ACADEMY (25-6) 7 1 1 1 3 20 51 BOOMFIELD TECH (29-1) 23171716-73 CHAMPIONS GIRLS FIRST ROUND Wednesday, March 15 at Ritacco Center, Toms River (5) Rumson-Fair Haven vs.

(4) Absegami, 6 p.m. (6) Morris Catholic vs. (3) Bloomfield Tech, 8 p.m. SEMIFINALS Friday, March 17 at Ritacco Center (2) Camden Catholic vs. Morris CatholicBloomfield Tech winner, 6 p.m.

(1) Shabazz vs. Rumson Absegami winner, 8 p.m. CHAMPIONSHIP Wednesday, March 22 at Continential Airlines Arena, 6 p.m. try ranked programs. "When we came here, we were not wide-eyed.

We were big-game ready." Atlantic City led 10-8 with 3:51 left in the opening quarter, but Lampley came in and nailed three 3-pointers. Wade added two treys, the second one beating the buzzer, as Linden led 23-14. "I've been in a zone like that maybe once or twice in my life," said Lampley. "Every time the ball left my hand, it felt like it was going in." Linden was able to increase its lead to 36-25 at the halftime. Leading 31-25, Lampley closed things out with another 3-pointer, followed by two Wil-kerson foul shots.

Linden shot 77, SALEM 57 Tech went on a 13-3 run early in the third quarter to snatch a 29-point lead that wouldn't be challenged down the stretch. Senior forward Thazina Cook added 17 points on 7-for-14 shooting from the field for the Spartans, while junior center Jonyce Hollins added 14 points, five rebounds, and three blocks off the bench. Salem (19-9) was led by junior guard Brittany Smith, who scored a game-high 32 points. SALEM (57): Smith 6-(2)-14-32, Thompson 6-2-14, Numan 4-0-8, Llanos 1-1-3, Cline 00, Merritt 00, Brios 0-0-0. Totals 17-(2)-1 7-57.

BLOOMFIELD TECH (77): McLean 8-12M-26. Cook 4-(3)-0-1 7, Hollms 5-4-14, M.Booth 3-2-8, Smith 0-(1)-0-3, Peace 1-0-2, F.Derby 1-0-2, Zellrter 1-0-2, Nicholson 1-0-2, Watson 0-1-1, T.Derby 0-0-0, Brawn 0-O0, Lamby 00. Totals 24-(6)-1 1-77. SALEM(19-9) 16141116-57 BLOOMFIELD TECH (29-2) 202919 9-77 The win was the third state title in 11 years for Rumson-Fair Haven, which also got 11 points from Kate Miller. The Bulldogs also outrebounded the Golden Hawks 26-20.

Alyssa May led River Dell with 22 points, five rebounds and two steals, but she also committed seven of the Golden Hawks 10 turnovers. Maureen Kehoe added 10 points, five rebounds and two assists. HJMSOK-FAH HAVEN (49C Hyduke 2-PI-9-22. Miller 5-1-11, Armstrong 1-46, Abbot 1-(1)-1-6, Connor 04, Belmonte 00, LeCardi 00, Steinhauser 00, Nociolo 00. PetruceHi 00, Ferrare 00, Dinger 00.

Totals 9-I4M9-49. RIVER DELL (42): May 4-(3)-5-22, Kehoe 610, Vtan 1-2-4, Barry 12, Berlhof! 1 Verrier 02-2, Walters 00. Qccarelli 00. Totals 12-(3)42. RUMSON-FAIR HAVEN (27-3) 12 11 12 14 49 RIVER DELL (28-3) 10 4 919 42 STAFF REPORT TOMS RIVER Kateema McLean scored 26 points, adding 10 assists, eight steals, and six rebounds to lead the Bloom-field Tech girls basketball team to its third consecutive NJSIAA Group I championship with a 77-57 victory over Salem.

The contest was a rematch of last year's title game, which Bloomfield Tech won 73-48. And just like last year, the Spartans (29-2) made their move in the second quarter. McLean had 12 points, five assists, and three steals in that frame to turn a two-point lead into a 19-point advantage. STAFF REPORT TOMS RIVER The unlike-liest of foes threw the biggest of scares into the state's most powerful team. The Monmouth Regional High School girls basketball team kept pace with heavily favored No.

1 Shabazz for more than three quarters of play, but ultimately fell 60-50 in the NJSIAA Group III championship game at the Ritacco Center in Toms River yesterday. For a team that hadn't truly struggled with any opponent in winning 31 straight games (they had an average margin of victory of 36.5 points per game in four previous state playoff contests, without allowing more than 27 points in any of them), the Bulldogs (31-0) were STAFF REPORT PISCATAWAY Bloomfield Tech is traditional state powerhouse also recognized on a national level, while Leap Academy is a second-year member of the NJSIAA. The difference was evident last night when Spartans came out storming and never yielded in recording a 73-51 victory over their opponent from Camden to win the NJSIAA Group I championship before 1,000 at Rutgers University. Bloomfield Tech (29-1) captured the Group I title for the third time in the last four years and raised its winning streak to 25 straight. The Spartans possess a solid insideoutside attack and that was on display as 6-10 senior Casiem Drum-mond, heading to Villanova, recorded 22 points and 10 rebounds, while junior guard Rashon Dwight came up with 16 points and 11 rebounds.

TOURNAMENT OF BOYS FIRST ROUND Thursday, March 16 At Ritacco Center, Toms River (3) Haddonfield vs. (6) Hamilton West, 6 p.m. (4) Seton Hall Prep vs. (5) Linden, 8 p.m. SEMIFINALS Saturday, March 18 At Rutgers (2) St.

Patrick vs. Haddonfield-Hamilton winner, 12 noon (1) Bloomfield Tech vs. Linden-Seton Hall winner, 2 p.m. CHAMPIONSHIP Wednesday, March 22 At Continental Airlines Arena, 8 p.m. RUMSON 49, RIVER DELL 42 Hyduke leads Bulldogs ABSEGAMI 58, BAYONNE 48 Booker leads Absegami STAFF REPORT TOMS RIVER Caitlin Hyduke scored a game-high 22 points including six free throws in the game's final minute as Rumson-Fair Haven held off River Dell 49-42 to win the NJSIAA Group girls title game yesterday.

The Bulldogs (27-3) took command early and seemed ready to run away with the game, leading by as much as 17 points midway through the third Quarter. The Golden Hawks (28-3), though, came roaring back and cut the lead 43-41 when Samantha Verrier hit two free throws with 53 sec- onds left. STAFF REPORT TOMS RIVER Tara Booker had 19 points and a game-high 14 rebounds to lead the Absegami High School girls basketball team to a 58-48 win over Bayonne in the NJSIAA Group IV title game yesterday. Krissy Rosario added 12 points and Sara Mostafa had 11 points for the Braves (24-5), who won the title for the second straight year. Christy Alta-mirano scored 16 of her game-high 21 points in the first half for Bayonne (27-3), which saw its winning streak 4.