The Record from Hackensack, New Jersey • 39

S-12 THE RECORD MONDAY, MARCH 13. 2000 CALL THE RECORD'S LOCAL North Jersey Sportsy. IKTS Lift (201) 678-3920 NJSIAA BOYS BASKETBALL Bloomfleld comeback falls short cr vjv CI Comes apart against quick Florence 'D' By BOB KURLAND Staff Writer PISCATAWAY The curtain came down on a boys basketball golden era at Waldwick, but not with the expected storybook finish. Instead, retiring coach Paul Puglise and his Warriors absorbed a 72-43 defeat at the hands of Florence on Sunday in the Group 1 championship game at Rutgers. Florence (23-4) showed soon after the tap that it was too quick for the taller Warriors.

Waldwick led only once and that on Greg McBain's opening-minute basket. Rick Lee tied it and the game's Most Valuable Player, Mikal Lundy, drained a three and the Flashes were never caught. "I wish we had played better," said Puglise after completing a 25-year career as head coach with a 360-209 record. "We came out flat and I don't know why because coming down here you could see the quiet confidence they had." Usually a good ball handling team, the Warriors cracked under defensive pressure and turned over the ball 11 times in a 29-17 first half. "Normally we don't start off fast," said Florence coach Art Bobik, "but today it could be partially due to the fact they weren't playing well." Any hope of staging a second-half comeback was erased by a 3-for-21 shooting performance in the third quarter.

While the Warriors found a lid on the basket, the Flashes hit on 8-of-10 to make it 50-26. "Our defense won the game for us," said Bobik. "We didn't want them to go down low to the big guy 6-foot-9 McBain, so we pressured their guards, denying the ball to the wing, thus keeping the ball away from him." The scheme worked because even when the ball went into McBain, he misfired. He wound up making five of 17 shots for 16 points, which pushed his career total to 1,003. "They have some strong inside players who pushed him away from where he wanted to be," said Puglise.

"He'll have to learn to deal with that next season when he's with Loyola One of the problems today was that since we were taller than them, we had to go NJSIAA Group 1 FLORENCE 72, WALDWICK 43 FLORENCE Warren Miller 5-2-13. Stephen Ordog 0-0-0. Joe Giam-broane 0-0-0. Wall Lundy 2-2-7. Naee Lundy 3-2-9.

Julius Jenkins 0-0-0, Kevin Hutchison 5-6-16. Frank Mocerl 0-0-0, Jason Shater 0-0-0. Mikal Lundy 6-6-20, Rick Lee 1-0-2, Dave Tardltf 0-1-1, Jarron Jenkins 0-0-0, Jeff Dankanlch 2-0-4, Totals: 24-19-72 Three-point goals: M. Lundy 2, Miller. W.

Lundy. N. Lundy. WALDWICK Mike Boswell 1-0-3. Kyle Jordan 4-1-9.

Robert Broderlck 2-2-6, Greg McBain 5-6-16, Doug Egan 1-2-4. Craig Luebeck 1-2-4, Justin Grilling 0-0-0. Justin Caruso 0-0-0. Andy Ma 0-1-1. John Cadavero 0-0-0, Joseph Marquis 0-0-0 Totals: 14-14-43.

Throe-point goals: Boswell (23-4) Florence 16 13 21 22 72 (23-8) Waldwick 9 8 9 17 43 By TIM LEONARD Staff Writer ELIZABETH Bloomfleld could have taken the easy way out. It would have been understandable for the Bengals to say a bad call late in the game had done them in. Instead, they took the high road. Toms River North was the better team, they conceded. That was proven by the Mariners' 50-48 victory over Bloomfleld in the Group 4 girls basketball final Sunday at the Dunn Center.

Bloomfleld had the right to gripe about a questionable charging call on junior center Tyiana Sears with 19 seconds to play, but chose to focus on the game rather than one call. "That's how a championship game should be," Bloomfleld coach Stephen Jenkins said. "We made a great comeback. I'm not disputing the call, but if it goes the other way, we're shooting free throws." And maybe pulling off an improbable victory. Bloomfleld had allowed Toms River North (27-2) to take too big a lead in the second and third quarters.

Game MVP Kim Peto scored five points during an 11- 0 run that gave the Mariners a 31-20 lead in the second quarter. It was more of the same in the third, as Toms River North went ahead by as many as 16 points, 44-28, on a rebound and putback by Colleen Healey. "You knew they weren't going to quit. We were down by 13 or 14, but you knew they were not going to quit," Jenkins said. "We won 22 straight games.

They find a way to win, or find a way to get back in the game." Bloomfleld (25-3) put together an improbable comeback in the fourth quarter. Sears scored the first six points of the quarter, but Toms River North still held a 45-37 lead. Instead of the Mariners answering with a run, they continued to play tentatively and went away from the ferocious pressing defense that had rattled Bloomfield for much of the game. After a Kelly Burger three-pointer, Bloomfleld scored nine straight points, with Solaris Ortiz scoring five and Sears four, including a layup that cut the lead to 48-46 with 47 seconds left. Peto hit two free throws to give the Mariners some breathing room with 21.3 seconds on the clock.

Then came the fateful charging call. Jonnae McClain hit a streaking Sears with a three-quarter court inbounds pass. Sears caught it in stride and took two steps toward the basket and collided with a Toms River North defender who never appeared to have position. "What can I say? The call just went against me," a subdued Sears said. "There's nothing I can do." Sears did as much as she could, scoring 28 points and grabbing 12 rebounds.

Teammate Solaris Ortiz added 12. Burger led Toms River North with 16 points and Healey scored 10 and had a team-high eight rebounds. 1 NJSIAA Group 4 4 TOMS RIV. NO. 50.

BLOOMFIELD 48 TOMS RIVER NORTH Zales 1-0-3. Burger 7-1-16, Palo 1-4-7. Healey 4-2-10, Huhn 3-2-8. Trethaway 0-0-0. Burdge 3-0-6 Totala: 19-9-50.

ThrM-polnl goals: Zales. Burger. Peto. BLOOMFIELD Perna 1-0-2. LI 0-0-0.

McClain 3-0-6. Ortiz 5-0-12. Sears 11-6-28. Totals: 20-6-48 Three-point goals: Ortiz 2. (27-8) Toms River North 14 1 12 8 50 (25-3) Bloomfleld 15 9 7 17 4 is free, we would be interested in talking about it." Word is that no circus is scheduled for early March 2001 at the Arena, so there is hope.

Perhaps the general public should send some polite mail or e-mails to the NBA and NHL asking if they could work with the NJSIAA and leave the desired dates vacant at the Arena for the benefit of New Jersey's teens. It would be a good public relations opportunity for the pro leagues. Another spot may yet be considered, sources said. The new Mercer County Ice Arena is of ample size. But after a highly successful weekend, Sands acknowledged one of the unsung heroes in the staging of so successful an event Edd Fitzgerald, a member of the Bergen County Coaches Association's Holiday Wrestling Tournament committee and a member of the Arena's event staff.

"Edd knows wrestling and the Arena people were realistic enough to keep him on duty all the time throughout the two days," Sands said. "We appreciated all his help and expertise." THOMAS E. FRANKLINSTAFF PHOTOGRAPHER in Florence's 72-43 Group 1 title win. game philosophically: "We had a great run and accomplished something no other Waldwick team has. But I'd rather be judged on what kind of men they grow up to be than by wins." Girls WEDNESDAY At Dunn Center, Elizabeth Wlllingboro (4) vs.

Wlldwood (5), 6 p.m. Toms River North (3) vs. St. Rose (6), 8 p.m. SATURDAY At Dunn Center, Elizabeth wo Willingboro (4)-Wildwood (5) vs.

Red Bank Catholic (1), tba wo Toms River North (3)-St. Rose (6) vs. Sterling (2), tba Last year was a disgrace. Parents couldn't see their own kids wrestle because of posts." Attendance for Saturday's finals was 10,008, a strong showing. The 1998 finals at the old Atlantic City Convention Center drew a tournament-record 12,000.

Attendance was hurt by a Phil-lipsburg team that sent only four to the Arena and had just one, 130-pound Mike Fania, get past Friday's wrestlebacks. The Stateliners usually have the largest following at the championships, and the site erupts any time a P'burg wrestler does something dramatic. Someone figured the attendance was 1,000 smaller because of the subpar showing by the team, which had moved all 14 of its wrestlers from the district to the region level. Unless you're a gambler, there is no need to want to return to Atlantic City. Sands indicated he liked the idea of staying at the Arena.

"I'm sure the New Jersey Sports and Exposition Authority will be extremely cooperative," he said. "They always have been. It's just the NBA and NHL schedules, if the weekend Wali Lundy, left, of Florence and Waldwick's through the air. But for some reason we were passing low. Of course Florence had a lot to do with it.

Even then, if they were dropping on him McBain, we had to knock down outside shots like we usually do. But we didn't." The Flashes defensive pressure came from the quick-handed Lundy brothers, Wali and Mikal 20 points, cousin Na-jee Lundy, and Kevin Hutchison. But their offense was just as good as they converted 24 of 38 shots. Florence also received some help from an unexpected source, 6-8 Jeff Dankanich. "Our report said he didn't play that much," said Puglise, "but he came in, blocked a couple of shots, and gave them a big lift.

On the other side, Waldwick was undermanned, playing without starter John Riccobono (strained arm) and one of its top subs, Kevin Morrow, who was out with a dislocated elbow. It was a tough way for senior starters Bob Broderick, Michael Boswell, Kyle waiting on deck. That created obstructed views nearly as damning as pillars. It was almost imperative to have balcony seats. With the refurbishing of the old Convention Center far from complete, a new site was needed.

No one dared suggest a return to the new building, so the NJSIAA looked elsewhere. Security was tight and strict at the Arena, but for the right reasons. Wrestling people had to follow instructions. The rule dictating only two coaches per corner during a match normally circumvented at other venues was adhered to because of the tight policing. And since there was just enough space for all eight mats on the Arena floor, on-deck wrestlers had to stay off in a tunnel and wait to be called.

"What's not to like?" was the smiling response Saturday of Bogota athletic director Brad DiRupo. president of the New Jersey Wrestling Coaches Association. His response was typical. There were smiles and lower blood-pressure readings throughout, thanks to the perfect fit Mike Boswell reaching for a loose ball Jordan, and McBain to go out. Yet they leave knowing they led the Warriors to the most wins in school history (23-5) and their first State final appearance.

Puglise looked at the loss of his final Boys THURSDAY Al Rutgers Camden (3) vs. Florence (6), 6 p.m. Linden (4) vs. Mendham (5), 8 p.m. SUNDAY At Rothman Center, Hackensack St.

Patrick (2) vs. wo Camden (3)-Florence (6), tba Seton Hall (1) vs. wo Linden (4)-Mendham (5), tba RON FOX WRESTLING with the Arena. There was parking galore, so there was no need to arrive by 8 a.m. to be able to park for the 9:30 a.m.

semifinals Saturday. And there was a clear, unobstructed view from any seat in the house. "This is the best site we've had, by far," said former Clifton, Pequan-nock, and DePaul coach Hank Kar-sen. now retired but visiting from Florida. "I remember the bandbox in Asbury Park in the mid-Sixties.

Arena proves to be ideal site for tournament an the State wrestling championships return for a second year to Continental Arena? Let's hope so. It was a picture-perfect situation, so well-received that Boyd Sands heard no complaints during the two-day session. That was a pleasant change from last year, when the executive director of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Asso-ciaton heard nothing but grumbling. All those complaints were warranted because the new Convention Center in Atlantic City was undeniably a poor site for a sporting event because enormous pillars blocked spectators' views, as did seats not laid out in a graduated rise. Prior to that, the old Convention Center certainly was an acceptable venue for a championship event due to all its seating.

Yet there were problems. Atlantic City is not quite the atmosphere any rational person wants to introduce to teenagers, no matter what building is designated as the wrestling site. And, once inside the building, the mat areas were littered with wrestlers and coaches who were.