Dwight-Englewood junior F Jordan McKoy had a dynamite week that included surpassing 1,000 career points. In three victories, McKoy averaged 32.7 points and 6.3 rebounds. The Division I recruit made 16 of 17 free throws and scored 38, including his 1,000th point, during Saturday’s 68-63 win over Dwight Morrow at the Public Vs. Private Showcase at Bergen Community College.
Congratulations from everyone in the NJIC on your achievement !
In other Basketball News……
Bogota (8-1) clinched a Bergen Jamboree bid. Four Bucs average double figures: seniors Deiker Padrino (20.1) and Tim Uzor (13.6) and juniors Argenis Soriano (11.0) and Ben Lukabu (10.5). In Thursday’s 71-69 win over Palisades Park, senior Colin McDonnell played strong defense in a box-and-one to help the Bucs climb back in it, while Lukabu made both ends of a one-end-one late in the game.
Rutherford (7-3) climbed into the Bergen Jamboree picture with a 48-36 win Friday over Elmwood Park that avenged last month’s buzzer-beating loss in the Bartlett holiday semifinals. Junior Gs Breylyn Jones (13.4) and Johnny Mendez (11.8) lead the Bulldogs in scoring and junior F Lawson Fisher is tops in rebounds at 7.4.
Wallington (4-6) has twice as many wins as last season. Sophomore PG Zahier Mitchell has “grown as a leader,” said coach Anthony Alessio, and junior G Dave Backo “is a coach on the floor.” Junior C Juan Hernandez has “improved defensively,” while senior F Andrew Cabrera has picked it up and he hit four three-pointers and scored a team-high 14 in Friday’s 54-50 win over METS Charter. Senior F Garrett Cason Jr. has been a “really good two-way player” and sophomore G and transfer Gary Vittini provides a “constant motor.”
Top 25 rankings
1. Don Bosco 10-1
2. Bergen Catholic 9-1
3. Hackensack 8-2
4. Ramapo 9-2
5. Teaneck 7-3
6. Kennedy 7-3
7. Ridgewood 8-2
8. Wayne Valley 7-3
9. Wayne Hills 8-3
10. Cresskill 11-0
11. NV/Demarest 8-3
12. Northern Highlands 6-3
13. Dwight-Englewood 9-4
14. Pascack Valley 5-4
15. Tenafly 6-4
16. St. Mary 8-2
17. Bogota 8-1
18. Westwood 10-1
19. Manchester 7-2
20. Paterson Charter 4-2
21. Ramsey 7-4
22. Passaic Tech 4-4
23. Clifton 5-4
24. River Dell 5-4
25. Elmwood Park 8-2
- Greg Mattura – Record Sports Department
