The night was cold and windy, but the heat was about to be turned up inside the J.T.H.S. Freedom Gym. On Tuesday night, the Jefferson Falcons burnt the Hackettstown Tigers  with a final score of 57 to 47 in overtime. 

      The Tigers’ Matthew Reynolds was the first to score in the game with a two point layup. Amar Buljko put up six points for Hackettstown with two and three point shots in the first period. On the Jefferson side, senior Gavin McCarney helped the Falcons keep it close going into the second period by banging in two three- point shots and making a key free throw. Jefferson's unofficial team mascot, "Green Man," helped out as well second period by doing his best to distract Carl Van Glan while attempting two free throws.

 Zachary Arcond did most of the work for the Tigers later in the second period by making three two-pointers and Matthew Reynolds made a two-pointer. Karl Van Glan also scored two for Hackettstown. Jefferson had sixteen points in the second period and four of those points were scored by sophomores Steven Cuccio and Drew Hall, each making two free throws. The other four points for the Falcons were made by layups from Gavin McCarney and Jeffery Oster.

The score at half time was tied at a low of sixteen points, showing how hard fought the game was in the first two periods. The Falcons made four total free throws in the third period. Two of the free throws were made by Drew Hall making him four for four from the free-throw line for the night. Karl Pappacena made the other two Jefferson free throws, his only two points of the game. Steven Cuccio and Gavin McCarney each made a pair of layups a piece.

The Tigers appeared to be out shooting the Falcons in the fourth. Hackettstown's, Zach Arcond made five two- pointers for a total of ten points in the fourth quater. The Falcon defense didn't seem to have an answer for Amar Buljko, who put up eleven points consisting of a two free throws, three two-pointers, and a three-point shot. Michael Delorenzo put up two points. Junior Evan Valentine scored eight points by making two layups and scoring four free throws.

The Falcons were able to hang with the Tigers and eventually take the lead toward the end of the game. Gavin McCarney turned on the turbo by taking the ball to Hackettstown, scoring five free throws and two layups for nine points. With the time winding down, it was forty-five to forty-seven in Jefferson’s favor. Then, a game changing call was made. Amar Buljko was fouled and headed to the line for a pivotal  free throw attempt. Buljko made the free throw and the game went into overtime, tied at forty-seven, forty-seven!

Then the four minute overtime began and a ground war insued. The main factor in the overtime was fouls. Gavin McCarney scored two layups against the Tigers. The Tigers had  two free throw attempts of their own, but could not capitalize. McCarney sealed the deal for the Falcons by making yet another two free throws. The final score was Hackettstown forty-seven Jefferson fifty-seven.

     “Don’t worry about what you can’t change and move onto the next game” said Hackettstown Head Coach Bobby Grauso. The problem for the Tigers in this game, according to athelte Amar Buljko was “we didn’t finish around the basket." The other problem was foul trouble, the team committed a total of ten team fouls. Offensively, the Tigers as a team only made 44% of their free throws in the game. Hackettstown’s leading scorers in the game were Zachary Arcond and Amar Buljko, each with a total of sixteen points. Even with players in double digits, it just wasn't enough.

      The slow start could have hurt the Falcons, and even with the dramatic win there is still room to improve. As Jefferson Head Coach, Joe DiGennaro, points out the Falcons need to “toughen up, so we don’t have to rely on a big come back to win.” Gavin McCarney scored a total of twenty-six points in the game. The rest of the Falcons combined for a total of twenty-four points in the game. McCarney scored six points in overtime. When McCareny was asked how it feels to win it for your team in overtime he answered, “It felt really good because I didn’t get to play much in the first half because of foul trouble.” The Falcons as a team made 69% of their free throws in the game. Jefferson’s leading scorer in the game was Gavin McCarney with twenty-six points.

     Hackettstown’s record falls to (3-2). The Tigers’ next game is at home January 8 against the (1-6) Kittatinny Regional High School Cougars.

     Jefferson’s record improves to (4-1). The Falcons next game is at home on January 8 against the (5-1) Roxbury High School Gaels.