The number seven seed West Morris Wolfpack and number ten seed West Side Newark Roughriders faced off Monday night in the first round of the state tournament. It was a back and forth game full of excitement, but in the end the Wolfpack pulled away a 58-49 victory.
The Roughriders came out behind the hot hand of Kajh Neely who had West Side’s first six points behind two three pointers. The Wolfpack were forced to take an early timeout with 3:52 left in the first down 11-2. This score did not sit well with captains James D’Angelo and Tim Drzewinski who came out with passion in their eyes. At the end of the first quarter the two leaders pulled within three trailing 17-14.

The Wolfpack run did not stop in the first, but also continued into the second quarter. The game seemed like a three point shoot out for a while, and the competitors were D’Angelo and Neely. Neely won the battle in the first half hitting three three pointers while D’Angelo hit two. The two Wolfpack captains combined for eighteen of the Pack’s twenty eight points in the first half. West Morris also acquired physical minutes from senior captain Ed McCracken who pulled down almost every board for the Wolfpack. Derek Kambour also contributed with two points and good defense. The Roughriders received quality minutes from Demond Taylor who produced four points in the first half. As the seconds dwindled off the clock in the second quarter Chicquell Berger knocked down a three to bring his team within one going into the second half. At half the Wolfpack lead 28-27.

Having a quiet first half with only two points Tom Cabarle blew up in the second half. Every time anyone looked he was flying down the court, soaring for a rebound, or hitting the deck. He amassed seven of his nine points in the second half, and played his heart out. Kajh Neely had cooled down a bit, and was not scorching the net from three, but his mid range jumper was on along with fellow teammate Dakawn Simmons. He accounted seven of his eighteen in the second half. As the third quarter was coming to an end Zach Nolan tipped in a missed shot to give his team a 46-36 lead going into the fourth.

As the fourth quarter began it was evident that the Roughriders were not ready for their season to end. Their whole team was playing hard, but especially Gerald Rhymes who rattled the Wolfpack with his defense in West Side’s full court zone pressure. The full court press by the Roughriders gave the Wolfpack much trouble by causing many turnovers that lead to easy points. With five minutes left in the game D’Angelo limped off the court bleeding from the mouth. Without their pack leader the Wolfpack struggled immensely. West side brought the game within four, but that was as close as they got. D’Angelo returned with 3:05 left and had seven of his twenty three while injured. The motivation to continue their season was too much for the Roughriders who suffered a 58-49 defeat.

Players of the Game:
West Morris: James D’Angelo
West Side: Kajh Neely