Friday 2-9-07

Tonight we’ll be heading to Mennen for Delbarton v. Morristown-Beard. The Green Wave are coming off big win over Lawrenceville. Beard has won 3 of their last four, after a rough stretch, and are coming off a great win over Chatham. The Crimson shut out the Cougars 2-0 on Tuesday.

Boys MCT Preview

It's clear to most Morris County Basketball fans that Chatham, Delbarton, Mendham and Par Hills have as great a shot as any to take home this year’s crown. Delbarton and Mendham have already split. Mendham and Chatham have split. Par Hills has beat Mendham, but lost to Chatham, twice. Delbarton has beaten Randolph. There’s plenty of comparing and contrasting to do.

#3 Chatham v. #6 Randolph (12 noon)

This has the makings of the best match of the day! #3-seed Chatham has been on a roll and is currently ranked #1 in every Morris County Poll. The Cougars have won 18 straight. Randolph started off 1-3 and has rolled off a 10-3 record since. The Cougars have the height and play great defense. Look for Chatham to have too much for the Rams. The Cougars win in a close one.

#2 Mendham v. #10 Morris Hills (2 pm)

The Scarlet Knights are coming in with 12 wins and off a tough defeat to Chatham. Do not look for Mendham to have any mercy. Morris Hills may not have the height to slow down DelTufo, but the Scarlet Knights. The Minutemen lost a squeaker to Weequahic last night and should rebound with an MCT victory. Despite the inside advantage going to the Minutemen, the Scarlet Knights can score from the outside and have a long range threat that just cannot be left open. Doniloski, Dudek, Katz and Kellner can tally up points, but the Scarlet Knights need to do better than just match baskets with the potent offense brought by the Minutemen. Mendham won the first meeting between these two IHC-Hills foes 65-46 and should be able to advance Saturday. Look for Mendham slowly pull away from the Scarlet Knight and win by 10.

#4 Delbarton v. #5 Morristown-Beard (5 pm)

The only two non-public schools left in the MCT will square off at 5 p.m. on Saturday. Delbarton is a solid fourth seed and could have easily been seeded #1. The Green Wave have currently avenged an early season loss to Mendham (43-40 on January 27) and look to meet up with the Minutemen again.

Delbarton beat Parsippany 64-39 last Saturday to advance to the Quarterfinal Round. The Green Wave erupted out of the gates and held the Red Hawks to only 13 first quart points. The Green Wave have won 6 straight after falling to DePaul on January 25.

Morristown-Beard advanced thanks to a 58-43 victory over Morris Knolls. The Crimson outscored Knolls 21-7 in the first quarter and never looked back. The Crimson do not play the packed same packed schedule as Delbarton and this maybe a big disadvantage in such a high pressured game. Delbarton is averaging 59 points a game and consistently has been putting up 62 or more. Morristown-Beard will need to slow down the game and hold the Green Wave to under 45 if they have any chance of advancing. Look for Delbarton to be the only non-public left in the MCT after Saturday.

#1 Par Hills v. #8 Roxbury (7 pm)

The final of four games at Randolph High School will provide some great action for any Hoops fan. The Vikings are fun to watch. Roxbury is averaging in the mid forties and will need to slow down the high-powered Vikings. Roxbury took down Mtn. Lakes (42-29) last Saturday to get the quarters. The Vikings got past Morris Catholic by 13 to advance. Parsippany Hills comes in at 14-3, the three losses to Chatham twice and Weequahic. Roxbury has won 4 of their last 6, with the two losses to Randolph and East Orange. Par Hills will be too much for Vikings scoring barrage. Par Hills will hold their seed and advance to the semifinals.

The Boys Road to the Sectional Finals:

SECTION 1 GROUP 4
(9-Randolph at 8-West Orange) at 1-Montclair.
(12-Roxbury at 5-Bloomfield) vs. (13-Ridgewood at 4-Passaic Tech)
If Roxbury and/or Randolph win both, they will play in the semifinals on/or before March 2nd.

SECTION 1 GROUP 3
3-Parsippany Hills hosts (11-Demarest at 6-Northern Highlands)
(10-Morris Hills at 7-Passaic Valley) winner at 2-Sparta.
Morris Hills will have to win two and Par Hills will have to win one to get to the semifinal game.

SECTION 1 GROUP 2
12-Pequannock at 5-Glen Rock.
11-Jefferson at 6-Hopatcong;
A handful of upsets will have to occur for these two Morris teams to meet up in the final.

SECTION 1 GROUP 1
(9-Palisades Park at 8-Boonton) at 1-Leonia.
(10-Wallington at 7-Kinnelon) at 2-Elmwood Park.
Both teams are on opposite sides of the brackets, so they can meet in the finals on March 6th. The only way to get there is to win on the road.

SECTION 2 GROUP 3
3-Mendham hosts (11-Warren Hills at 6-West Side)
The opposite side of the bracket is loaded. Mendham should be able to get by Westside at home. The Minutemen will have to take Union Hill down on the road. Who ever gets through the other side of he bracket will be a tough match up.

SECTION 2 GROUP 2
1-Chatham hosts (9-Newark Central at 8-Bernards)
6-Mountain Lakes at 3-Ridgefield Park.
This is Chatham’s bracket to win. Every other team should be happy that Orange, Central and Lincoln are all in the same bracket. Do not be surprised if Orange and Chatham are in the finals.