The weekend Round-up (part 1: GBB & Mennen Hockey)

The winter season is officially in full swing and the ball is rolling.

Mennen Division Hockey: Chatham handed Randolph their first conference loss Friday, 3-1. The Cougars scored goals in each period on way to a 3-1 victory over the Rams. The race is tight and should remain so all season long. Morris Knolls and Mo-Beard skated to a 0-0 tie. Look for the Crimson to get stronger as these young skaters for MB become more acquainted with each other. Below are the next two Mennen match ups for each team

• Randolph: 1/2 Mtn Lakes &. 1/13 Morris Knolls
• Mo-Beard: 1/4 Chatham & 1/17 Mtn Lakes
• Chatham: 1/4 Mo. Beard & 1/12 Mtn Lakes
• Morris Knolls: 12/19 Chatham & 12/22 Mtn Lakes
• Mtn Lakes: 12/22 Morris Knolls & 1/2 Randolph

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Going into the season, I had jotted down a quick top 10 for Girls Hoops. 1-2 were easy, but who do you make #1 – the defending Champs Mountain Lakes or the Runner up who has, basically, everyone back? Doesn’t matter. Both teams possess the top 2 players in the county and will be extremely hard to beat. Morris Catholic goes out and plays Bloomfield Tech today. Look for Sandy Seegers’ game coverage in the Daily Record Monday.

1. Morris Catholic
2. Mountain Lakes
3. Chatham
4. West Morris
5. Morristown
6. Hanover Park
7. Roxbury
8. Kinnelon
9. Mendham
10. Par Hills

(Ready to rumble: Jefferson, Morris Knolls & Villa Walsh)

The IHC-Hills standings look to be unpredictable. The conference has a large handful of competitive teams and each conference game will be very important. Mendham won a tight opener over a yearly improving Summit Hilltoppers. Summit can be a spoiler this year and a strong competitor. Chatham, another pre-season favorite to win the conference, had their hands full with a Par Hills teams that will also provide some great games this season. Hanover opened with a strong win over Dover. The young Hornets are also considered a top contender for the IHC title. Morris Hills edged Parsippany by 8. These two teams can never be overlooked. The Scarlet Knights were hit hard by graduation, but the Hoops mastermind Bill Niemann will have his Lady Knights ready every game. Coach Niemann will definitely win the coaching outfit of the year. Bill has a tradition Holiday tournament suit he wears that is loved by all. Don’t disappoint me Bill! See you after Christmas. Anyway, Look for co-champs this season and do not be surprised if the co-champs (two, three, maybe 4 teams have 2 or 3 losses). Also note that West Essex is one of the most athletic teams in the conference. This Essex county team is very well coached and play bulldog, hard nose basketball that is fun to watch.

The Iron side looks to provide more fun action. West Morris is my preseason favorite to win this division. Central opened with a convincing 42-26 victory over Randolph on Friday. Roxbury could play spoiler. The Lady Gaels sent a nice opening day message beating East Orange by 9. Roxbury had three players over 10 points in the opener. Morris Knolls is always tough and held Mt. Olive to 29 points, while putting up 40. Do not forget Morristown. Morristown opened with a convincing win over Mendham Saturday. Again, another tough conference where every game is important.

You can look for Mt. Lakes to defend their CHC championship from 2005. The Lakers are strong and have a nice core back from last winter’s Morris County Championship team. Most believe that the IHC has the two strongest conferences involving Morris teams, but the CHC added Morris Catholic this season. This sets up a possibility of two clashes between these two basketball power houses. We will all have to wait until February 13 for the rematch of the 2005 MCT Finals. Hopefully, this will be the second meeting between these two perennial contenders, the first hopefully at FDU.

Kinnelon looks strong this year and scored the most point Friday by any losing team in the state of New Jersey. But, University of Newark is strong. They are capable of giving Mountain Lakes and Morris Catholic a few good games. Whippany Park opened with a loss to a strong Science team, but will improve every game behind legendary hoopster Tom Wilson.

Comeback later for Wrestling coverage and a look at Boys basketball.