Sports

Wednesday, January 27, 2021

Sports

WITH Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com

The Observer | www.theobserver.com & Recreation

Nutley’s boys working through the troubled times

Lyndhurst girls: Need more Martin

The Lyndhurst High School girls’ basketball team enjoyed a breakthrough season a year ago, winning 17 games, including a thrilling two-point 48-46 first round victory over Ridgefield Park in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group II state tournament.

Now, veteran head coach Perrin Mosca welcomes back almost his entire roster from that team of a year ago.

“We basically have everyone back from last year,” said Mosca, who is in his second stint as the head girls’ basketball coach at Lyndhurst. “We have only one thing to play for this year and that’s a league title. They’ve redone the league to include teams like Secaucus, Rutherford and Weehawken, so it’s going to be tough. But we expect to at least challenge for the league title.”

Leading the returnees is senior guard Carley Martin. The 5-foot-6 Martin, the daughter of former Lyndhurst boys’ head coach Chuck Martin, averaged nearly 16 points per game last year, scoring 20 or more eight times, including a career-high 26 twice against Bergen Charter and Hawthorne.

“She definitely knows the game,” Mosca said of Martin, who should be one of the top players in the North Jersey Interscholastic Conference this season. “She’s very smart. It’s nice to have her as the point guard, because the ball is in her hands. She handles the ball very well. But she’s a scorer. She gets to the tin (the basket). She shoots it well. She breaks presses on her own. She basically does it all. She’s always around the ball.”

There’s another aspect to Martin’s game. She’s always smiling.

“She’s out there having fun,” Mosca said.

Another returning player is senior forward Gianna Alberti. The 5-foot-7 Alberti, who is also a standout soccer player, is another versatile performer.

“She can also do some ball handling,” Mosca said of Alberti. “She’s a very good 3-point shooter. She does all the little things you need. Defensively, she does a great job.” Alberti averaged almost 10 points and five rebounds per contest last season.

Another key senior is 5-foot-6 shooting guard Alex Borino, who was the team’s third leading scorer behind Martin and Alberti last season.

Borino handles a lot of duties playing either the shooting guard or the small forward role.

“She’s great for us in the

Photos by Jim Hague The Nutley Maroon Raiders will count a lot on senior guard Justin Edert (left) and junior guard Nick Schroeder (right), the team’s leading scorer a year ago

By Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com

The Nutley High School boys’ basketball team made it back onto the practice floor recently, as veteran head coach Bob Harbison watched with trepidation.

“Everyone is a little rusty,” Harbison said about his Maroon Raiders, who begin play in the truncated 15-game schedule this week with home games against Montclair Kimberley Academy and Weequahic. “I like the kids we have. It’s a great group of kids. They’re also hard workers who push each other. Like everyone else, we have to see how it all comes together.”

The Maroon Raiders took two hits before the first practice, when two players who played key roles last year on a team that won just six games decided not to return this year.

It meant more of a responsibility placed on 6-foot-1 junior guard Nick Schroeder, the Maroon Raiders’ leading scorer last season. Schroeder averaged nearly 13 points, four rebounds and four assists per contest a year ago.

“He’s a good shooter,” Harbison said. “If I needed points last year, it usually came from him. We have to look to get the ball in his hands.”

Another key returnee is 5-foot-10 senior guard Justin Edert, who averaged 6.2 points per outing.

“He can shoot it,” Harbison said of Edert, whose older brother Doug is one of the top players on the St. Peter’s University squad this year. “He’s a good kid to have, both on and off the court. He’s a knowledgeable basketball player.”

Senior Jordan Greene is a 5-foot-8 point guard.

“He handles it well,” Harbison said of Greene. “He’s also a good defender.”

Junior Matt Harbison, the coach’s son and the football quarterback in the fall, is at the center position. Harbison stands 6-foot-2.

“He did a good job with what we did last year,” Harbison said. “He can make an open shot. He defends well and rebounds well. He plays hard.”

Junior Jake O’Connor also returns. The 6-foot-3 forward became a presence last season, especially when Harbison went to the zone defense. “He was cool and calm and did a nice job for us,” Harbison said of O’Connor. “He’s long and lanky and that length is going to help him. He also likes the game a lot and likes to play. I really like the kid.”

Junior Jake Cirminiello is a 5-foot-10 guard.

“He’s very athletic and very quick,” Harbison said. “He may end up playing point guard because he’s so quick.”

Junior Frankie Contella is a 5-foot-10 swing player.

“He’s crafty with the ball,” Harbison said. “He gets the most out of his body. He’s also