Wednesday, February 3, 2021
The Observer | www.theobserver.com
Sports & Recreation WITH
Jim Hague
9
Buccaneers hope for another successful season
ogsmar@aol.com
Nutley girls try to keep winning ways going The Nutley High School girls’ basketball team had a wonderful season a year ago, winning 19 games and in the process, captured the championship of the Super Essex Conference’s Liberty Division. The season was perhaps unexpected, but veteran coach Larry Mitschow has worked wonders before in his nine years with the Maroon Raiders, leading the team to heights that were almost Cinderella-esque in stature. Now, the Maroon Raiders have to carry on without two major cogs, one of whom was one of the best players in Nutley girls’ basketball history. Abby Scheidel was outstanding in every facet of the game. She averaged 19 points per game, earning All-State Group III and AllSuper Essex Conference honors. Scheidel has taken her talents to Muhlenberg University and will play there when the school’s season returns. The team also lost rebounding machine Jaden Long, who averaged 10 points and 10 rebounds per game and had an absolute explosion of high scoring games toward the end of the season. Both Scheidel and Long were named Ob-
server Athletes of the Week last season. Because of the Raiders’ success last season, they have been placed in the American Division of the SEC, faving the likes of University of Newark, East Orange, West Orange, Newark Tech and Montclair Immaculate. So it’s a little bit of a rebuilding season for Mitschow and the Raiders and one that will now be delayed in starting due to a COVID-19 shutdown and quarantine for the time being. Mitschow doesn’t like the term “rebuilding.” “It’s going to be quite a challenge,” Mitschow said. “It’s going to be extremely difficult facing each of those teams twice. It’s going to be extremely difficult for our young team. We don’t like to call any year a rebuilding year. But after the season we had a year ago and the key players we lost, we may have to alter our team goals just a bit.” So Mitschow told the Maroon Raiders to concentrate on the little things. “I told the girls from Day One to let’s improve as a team and individually as much as possible,” See VIEW, Page 11
Photos by Jim Hague
Belleville junior point guard Ethan Laquindanum and Belleville junior small forward Nasir Bey.
By Jim Hague ogsmar@aol.com The Belleville High School boys’ basketball team won 19 games a year ago. Although the season is truncated this season to just 15 games because of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic, veteran head coach Jim Catalano, now back coaching at his alma mater, has high hopes for his team. “It’s hard to say, but I think we’re pretty upbeat about our team,” said Catalano, who was the long-time coach at NJIT (called New Jersey Tech back then) and had some stints at other high schools before returning home three years ago. “Most of our team last year was sophomores,” Catalano said. “Who knew what they could do? Well, they all did very well. We have a great group of kids. I’m thinking they should all continue to come along.” The Buccaneers lost one key player to graduation. Hector Castro, who was a
two-time Observer Athlete of the Week during his career at Belleville, graduated and hopes to play college basketball now. Castro averaged 19.6 points and almost 10 rebounds per game last season. “It’s a huge loss for us,” Catalano said. “He set the tone for everyone. He did a little bit of everything.” Leading the returnees is 5-foot-7 junior point guard Ethan Laquindanum, who averaged 10 points and seven assists last year. “He’s just a jolt of lightning on the floor,” Catalano said. “He’s the toughest kid we have. And you don’t want him guarding you. You have to be really careful playing him, because he can get to the basket against anyone. Once he’s going to the basket, then he’s able to pass the ball. It’s fun to watch.” Another standout is 6-foot-1 junior forward Nasir Bey, who averaged 12.5 points, five rebounds and four assists per game. Bey could make up some of the scoring punch
lost by the graduation of Castro. “He really came on last year,” Catalano said. “He developed an excellent jump shot and became a good 3-point shooter. He’s become a leader on the team. He suffers no lapses on the court and goes hard every time down the floor. Every possession, every pass, he’s on. I’m really pleased with both Ethan and Nas.” Another returnee with a huge upside is 6-foot-5 senior Mofeayo Kuku, or just Mo for short. Kuku was a dominating force for the Buccaneers, especially down the stretch of the season a year ago. “He really came along at the end of last year,” Catalano said. “He worked on his game over the summer. He looks pretty good. He can play at the next level for sure.” Senior Danny Castillo is a 6-foot-1 guard who missed all of last season due to injury and illness. But Castillo is See BELLEVILLE, Page 10
