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Edert and Saint Peter’s magical run ends with loss to University of North Carolina

Photo courtesy of Zach Bolinger/Icon Sportswriter

Nutley’s Doug Edert.

By Jason Bernstein

Observer Sports Writer

As the time on the scoreboard ticked down to all zeroes and the clock struck midnight on one of the great Cinderella stories in sports history, Doug Edert was on the sidelines, wiping a tear from the corner of his eye.

While Sunday’s 69-49 loss in the Elite Eight to North Carolina was not the storybook ending Saint Peter’s or its standout guard from Nutley were hoping for, it will be a March Madness tale that won’t soon be forgotten.

Starting with a stunning overtime victory on March 17 against Kentucky, and continuing with wins over Murray State and Purdue, the story of the 15th-seeded Peacocks out of Jersey City was one that captivated the nation.

Saint Peter’s became the first 15 seed and the first team from MAAC to ever make it to the Elite Eight. No team from New Jersey had gone this far since Seton Hall back in 1991.

“A group of guys came in here who no one gave a chance to, no one believed in, but the people in our locker room and the people that are in our program - administration, us - and made history. They shocked the world” Saint Peter’s coach Shaheen Holloway told the media in Sunday’s postgame press conference. “You got guys who are going to be remembered for things that they can tell their kids and grandkids about. It’s a story within a story. I’m super proud of these guys. They came in and made history. Point blank, period.”

In many ways Edert, with his clutch shooting and attention grabbing mustache, became the face of this historic run.

When Edert made two clinching free throws in the finals seconds against Kentucky and proceeded to stick his tongue out, it sparked a viral meme and even a series of shirts for sale with a caricature of the moment along with the nickname “Dougie Buckets” on the front.

Edert scored 20 points in that win, then 13 more two nights later against Murray State in the second round to advance to the Sweet 16. After Saint Peter’s reached the Sweet 16, Edert signed a Name Image Likeness (NIL) deal with Buffalo Wild Wings.

The Peacocks, normally an afterthought in the competitive New York-New Jersey sports media landscape, dominated the headlines during its tournament run

Kards looking for strong softball season

By Jason Bernstein

Observer Sports Writer

Veteran head coach Jim Pickel knew last year was going to be one with some growing pains for the Kearny softball team. But even amidst a 10-13 season, the Kardinals more than held their own within the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic League, going 9-4 in league play.

Now, they’re ready to reap the rewards of the experience gained.

With eight starters back, a now junior-heavy Kearny team is set to have a big spring as it looks to contend in both the HCIAL American Division and the Hudson County Tournament.

“It’s going to be very helpful,” Pickel said. “A lot of these girls would have been playing freshman year (when the season was canceled due to Covid), so that’s when they would have had their growing pains. Instead, it was last year.

“(This year), from the first day of practice until now, they’ve really put it together and I like what I’ve seen so far.”

Leading the strong junior core will once again be starting first baseman Maci Covello, one of the area’s top three-sport athletes. Covello, who hit an eye-popping .533 with six homers, 38 runs scored and 25 RBI, is one of the county’s top sluggers, capable of carrying the lineup from the No. 3 spot.

“She’s a joy to have on the squad and she looks to get better,” Pickel said. “She’s always asking me questions, different things about hitting, defense, pitching. She’s always willing and eager to get better.”

When Covello pitches, another junior, Tianna Antunes will take over at first.

Hitting in front of Covello will be junior shortstop Alexandria Colon, who has a knack for getting on base any way she can. Colon scored a team-best 39 runs as she hit .377 (20for-53) while also drawing 26 walks and eight hit by pitches, both of which led the team last year.

Sophomore Sara Ryan is a returning starter at second base, who could hit at the top of the lineup. At third base will be junior Izzy Moya, who moves to the hot corner from the outfield after hitting .444 last year.

Senior Carley Natosi returns as the starting center fielder and leadoff hitter after scoring 25 runs a season ago. Kearny is expected to mix and match in the corner spots.

Senior Anna Powell is a returning starter set to see a lot of time in left field, as will junior Brianna Janeira, who is ready for a big role after missing all of last season due to a shoulder injury. Junior Brielle Burton and sophomore Leilani Cabrera are the primary options in right field.

Mikalah Franchino returns at catcher and is primed for a breakout senior season after hitting .378 with 20 RBI last year. Colon and Cabrera are also more than capable of handling the position in a pinch.

Kahlan Britt, Amerlia Perez, Yashlee Rodriguez and Mollo Carrerp are also poised to see meaningful time on the diamond for the

See SOFTBALL, Page 11

EDERT

Continued from Page 9

with Edert gracing the back pages of the New York Post and New York Daily News as well as the front page of The Star-Ledger and countless web sites.

In the stands, or at watch parties on campus and throughout the state, there were sure to be people cheering for Saint Peter’s with fake mustaches taped to their faces.

On the court, Edert, who scored 45 points in four tournament games to earn a spot on the East Regional’s All-Tournament Team. His play might have surprised many, but one person, who wasn’t, was Edert’s first coach Marty Higgins Jr.

“He’s not fazed by these moments, by guys who are supposedly Top 10, All-American players,” Higgins told The Observer before the Murray State game. “Dougie’s like ‘alright, let’s go.’”

But even during Edert’s meteoric rise from relative unknown to March Madness star, his connection to his hometown remained strong.

Edert told NJ Advance Media sports columnist and Nutley native Steve Politi that he “got the chills,” when he saw that students from his old elementary school, Washington School, made signs and sent him a video cheering for him.

“It feels great to be representing Nutley,” Edert told Politi. “Everybody knows each other. It’s a nice place to walk around, especially Franklin Avenue with all the restaurants together. People from town that my parents haven’t talked to in 10 years are reaching out, telling them that they’re watching and loving what’s going on. I love Nutley.”

Those in Nutley, Jersey City and basketball fans across the country were watching a few days later when he scored five of his 10 points in the final 4:02 of the Peacocks’ stunning win over Big 10 regular season champion Purdue.

Edert was one of the last Saint Peter’s players to leave the court on Sunday as North Carolina was celebrating a trip to the Final Four next weekend in New Orleans.

An uncertain future awaits the Peacocks, as Holloway is expected to be named the new coach at his alma mater, Seton Hall. Who becomes the next coach and what players choose to remain or transfer to other programs remains to be seen. But regardless of what happens in the upcoming weeks, what Edert and Saint Peter’s accomplished won’t soon be forgotten - and certainly not in Nutley.

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Despite only 4 returning players, Landy expects solid season for Harrison volleyball team volleyball team

Photo by Jason Bernstein

From left to right are Jose de la Cruz, Guilherme Queiroz,

Christopher Inahuazo and head coach Nick Landy.

By Jason Bernstein

Observer Sports Writer

Veteran coach Nick Landy knows that March’s preseason is the time for his Harrison boys’ volleyball team to deal with the growing pains that come with a group lacking the experience this year’s team enters with.

But much like the weather in North Jersey, Landy’s teams look far better as the spring progresses and this year’s junior-laden squad should fit that same mold.

“They’re improving, but they need to get the rhythm

See VOLLEYBALL, Page 11

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