Jr. Warriors Basketball Caps Fall Season With Hunterdon Championship

The Jr. Warriors eighth-grade district team capped off a successful fall campaign by capturing the Hunterdon Hoops Fall League Championship with a hard fought 68–58 victory over the Long Valley Purple Cobras.

Led by Warren’s Anthony Marino’s 13 points and Green Brook’s Patrick and Evan Meyers’ 11 and 10 points, respectively, the Jr. Warriors avenged an early season loss to the Purple Cobras. The victory culminated a fall season which saw the Jr. Warriors win 21 games against just 6 losses playing in the Hunterdon league and several area tournaments.

The championship game was a physical, see-saw battle. The Jr. Warriors play a fast paced, full court game which requires contributions from the entire roster. This game proved that point. Big men Justin LaCapra and Mark Ball, both of Warren, found themselves in early foul trouble, which meant that the Jr. Warrior guards would have to come up big. Earlier in the day, LaCapra and Ball accounted for 26 points in a 61-45 victory over the Central Jersey Jayhawks in the semi final game.

In the final, Warren’s Anthony Argiro and Adam Goldstein chipped in with 8 and 6 points, respectively, while sharp shooting guard Eddie Poggi of Long Hill dropped 2 three pointers late in the game and Watchung’s Logan Bailey hit a driving layup to help the Jr. Warriors pull away. Strong defense and rebounding by Long Hill’s Lucas Hackett and Warren’s Jon Catania kept the Purple Cobras off balance and locked down the victory for the Jr. Warriors. Argiro’s aggressive play and steady offense earned him League MVP honors.

The victory ended a fall season which also saw the Jr. Warriors take home titles in both the Hoop Nation Fall Classic Tournament at Rutgers Prep in Somerset and the Central Jersey Cardinals Halloween Hoops Tournament in Edison. The boys had to face the host Hoop Nation team twice in the Fall Classic, once in round one of bracket play, an OT victory, then again in the championship which was decided by a controversial buzzer beater by Mark Ball of Warren.

Anthony Marino (Warren) took home tourney MVP honors. The team played in two other tournaments around the Thanksgiving holiday and although they did not win those tournaments, the Jr. Warriors gained valuable experience competing against top quality competition such as the Paterson Playaz, ranked 25th in the country in the 14U division.

The Jr. Warriors consist of eighth-grade boys from Warren, Watchung, Long Hill and Green Brook and are led by coaches Scott Leonardis, Joe DiCesare and Joe Rocchietti. With the valuable experience gained in the fall, the Jr. Warriors have high expectations for the winter as they play in three separate leagues —the All County League, the Central Jersey League and the Jersey City Boys Club League.

Submitted by Scott Leonardis