Jr. Warriors Win Holiday Basketball Tourney

Behind Anthony Marino’s 15 points and Justin LaCapra’s 13 points and 5 rebounds, the Jr. Warriors defeated the South Brunswick Vikings Gold 41–29 to win the Sid Lee Viking Classic Holiday Basketball Tournament in South Brunswick, Dec. 28 — Dec. 30. 

The Jr. Warriors started slow and found themselves down 17–15 at the half. After the break, the Warriors’ smothering full court press led by Mark Ball, Evan Meyers and Pat Meyers disrupted the Vikings Gold offense and forced numerous turnovers which led to easy Warriors baskets.  Tournament MVP, Justin LaCapra, scored 11 of his 13 points in the second half—including 5 of 7 from the foul line which ignited the second half surge and carried the Warriors to the Championship.

The Warriors march to the championship started with a 49–36 victory over Milltown. Warren’s Justin LaCapra led the team with 15 points, Greenbrook’s Evan Meyers followed with 8 points and Warren’s Mark Ball and Anthony Marino contributed 6 points each to the cause. The entire team chipped in to support the balanced attack as 9 players had at least 2 points each.

Next up for the Warriors was the A team from North Brunswick. In their toughest test of the tournament, the Warriors were led by their big men as LaCapra dropped 15 points and Warren’s Mark Ball rang the bell for 11 while Anthony Argiro contributed 10 points. The Warriors got balanced scoring in the first half as LaCapra had 6 while Ball, Marino, Argiro and Long Hill’s Lucas Hackett had 4 each and Eddie Poggi and Evan Meyers each added a bucket. With the score tied at 26 after 2 quarters, the Warriors turned up the defensive pressure in the second half and held North Brunswick A to just 15 points in the half en route to a 50–41 victory.

The semifinal game was the Jr. Warriors most dominant performance of the tournament.  Facing the South Brunswick Vikings Black team for the first time, the Warriors came out of the gate strong and held their opponents to just 8 first half points jumping out to a 25–8 halftime lead.

The Warriors continued the pressure in the second half and cruised to a 58–20 win. Greenbrook’s Patrick Meyers led all scorers with a season high 14 points. Eddie Poggi and Evan Meyers chipped in with 8 points each, followed by Logan Bailey and Lucas Hackett with 6 each, Mark Ball and Jon Catania had 5 apiece, and Justin LaCapra, Anthony Argiro and Anthony Marino each had 2 points.

The Jr. Warriors currently play in the All County, the Central Jersey and the Jersey City Boys Club leagues with a current overall record of 33–7 (12–1 in Winter League play). The Warriors play their home games at Valley View School in Watchung, Green Brook Middle School and IEF Elementary School in Greenbrook.

Submitted by Jeff Goldstein.