Jan. 9, 2026
By Nikalena Iacono
Managing Editor
The boys basketball team started its season with a 65-70 loss in an away game against Dwight-Englewood High School on Dec. 17. The team bounced back in the next game, though, winning 61-57 at home against Rutherford High School on Dec. 19.
Senior captain and point guard Johnny Chaname, who has been on varsity for three years, said the best moment from the Rutherford game was when sophomore guard Josh Lorenzo made a three-pointer to put the team ahead with only two minutes remaining.
“The biggest challenge during this game was pulling out the win with the pressure at an all-time high in a must-win game after losing a close first one,” Chaname said. “[The first] two games [of the season were] one possession or shot away from a different outcome.”
Chaname said, moving forward, the team, which was 5-4 as of Jan. 8, must fight to get ahead.
“We need to improve on late-game situations like making free throws and making sure we get a good possession with a high percentage shot because every possession counts against good teams,” Chaname said.
He said he hopes beating Rutherford, their rival, will give the players momentum heading into their upcoming games.
Having lost just two graduating seniors, Shawn Bellenger and Marco Bermudez, Chaname said the team has the experience and grit to go far this season.
“We never give up and will always find a way to leave it all on the court,” Chaname said.
Sophomore shooting guard Avery Cano, who joined varsity last year, also said the team has potential.
“I think we’ll have a good season, go pretty far into the playoffs and definitely win big games that will give us a good seed in the playoffs,” Cano said.
Despite his optimism, Cano said the players still have work to do, as they must take their responsibilities more seriously rather than messing around. He said this is particularly important considering the tough competition the team will face since moving from the North Jersey Interscholastic National Division to the Meadowlands Division this season.
“[This season is] definitely more challenging with the games we scheduled,” Cano said. “We play a lot better teams and bigger games than last year.”
“We need to improve on late-game situations like making free throws and making sure we get a good possession with a high percentage shot because every possession counts against good teams.”
Sophomore small forward Filoteo Mosca, who is in his second season on varsity, said the home game against William L. Dickinson High School in Jersey City on Jan. 17 and the away game against Columbia High School in Maplewood on Jan. 19 will be the most important because those teams are highly competitive.
“Winning against either one will prove our relentlessness, and we will find out how badly we want to win games,” Mosca said.
With the season just starting, Mosca said the players’ fast-paced offense, rebounding and zone defense are working to their advantage. However, he said the team needs to improve its fast-break turnovers and man defense, in addition to taking advantage of second-chance points and making open shots.
“As the season progresses, I think we will find our groove and get things rolling,” Mosca said. “Because of the [team’s] growth [in] maturity and physicality, we won’t skip a beat.”
