SPORTS

Boys Basketball Preview: Crusaders ready to build off experience

Lauren Knego
@laurenknego

Coming into the 2014-15 boys basketball season, Morris Catholic has lost the element of surprise.

Last season the Crusaders made themselves a team to watch after winning the NJAC-Independence for the first time in program history with a record of 17-10 and advanced to the Morris County Tournament quarterfinals.

“We made a lot of noise last year, we stirred up everybody, we’re still too young but we are making noise,” coach Dave Grande said. “We’ve been there, done that, that experience was huge. Playing in the county quarterfinals was huge, playing the schedule we played was huge, so from the experience we’ll be able to build.”

The team only lost two seniors in Andre Spruell and Ryan Feeney, and will return a number of players that gained valuable experience from last season’s run, including senior forward Amir Hamilton (6 ppg., 4.5 rpg.) and junior center Amir Allen, who averaged 13.5 points, 10 rebounds and 2.7 blocks en route to racking up 364 points and led the team with 266 rebounds.

The three seniors Grande is expecting to step up and lead are guard Zach Williams (2.8 ppg., 1.4 rpg.), guard Justin Johannessen (2.5 ppg., 1.2 apg.) and Hamilton. Junior guard Jordan Spencer (4.2 ppg., 1.4 rpg., 1.5 spg.), junior forward Sean Mollahan (2.6 ppg., 2 rpg.) and sophomore guard Syrus Young also contributed to the team last season and will be looked to to play valuable minutes and take on larger roles.

“I think we can build off the success we had last year and bring it to this year,” Johannessen said. “We’ve brought it into the preseason and in the scrimmages we’ve been working really hard and it’s coming together.”

The team also has a number of newcomers and younger talent that the team will look to to gain knowledge and experience this season as the team looks towards the future.

“The seniors have to be replaced by our three seniors now plus the juniors,” Grande said. “The young help is going to be in the future more than this season, although they contribute great in practice, and there are a few that have surprised us.”

Morris Catholic scrimmaged against Pingry, Voorhees, Camden and North Hunterdon in the preseason, and the team will meet Camden, which finished 22-10 and advanced to the Group II final, again on Jan. 3. They’ll also travel to the Phelps School (Pa.), an international school that includes players from Spain, Lithuania and Tortola.

The Crusaders also remain in the Independence Division and will play regular season conference games against the likes of Butler, Whippany Park, Pequannock, Boonton and Kinnelon. They open the season tonight against Hanover Park, which finished 18-6 and won the NJAC-Liberty last year.

This season the Crusaders will be focused on playing hard-nosed, aggressive basketball every game and gaining the experience needed to take them to the next level. The goals are to repeat as division champs and get back to the MCT, and perhaps even further than the quarterfinals.

“I’m really looking forward to see if chemistry can overcome talent,” Grande said. “If you share the basketball like the San Antonio Spurs, can you beat teams that are more talented? So we have five or six teams on our schedule that are more talented, way more talented and maybe there’s more than I don’t know about. Everything we do that will be challenging is on the road, which is good for us, mentally it makes us stronger, so I’m anxious to see how they react to that.”

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: 973-428-6674; lknego@gannett.com

Players to Watch

Amir Allen, Morris Catholic

The junior center averaged 13.5 points, 10 rebounds and 2.7 blocks per game last season as the Crusaders clinched the NJAC-Independence for the first time in program history.

Wilson Guapacha, Dover

The senior guard averaged 12 points and five rebounds a game last season.

Ryan Borneman, Morris Knolls

The senior guard averaged 12 points and three assists per game last season for the Golden Eagles.

Conor Baron, West Morris

The senior guard was named Second Team All-Conference after averaging 15.4 points, four rebounds and two assists per game.

Luke Venskus, Vernon

The senior forward led the Vikings with 11.1 points per game last year.

Doug Alexander, Roxbury

The senior foward and four-year starter led the Gaels with 12 points per game last season.

Jaison Buchanan, Kinnelon

The junior guard was named First Team All-Conference after averaging 12.6 points per game last year.

Sammy Asani, Boonton

The senior guard was named First Team All-Conference and Second Team All-County after leading the Bombers with 21.4 points per game last year and averaging 3.6 rebounds, 3.2 steals and six assists per game.

Jacob Kaplan, Montville

The senior guard was named Honorable Mention All Conference after averaging 14.7 points per game last year.

Donte Wise, Mount Olive

The senior guard averaged 12.1 points per game last season and will be a main contributor on offense this season.