SJV boys finish season on a high note
Basketball team wins 11 of 14 down the stretch
BY WARREN RAPPLEYEA Staff Writer
After starting the campaign with a 3-8 mark, the St. John Vianney High School basketball team took a break- to play laser tag as a group- and afterward went on 11-4 streak to end the season in style.

"When we fell to 3-8, I gave the guys three days off and then we did the laser tag," coach David Emery said. "That really helped loosen things up. Actually, our start was probably my fault. After winning 40 games the past two seasons, there were high expectations for our team. Still, all eight of those losses were close games."

The Lancers entered the year with just three seniors and little collective varsity experience. Following SJV's strong finish, Emery's team appears to have a bright future and six players from its nine-man rotation will return next season.

Interestingly, the Lancers went 1-5 the first time through the Shore Conference's ClassACentral Division. The second time around SJV avenged losses to Holmdel, Raritan, RBC, Red Bank Regional and Rumson-Fair Haven.

SJV fought its way back to the .500 mark on Feb. 8 with a 75-59 success against Brick to even its record at 11 up and 11 down. Ganter led the offense with 18 points.

Emery's team also made its mark in the Shore Conference Tournament, scoring an exciting opening round triumph over Point Pleasant Boro. Tony Ganter nailed a buzzer-beater to give his team a 52-51 victory. Junior guard Marc Teel helped the cause by setting a key pick to set-up the game-winner. In addition, Teel canned a trio of three-pointers.

After losing to Neptune in second round of the tourney, the Lancers finished out by winning their last two contests, including a 66-59 victory over Central Regional in the season finale. Ganter scored 15 points, while Pat Tynion added 13 and Teel and freshman Michael Balkovic contributed 11 points apiece.

Emery noted that his underclassmen contributed in big ways to the team's turnaround, but the coach said it wouldn't have occurred without the efforts of his three captains: Ganter, Tynion and Carl Durand.

"Our three seniors were great leaders; they kept everyone on board," the coach said. "If you have poor leadership and you're 3-8 it's very easy to end up 6-20. Even when we struggled those guys stood tall."

Ganter averaged 13 points-per-game to lead the team in scoring and Tynion was not far behind, averaging nine points and four rebounds. Duran contributed five points-per-game while helping out underneath.

The Lancers will need new leaders next season, but Emery will have plenty of talented players to choose from. Teel and Balkovic each started 20 games and averaged six and seven points, respectively. Balkovic, at 6-5, led the Lancers in rebounding, averaging five caroms.

Junior forward Pat Christopher established himself as the sixth man down the stretch, pumping in some key points while playing solid defensively. Center Ellis Haroldson, another junior, showed plenty of potential and averaged seven points. Junior forward Joe Badru and sophomore guard Craig Ganter gave the Lancers quality minutes when called upon, Emery noted.

"This team really came back and overachieved and I'm very proud of them," he added. "After the way we finished and with so many players coming back, we're starting to look forward to next year."