Metuchen boys can't spring another upset
BY SHAWN LAYTON
Staff Writer

METUCHEN - The No. 9-seed Metuchen High School boys basketball team completed a major upset of No. 1 Dunellen to reach the semifinals of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group I Tournament but fell a game short of reaching the finals with an 81-48 loss to Create Charter.

The Bulldogs put together their finest effort of the season to knock off Dunellen 65-40. Dejuan Miller and Lamar Nichols filled up the stat sheets with stellar performances. Miller led the team with 21 points and 10 rebounds while Nichols posted 13 points, eight rebounds, five steals, four blocks, and four assists.

"That was the first time we played the way we did last year," Metuchen head coach Rich Stoner said. "Defensively, it was by far out best game of the season. That was really the story of the game. Our kids were active in the passing lanes and we were able to hold Dunellen to only 17 points the first half."

Against Create Charter, Metuchen got 15 points from Miller but just five points from Nichols in what proved to be his final game in a Metuchen uniform. Sophomore Phil Lewis poured in 13 points in the loss. Classmate Cody Preston finished with five points and five boards. Create Charter was led by tandem Keith Williams and Jason Hill. Williams led the team with 22, with Hill netting 21 points.

"Create Charter was a really good team," Stoner said. "At least we lost to what we know was a quality opponent."

With the loss, the Bulldogs ended the season a respectable 15-12.

Metuchen opened the tournament with a 67-49 win over Henry Hudson. Miller led the team with 23 points. Seniors Jon Brown, Nichols, and Corey Preston contributed 14, 13, and 11 points, respectively.

Also playing in his final game last week was fellow senior Bryan Mulligan. Mulligan was a solid force giving the team valuable minutes off the bench this season.

"Bryan contributed nicely in each tournament game and that was nice to see," Stoner said. "All the seniors will be missed, but they've had a nice run. This group of seniors won 54 games the last three years and I don't think there are too many seniors that can say that."

Last year's Bulldog team won 22 games and reached a sectional title game as well as the title game in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament.

"The key was that these guys never quit," Stoner said. "They always worked hard and they have great attitudes on and off the basketball court. They made practices fun, and hopefully the younger guys on the team learned something from them."