Eighth Grade Basketball Team Celebrates Perfect Season

The eighth grade boy’s basketball team finished an undefeated season in February when the team defeated Hillsborough 54-49 in the Central Jersey Junior Boys Basketball Western Division Championship.

The win brought the team’s overall record to 17-0, and gave the eighth graders something to remember in their final year at the middle school.

Head coach Brian Henry, who is also a gym teacher at the , said he thought his team could have a special season from the very first game.

“I had very high expectations for this group because I knew they were a hard working, talented group of kids,” Henry said. “Our team strategy remains the same every season. We want to play great defense, rebound and take care of the basketballs. We knew if we could do this, we would be in every game.”

Besides the obvious winning, Henry said he feels the boys accomplished many other things. The young men matured quickly on and off the court, he said, and that helped them finish their season on top.

“This team learned how to practice hard and bring it every day,” he said. “They learned that each day is an opportunity to get better and they did just that. You learn so many valuable lessons by playing interscholastic sports, and I know the boys will leave with many important life lessons.”

There were many games that could have put a blemish on their record, but Henry recounts one in particular against the William Annin Middle School in Basking Ridge.

At that game, Henry said, Bridgewater was up 14 at halftime, but by the fourth quarter, Ridge came all the way back and tied the game. Although Bridgewater lost the lead at one point, the boys were still able to hold on for the victory.

Henry said he learned a lot about his team after that game.

“It was not one of our best games,” Henry said. “But it showed me a lot about the type of kids I had on this team. They overcame a lot of adversity that game, and I thought our team learned a valuable lesson. I thought our team developed a certain mental toughness.”

Now, as the boy’s hit the homestretch of their final year in middle school, Henry said they have learned a lot that they can carry with them to the future. Besides playing basketball, he said, he believes this season has helped the boys with their confidence to do whatever they want with their high school lives.

“If the boys take one thing away from the entire season it is that hard work, effort and determination go a long way in basketball and in all aspects of life,” Henry said. “I hope the boys can take the intensity that I instilled in them in practices and transition this to the high school, so they can have success at the next level.”

“I thought the boys came a long way in one season,” he added. “Hopefully they learned a lot about basketball and what it takes to be successful. I am extremely proud of their accomplishments and the season that we had. It could not have happened to a better group of kids.”