Chatham Can't Get Over Hump Against Millburn

The host Chatham boys' basketball team dropped its first loss of the season to Millburn High School 41-36 in the Chatham Cougar Classic Holiday Tournament.

After falling behind 11-4 after the first quarter, the Cougars cut the game to within four after the third. Sophomore Jonathan Berntsen hit a three-pointer to reduce the Millers' lead to one in the fourth quarter, but Millburn followed with a 6-0 run to put the game further out of reach.

Chatham Head Coach Todd Ervin attributed the loss to the team's inability to score.

"We just turned the ball over too much and we didn't shoot the ball real well," he said. "That was basically the difference."

In a low scoring game, Millburn senior Joe Kizel recorded a double-double with 13 points and 11 rebounds. Fellow senior Alex Rosenberg scored a game-high 17 points for the Millers.

Millburn Head Coach Roger Blind said Rosenberg, listed at 6 feet 6 inches, has the ability to drive the ball to the basket that most big men do not have.

"Even though he's our tallest guy, he's a very good ball handler," Blind said. "He's got the ability to drive to the basket because usually a bigger player is guarding him and he can go around them. The key to Alex is his ability to get to the basket."

The Cougars also had two players in double figures. Senior Chris Conroy and junior Brian Ballard both picked up 10 points. The pair also led the team on the boards as Ballard and Conroy grabbed seven and six rebounds, respectively.

Conroy said the team will look to come back strong tomorrow. The Cougars take on New Providence High School in their final game of the Cougar Classic.

"We'll play hard," he said. "New Providence is a good team and they're a little different than Millburn. Coach will give us our scouting report and we'll have to prepare."

Ervin said the tournament helps the team prepare come playoff time.

"It's a big tournament for us," he said. "There's four good teams in it, so if we come out of it with two wins, that'd be great. We're playing good competition, so it makes us better as the year goes on."