Little Silver Basketball Warriors Enter Finals Undefeated

Little Silver's Warriors upped their season's record to 19-0 Friday trouncing Eatonotown's Hawks 50-23 and moving on to the finals against Oceanport on Monday.

“I’ve been preaching defense all year, since the beginning of the season,” said Warriors' head coach Don Nolan, who has coached hoops at Markham for 22 years.

“And this bunch responded,” the coach continued to say in his post-game comments.  “They’ve done a great job creating turnovers and pressuring the ball.”

The Warriors high scorer of the game, helping to keep his team’s score at times more than double the opponent’s output was point guard John Salcedo, pouring in 21 points.  Following him was John Moschella with eight and Justin Gilson with five.

The Hawks high scorers were James Green with six, followed by Mike Travers who hit for five.

“We’re ALL key players,” the Nolan stated when asked to single out some key members of his team.   “Something I’ve always strongly believed. 'It’s amazing what can be accomplished when no one cares who gets the credit.’  Those are not my words,” Nolan said.  “John Wooden, the legendary college basketball coach said that.”

“I always worry,” Nolan said with a slight grin on his face when asked which of his potential future opponents worried him.  “But I’m always confident these guys will go out and play their best to win.  But…like in any other sport, it only takes one off day.”

The coach and his players weren’t the only ones enjoying the game.  Along with a standing-room-only crowd of supporters for both teams were two student fans with maybe the best seats in the house: Markham Place eighth-graders and team scorekeepers Zach Garrano and Jack McLoone.

“I really like sports,” said Zach during the half-time break in the action.  “I didn’t make the team, so I got involved doing this so I could stay close to the team and help out and support them.  I like it all,” he said, “and this team is a good example of teamwork.”

Co-scorekeeper Jack McLoone’s comments also reflected the teamwork ethic.  “The supporting cast, everyone contributing is what makes it,” he said.  “And it’s just been a really great experience, doing all this, going to this school and helping the team.”