Bolden, Hoffman End Their Careers On A High Note

During a dismal start to the season in which Long Branch’s boys basketball team lost 10 of its first 11 games, it would have been easy if Nate Bolden and the Green Wave didn’t see any light at the end of the tunnel.  

While other teams were moving on to play in the Shore Conference and NJSIAA Tournaments, the Green Wave could’ve simply mailed in the rest of the season, coasting to two or three wins at most. Instead, under the radar, Long Branch and Bolden rallied to finish 7-14 and ahead of Ocean in the Class B North standings.  

“The season we had in the beginning, it would’ve been easy to give up and some of us did for a while, but we stayed with it and started getting win after win,’’ Bolden said. “It became fun again.’’  

Sometimes the biggest victories are not the ones headlined in bright lights. Bolden and the other Long Branch seniors can move on with the knowledge that they didn’t fold under adversity when no one outside the program would have really noticed if they did.  

Along with Long Branch’s late-season surge came an unexpected bonus for Bolden for his perseverance – a selection to the annual Shore Basketball Coaches Association Senior All-Star Game at Brookdale Community College on Friday. Bolden was one of two selections from the area, as high-scoring Shore Regional point guard Zack Hoffman also participated in the game.  

The Green Wave forward finished with six points for the North All-Stars in a 113-107 win over their counterparts from the South. Hoffman added five points in his final high school game.  

“It was nice because I didn’t think I would get picked because of the season we had, but we turned it around during midseason,’’ Bolden said. “I kept trying to play my game and lead the team and maybe they can build on what we did at the end of this year.’’  

Bolden earned his turn in the spotlight on Friday night, showing he could compete at the same level with the best of the best in the Shore Conference despite the fact that he didn’t play for one of the top teams. The coaches also recognized Bolden by making him an All-Class B North selection this season.  

“I got to play a lot of players I haven’t played against since my freshman year,’’ Bolden said. “It’s good to see each other grow up and know that I’m the same caliber as these players.’’  

Not only that, but Bolden is clearly a college-caliber player as well. He has narrowed his choices to Richard Stockton College, Ramapo, Chestnut Hill and Rutgers-Newark, so he will be continuing his career at the next level.  

While he moves on, the Green Wave will welcome current eighth-grader Kirk Bowles next season. He played in the inaugural 8^th Grade Futures Game earlier in the day at Brookdale, giving Long Branch fans a glimpse of the future guard. Shore Regional fans also saw a potential future standout in Kevin Bloodgood, who whipped some nice no-look passes for assists and finished with eight points for the North All-Stars in a 64-50 win over the South.  

They both hope to one day go out on a high note like Hoffman and Bolden with a berth in the Senior All-Star Game. At that time, they will also experience the bittersweet feeling of the enjoyment of playing on the big stage one last time mixed with the realization that their high school careers are over.  

“I will miss all the coaches and all the good times I had with my teammates that I grew up with,’’ Bolden said. “It’s sad to see it end.’’