Highlanders Boys Basketball Defeats Morristown-Beard, Advances in MCT

Led by the discipline of its seniors, West Morris Central beat Morristown-Beard in the Morris County Tournament quarter-finals on Saturday afternoon at Randolph High School, 56-46.

The game was intense from the opening tip-off to the final buzzer -- both teams matched each other in aggressiveness throughout each quarter, but the tenacity of the West Morris seniors proved to be the deciding factor in the game, leading them to victory over the Crimson.

West Morris looked in control for much of the game -- at one point, it seemed as if they could not be stopped as they went on a strong run at the end of the second quarter, taking a 26-20 lead going into the half.

At the beginning of the second half, West Morris Central kept the momentum, scoring eight unanswered points to start the third quarter, but a shift in fortune came after Morristown-Beard coach Eddie Franz took a time out, which appeared to calm his young team.

Composing themselves after the break, Morristown-Beard gained the lead before the third quarter came to an end -- West Morris looked like they were beginning to run out of steam.

Leading the way for Morristown-Beard was Junior Brian Bartner, who finished the game with seventeen points. Sophomore Chris Jenkins was close behind with fifteen of his own. The play of both Jenkins and Bartner kept hopes alive for Morristown-Beard.

Despite giving up their lead in the third, West Morris came charging back. Only down by two points going into the fourth quarter, the Highlanders shifted gears and displayed excellent team work down the stretch.

Senior James D’Angelo led the team in points with 29 and picked up a couple of clutch steals at the end of the game to help seal the victory for the Highlanders. Zach Nolan contributed with 12 points and was a presence under the basket all evening while Tom Cabarle, who has been a leader all season for West Morris, put up 10 points.

“The senior leadership we had out there within all of our guys was impressive. I had faith in my guys and they have faith in one another,” said Highlanders coach Wayne Shapiro. “This game meant a lot for us and our seniors because we lost two years ago in this very game on this same court against Roxbury, with James [D’Angelo] on the floor as well.”

Now on a ten game winning streak, West Morris hopes to continue with their winning ways against Mendham High School in the semi-final game of the Morris County Tournament on Saturday, Feb. 19 at the County College of Morris at 5 p.m.

The Highlanders also still have a regular season home game on Tuesday, Feb. 15 against Morris Knolls.