Balanced Scoring Propels Pioneers to Victory

After a low-scoring first half, both New Providence and Jonathan Dayton boys’ varsity basketball teams broke out offensively in the second. But the Pioneers’ balanced attack allowed them to stay a step ahead of the Bulldogs and ultimately triumph 49-47.

With this victory, the Pioneers have now won their last three games by a combined seven points. Coach Art Cattano said that the team’s experience, especially from last season, allows them to continually grind out close wins.

"Last year, we started out 1-8, we lost a lot of those close games," he said.  "Sometimes that stuff just evens out no matter what. We certainly had our share of tough losses last year. Right now, it’s going our way, but who knows what’s going to happen down the stretch."

New Providence (6-0) led 15-13 at the half, and then used a 13-4 third-quarter run and a 9-3 fourth-quarter run to withstand the Bulldogs’ outburst and remain undefeated.

Cattano attributed the first-half offensive struggles to his team being a little forceful.

"[At halftime], I told them we need to relax a little bit more offensively," Cattano said. "Defensively, we want the intensity all the time but offensively, sometimes you just have to get into a rhythm."

And get into a rhythm they did. The Pioneers had four starters score in double figures, and each found a unique way to create offense in the second half.

Justin Singer (11 points) kicked off the third-quarter run with a bucket, 6-foot-7 center Jack Cole (10 points) stepped out and nailed a 3-pointer, and Singer scored again in transition off of a Joey Meyers steal. 

Dave Barletta, who had 11 points, 10 rebounds and five blocks, snatched a miss and quickly turned it into two despite hard contact before Meyers (10 points) dashed to the hoop and converted on a one-handed runner off the glass as New Providence went up 30-21 late in the third.

Cattano said he talked with Barletta about using more power to try to score the basketball, rather than relying on finesse.

"[Barletta] has a tendency to just do a finger roll, and I said 'You’ve got to start going up with every shot like you’re going to dunk it,'" Cattano said. "Hopefully that’s going to pay off for us as well."

The nine-point cushion the Pioneers built allowed them to endure a 13-4 Dayton run during which the Bulldogs hit two 3s and penetrated for a three-point play and two additional scores that tied the game at 34 with 4:45 left in the game.

"That’s the way the game is, no lead is safe," Cattano said. "You get those 3-point shots, and they hit some really deep ones, that just keeps you in the game, so you just know that no lead is safe."

After taking Dayton’s best shot on the chin, New Providence swung the momentum back in its favor with a shot of its own from Singer. 

The forward caught a Cole rejection and without looking or hesitating, launched the ball over his head backwards across the court to a waiting Meyers for a lead that the Pioneers would never relinquish, even as Dayton continued to put the pressure on with desperation 3s. 

New Providence’s subsequent scoring surge that consisted of Barletta’s drive for a score, Singer’s 3-pointer, Meyers’ put-back and Vinny Fuschetto’s 4-for-4 from the foul line was necessary to maintain the lead after the Bulldogs hit two more 3s in the final 1:09.

The Pioneers will play Friday at home against St. Mary’s at 7 p.m.