boys basketball team hung on in the final quarter to edge cross-highway rival Tuesday in Kinnelon. After a slow start and some opportunities by both squads, the game came down to final seconds.
1st 2nd 3rd 4th FINAL Butler (8-8) 4 11 14 9 38 Kinnelon (7-8)
9 11 9 8 37
IN SHORT
Neither team could get on track from the free throw line and in a game that saw both teams in the penalty in the first half. With Butler shooting only 52 percent and 35 percent for Kinnelon from the "charity stripe," no one team could take a solid advantage.
Find out what's happening in Tri-Borofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Although Kinnelon held the lead throughout much of the first three quarters, the teams came into the forth quarter knotted up at 29 all. But it was Butler that was able to overcome the pressure to lead into the final seconds. Through no lack of effort, Kinnelon's repeated attempts to score were thwarted.
BULLDOG OF THE GAME
Find out what's happening in Tri-Borofor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Michael McConville - McConville scored 7 points. "We played a lot of close games this year, so I think we are pretty used to it. When it came down to them having one last possession and they needed just one basket to win it, we were playing good defense all day so I thought we were pretty happy that it was us on defense and not us having to make the basket. I thought (Nicholas) Ballistreri and (Nicholas) Costa, our two guards, played a great game." - Michael McConville. "Mike did all the dirty work for us today" - Butler head coach Jon Simoneau
COACH'S TAKE
"It wasn't pretty but we played defense. And if you have an off day and you play defense, you can win a game. It was another awesome battle between us and Kinnelon. Sean (Rivers) is a great coach. I was happy we had to play defense for the last 17 seconds than to play offense. The boys weathered the storm. We've overcome so much this year with losing James Spadaccini to an injury. I am really proud of this group of guys, they are awesome guys to coach. You couldn't ask much more out of them." - Butler head coach Jon Simoneau
COLT OF THE GAME
Sean Robbins - Sean lead the Colts with 11 points. "We were off today. We have been in a slump for a while. We started off pretty hot earlier in the season, but it has been a kind of slow patch here. Playing without RJ Giannetti has been hard. Our offense was stagnant tonight. We played well defensively. And it was not due to a lack of effort because we were all trying really hard." - Sean Robbins
COACH'S TAKE
"There was no real flow to the game. Both teams play hard, even when it is not going well. Down the stretch, we didn't shoot the ball well from the free throw line. Our kids played hard. Without RJ Giannetti, other guys stepped up. I told the guys I feel bad for them. As hard as they played it is a shame not to get a win, especially in this rivalry game." - Kinnelon head coach Sean Rivers
UP NEXT:
- Kinnelon is scheduled to travel to Lenape Valley Thursday, time is TBD.
- Butler is at Whippany Park on Thursday, 7 p.m.
