Turnovers Hurt West Orange's Pursuit for First Win

Better, but not just enough for the West Orange High School boys basketball team.

The Mountaineers fell to 0-3 Tuesday night after dropping a 54-49 decision to unbeaten Montclair Kimberley in West Orange. Montclair Kimberley is 4-0.

Junior Carlo DeChavez scored 14 points and senior Duane Morgan added 13 for the Mountaineers, who will get back to practice Sunday.

The Mountaineers led early in the game 9-2, but turnovers on nine straight possessions allowed MKA to take a 14-9 lead after one period. MKA led 24-22 at the half. The second half was back and forth with both teams having opportunities to take control. 

"Too many turnovers, too many missed wide open shots," said head coach Mark Cacciacarne, who added that his team's effort was much better than it was in a Tuesday loss at Orange. "Our effort was there and we played better, way better, but we still didn't play well enough to win."

The Mountaineers made 20 turnovers in the Orange loss. Cacciacarne hadn't gotten a chance to watch film of the game, but figured there were more turnovers against MKA.

"The effort was good, but at this level, effort isn't good enough," he said. "We've got some inexperienced guards, and there's going to be some bumps in the road."

One plus in the last two games is the return of senior forward Christian Smith, returning from an injury he suffered in the fall, playing quarterback for the Mountaineer football team. Cacciacarne said that Smith is still getting into basketball game shape.

"He really hasn't played in a basketball game since the summer," the coach said.

West Orange's next game is Tuesday night at 7 p.m. when it plays host to Nutley at 7 p.m. in the nightcap of the first-round of the Mountaineer Holiday Tournament. Livingston plays Clifton in the opening-round game at 3 p.m. The tournament title game will be Thursday at 7 p.m. with the consolation game at 3 p.m.