Just because his team is below .500 and just because they didn't qualify for the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association playoffs, doesn't mean there's any change of agenda for West Orange boys basketball coach Mark Cacciacarne.
With three games to go, Cacciacarne has the Mountaineers focused on playing well and to finish strong. The Mountaineers are following orders.
For the first time this year, West Orange is on a three-game winning streak.
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The Mountaineers knocked off West Side 57-42 Thursday afternoon, improving to 8-12.
Cacciacarne's club has endured a remarkably tough season — an unusual amount of close games that have ended in painful defeat. The theme of the season also carried over into how they were bumped out of the North Jersey, Section 1 Group IV playoffs. Last Saturday, Morristown — the 17th seed in the Morris County Tournament — upset top seed Pequannock, gaining enough power points to earn the 16th spot in the upcoming sectional playoffs. West Orange was one spot short.
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"Just a perfect ending," joked Cacciacarne. "We're a rock solid program that is just having a bad year. We want to see it though with pride. We want to finish by playing well, by representing West Orange the right way … I have too much respect for the (coaching) profession and our kids to do anything different."
The Mountaineers took that approach against West Side.
Senior Duane Morgan led the way with 21 points, followed by senior forward Christian Smith's 15 and senior guard Antonino Burnett who came off the bench to add 14.
One of the things the coach was very proud of was the Mountaineers taking six charging fouls as they pulled away.
"Tremendous," said Cacciacarne of the effort. And Morgan, who will play collegiate ball, wore West Side down.
"That's what happens when you're the best player on the court," Cacciacarne said.
The boys have games left against three very good teams — at Newark Central Tuesday, at West Milford Thursday and at Shabazz a week from Tuesday. Shabazz and Newark Central are still alive in the Essex County Tournament. Central knocked West Orange out of the tournament last Saturday and West Milford is 15-4.
The West Orange girls weren't as fortunate as they let a 32-28 lead after three quarters slip away. The Montaineers (9-9) fell at Nutley 47-45 despite sophomore Chisom Amaefuna's 13 points and junior guard Allison Mejia's 12.
West Orange plays host to Caldwell Tuesday afternoon at 4:30.
