Lindsey Darvin has been kind enough to join the team as an assistant coach down the stretch. Lindsey is a four year starter for the Bernards High Girls Basketball team, and served as the Mountaineers' captain in this her senior year.
Next year, Lindsey will attend the College of Bryn Mawr in suburban Philadelphia, where she will play varsity basketball. She achieved this honor through her talent and through her hard work.
Lindsey is a graduate of the Chester Basketball League. During the 2002 season, Lindsey lead a Peapack-Gladstone team that included Dana Perotti and Ashley Howes, the older sister of Will "the Thrill" Howes. Lindsey was the leading scorer as we won the regular season championship. We faded in the playoffs, however. The playoffs were held during our school's February break. Two of our older players were away on vacation. Without them we were unable to win the trophy.
After two seasons in the Chester PAA League (as it was called then), Lindsey played AAU basketball and starred for the Bernardsville Middle School Girls team, where she again played with Ashley Howes and Dana Perotti.
Friday, March 21, 2008
Most Improved Player
At the April 1, 2008 awards banquet the Bulls will receive at lea.st one championship trophy. Additionally, there will be some individual awards. One of those awards is for the team's most improved player.
This decision is a difficult one. Each of our players has taken instruction well and has done everything that has been asked of them by the team. Each has improved in at least one area of play.
The candidates for this award are as follows:
Walter Rivas: Walter came to the team with a love for basketball and some raw talent. He is very fast afoot and possesses very quick hands. Walter learned how to use his footspeed and his quick hands to steal the ball while on defense and move the ball in transition. In addition, Walter's shot, which was very rough at the beginning, has been refined. He has had recent scoring games of six and five to contribute to the Bulls' success.
Iain Wright: Iain is perhaps the most intelligent of the Bulls. He learns very quickly. He is able to hear an instruction and process it in the short time of a thirty second timeout. Iain is not a scorer. Rather he is our great unsung hero. He tirelessly sets picks and screens. He gets down on the floor to get loose balls. He pulls down rebounds.
Devon Levine: Devon is the smallest of the Bulls, but he plays like a young man who is much larger. Halfway through the season, the Bulls were struggling to get rebounds, and I charged the team with the mission of getting more rebounds. Devon taught himself how to get into position and pull down rebounds.
The most improved player will be announced at the banquet.
This decision is a difficult one. Each of our players has taken instruction well and has done everything that has been asked of them by the team. Each has improved in at least one area of play.
The candidates for this award are as follows:
Walter Rivas: Walter came to the team with a love for basketball and some raw talent. He is very fast afoot and possesses very quick hands. Walter learned how to use his footspeed and his quick hands to steal the ball while on defense and move the ball in transition. In addition, Walter's shot, which was very rough at the beginning, has been refined. He has had recent scoring games of six and five to contribute to the Bulls' success.
Iain Wright: Iain is perhaps the most intelligent of the Bulls. He learns very quickly. He is able to hear an instruction and process it in the short time of a thirty second timeout. Iain is not a scorer. Rather he is our great unsung hero. He tirelessly sets picks and screens. He gets down on the floor to get loose balls. He pulls down rebounds.
Devon Levine: Devon is the smallest of the Bulls, but he plays like a young man who is much larger. Halfway through the season, the Bulls were struggling to get rebounds, and I charged the team with the mission of getting more rebounds. Devon taught himself how to get into position and pull down rebounds.
The most improved player will be announced at the banquet.
Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Finals Matchup: The Magic
The Magic defeated the Nets in the other semi-final game to advance to the finals against the Bulls.
The Bulls and the Magic had very similar records this year. The Bulls are 10-1 with an average margin of victory of twelve points. The Magic are 10-2 with an average margin of victory of nine points. Both teams defeated each league opponent at least once.
The two head-to-head games could not have been closer.
In the first matchup, the Bulls were playing shorthanded, with only six players present. Despite being shorthanded, they built a fourth quarter lead that started to disappear after point guard Will Howes fouled out. The Magic tied the game with a three point buzzer beater. In overtime, Will Magic Kenny fouled out. The Bulls struggled, and lost the game by three points.
The re-match was a mirror image of the first game. The Magic held a late four point lead, with 1:20 left in the game. The Bulls narrowed the lead to three points and brought the ball upcourt with under twenty seconds left. With 10.5 seconds left on the clock, Sawyer Kilgore made a picture perfect pass to Will Howes who was all alone beyond the arc. Will shot the ball in rhythm. Bottom! The game was tied. Will Howes stole the ensuing inbounds pass, drove to the hoop where he was fouled. He sank the first free throw to win the game.
The winner of the game will win the tournament championship trophy. The Bulls already have one trophy in hand for finishing first in the league during the regular season.
The Bulls and the Magic had very similar records this year. The Bulls are 10-1 with an average margin of victory of twelve points. The Magic are 10-2 with an average margin of victory of nine points. Both teams defeated each league opponent at least once.
The two head-to-head games could not have been closer.
In the first matchup, the Bulls were playing shorthanded, with only six players present. Despite being shorthanded, they built a fourth quarter lead that started to disappear after point guard Will Howes fouled out. The Magic tied the game with a three point buzzer beater. In overtime, Will Magic Kenny fouled out. The Bulls struggled, and lost the game by three points.
The re-match was a mirror image of the first game. The Magic held a late four point lead, with 1:20 left in the game. The Bulls narrowed the lead to three points and brought the ball upcourt with under twenty seconds left. With 10.5 seconds left on the clock, Sawyer Kilgore made a picture perfect pass to Will Howes who was all alone beyond the arc. Will shot the ball in rhythm. Bottom! The game was tied. Will Howes stole the ensuing inbounds pass, drove to the hoop where he was fouled. He sank the first free throw to win the game.
The winner of the game will win the tournament championship trophy. The Bulls already have one trophy in hand for finishing first in the league during the regular season.
Tuesday, March 18, 2008
Magic breaks the century mark
Will Magic Kenny scored eight points in the semi-final game against the Celtics, giving him 106 points scored on the season. Magic joins Will the Thrill Howes in the Century Club. With his eight points tonight The Thrill has scored 136 points this season.
Andrew Martin is the next candidate to join the Century Club, needing 14 points in the finals to break the hundred point mark.
Andrew Martin is the next candidate to join the Century Club, needing 14 points in the finals to break the hundred point mark.
Bulls Complete sweep of Celtics, Advance to Finals
For the third time this season, the Bulls faced their cross-town rivals, the Celtics. The Celtics came in with a 6-5 record, and full of confidence. The game was tight throughout the first half as the Bulls struggled to find their shots. The two teams were separated by one point at the half.
The Celtic pulled ahead by one early in the third on a bucket by Pat Loughlin, but then it was Katy-bar-the-door as the Bulls went on a 14-0 run to build a 13 point lead. The run was sparked by a three pointer by Walter "the Bandit" Rivas, and highlighted by another three-pointer by Andrew Martin.
This was not the first time that the Bulls have completely dominated a third quarter. By running up a 14-2 advantage in tonights third quarter, they increased their overall dominance of third quarters to 135-59, outscoring their opponents by an average of seven points in third quarters.
Andrew Martin led a balanced attack with 11 points. Will "Magic" Kenny and Will "The Thrill" Howes each netted eight. Walter Rivas contributed five.
Iain Wright put the icing on the cake when he sank a free throw with 10 second left on the clock to make the final score Bulls 33, Celtics 19.
The Bulls advance to the tournament finals next Tuesday at Black River Middle School.
The Celtic pulled ahead by one early in the third on a bucket by Pat Loughlin, but then it was Katy-bar-the-door as the Bulls went on a 14-0 run to build a 13 point lead. The run was sparked by a three pointer by Walter "the Bandit" Rivas, and highlighted by another three-pointer by Andrew Martin.
This was not the first time that the Bulls have completely dominated a third quarter. By running up a 14-2 advantage in tonights third quarter, they increased their overall dominance of third quarters to 135-59, outscoring their opponents by an average of seven points in third quarters.
Andrew Martin led a balanced attack with 11 points. Will "Magic" Kenny and Will "The Thrill" Howes each netted eight. Walter Rivas contributed five.
Iain Wright put the icing on the cake when he sank a free throw with 10 second left on the clock to make the final score Bulls 33, Celtics 19.
The Bulls advance to the tournament finals next Tuesday at Black River Middle School.
Saturday, March 15, 2008
Win or go Home
The Bulls, winners of seven straight and winners of the regular season championship, now enter March Madness, where it is win or go home. Thanks to our first place finish, we received a first round bye. On Tuesday, we will face cross-town rivals, the Celtics, winners of an opening round game against the Cavaliers.
The Celtics (6-5) come in hot having beaten the Nets (6-4) in their final regular season contest and the Cavaliers (4-7) in the first round. The Celtics are a well-coached group, who feature a big three of Michael Paciej, Pat Louglin and Jonah Singer.
The Bulls are 9-1 and have beaten every team in the league at least once. We counter with a big four of Will "The Thrill" Howes (12.3 ppg), Will "Magic" Kenny (9.8 ppg), Sawyer Kilgore and Andrew Martin. Each of the big four has scored in double digits on one or more occasions. Will Howes has broken the 20 point mark twice. Andrew Martin has a high game of 17 and Will Kenny has a high mark of 19.
The Bulls have beaten the Celtics by margins of 18 and 12 in their two regular season contests. It remains to be seen how much the Celts have improved, and whether they can contain the Bulls firepower.
The Celtics (6-5) come in hot having beaten the Nets (6-4) in their final regular season contest and the Cavaliers (4-7) in the first round. The Celtics are a well-coached group, who feature a big three of Michael Paciej, Pat Louglin and Jonah Singer.
The Bulls are 9-1 and have beaten every team in the league at least once. We counter with a big four of Will "The Thrill" Howes (12.3 ppg), Will "Magic" Kenny (9.8 ppg), Sawyer Kilgore and Andrew Martin. Each of the big four has scored in double digits on one or more occasions. Will Howes has broken the 20 point mark twice. Andrew Martin has a high game of 17 and Will Kenny has a high mark of 19.
The Bulls have beaten the Celtics by margins of 18 and 12 in their two regular season contests. It remains to be seen how much the Celts have improved, and whether they can contain the Bulls firepower.
Friday, March 7, 2008
Bulls Lock Up The Championship!
Congratulations to the Peapack-Gladstone Bulls! Tonight in Chester they won their seventh consecutive game to lock up the regular season championship. And as usual it was a team effort. We needed all eight Bulls to defeat a much improved Cavalier team, 37-27.
How much did the Cavs improve? On opening night, the we defeated the Cavs by 34 points, so they improved dramatically.
Will the Thrill Howes and Sawyer Kilgore led the scoring with 12 and 11 points respectively. Will Magic Kenny contended with a tough interior defense to score 8. Will Howes thrilled the crowd by hitting three three pointers. Devon Levine contributed four points on two excellent feeds from Andrew Martin.
Andrew Martin and Magic Kenny dominated on the boards. Walter the Bandit Rivas stole the ball at least a half dozen times and caused another half dozen turnovers. Iain Wright played a ferocious defense, guarding the ball handler for much of the game. Blaine Schimoler hustled the entire game. His finest moments were when he got down on the floor to retrieve a loose ball and when he picked the pocket of the Cavs ball handler.
Next stop: Playoffs
How much did the Cavs improve? On opening night, the we defeated the Cavs by 34 points, so they improved dramatically.
Will the Thrill Howes and Sawyer Kilgore led the scoring with 12 and 11 points respectively. Will Magic Kenny contended with a tough interior defense to score 8. Will Howes thrilled the crowd by hitting three three pointers. Devon Levine contributed four points on two excellent feeds from Andrew Martin.
Andrew Martin and Magic Kenny dominated on the boards. Walter the Bandit Rivas stole the ball at least a half dozen times and caused another half dozen turnovers. Iain Wright played a ferocious defense, guarding the ball handler for much of the game. Blaine Schimoler hustled the entire game. His finest moments were when he got down on the floor to retrieve a loose ball and when he picked the pocket of the Cavs ball handler.
Next stop: Playoffs
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