Chatham Boys’ Basketball Hands Watchung its First Defeat of Season in Cougar Classic

Chatham High School Boys’ (N.J.) basketball team played one of its better games of the young season. But the Cougars let previously undefeated Watchung Hills hang around, as it came down to end, with Chatham ultimately beating the Warriors, 54-50, Tuesday night at home in Day One of the Cougar Classic Tournament.

There is no doubt that Chatham is a different looking team, losing five solid seniors to graduation last year. But its bigs stepped up, as 6-foot-5 senior Michael Tedesco dropped in a game-best 14 points and 6-foot-7 junior Quinn Burke scored eight points while rebounding and blocking a few shots, as he caused Watchung (5-1) offensive disruptions underneath the basket several times during the game.

“Yes, he played good around the basket,” Chatham Boys’ longtime head coach Todd Ervin said of Tedesco’s fine offensive production in the trenches. “So, we need him to do that. We need him to score inside. He played good defense and played good on offense.”

Ervin said that this was a good win for the team, but there are certain aspects of the game the Cougars still need to work on going forward.

“We’ll take it,” Ervin said of the victory, with a sigh of relief. “Any win feels good about now. We’re still learning how to put games away at the end. But if we shoot the ball well, we’ll be in games.”

Sophomore Michael MacAniff contributed 13 points in the victory, as he attacked the basketball hoops with every opportunity that he had.

Chatham (2-3) jumped out to a 18-11 lead in the first quarter, as Burke and junior Will DesMarais, who finished with 10 points, combined to score eight points.

The Cougars surged ahead, 33-20, behind a total of eight points from Tedesco and MacAniff in the second period.

However, the Warriors chipped away at the lead, with senior John Kelly drilling a three-pointer as time ran out in the third quarter to slice the deficit to five points.

But Burke extended Chatham’s advantage to 48-39 midway through the fourth period before Watchung clawed back to make it 50-48 with 2:01 remaining in the contest.

Fortunately for the Cougars, Macaniff and sophomore Ryan Leach sank four free throws down the stretch to ice the competition.

Zack Patetta led the Warriors with 13 points in defeat.

Chatham returns to the hardwood today at 8:00 p.m. in Day Two of the Cougar Classic against Cranford.

— Jerry Del Priore