It was a frustrating affair for Chatham High School (N.J.) Boys’ basketball, as Cranford senior Nick Amitie proved too much for the opposition, as he poured in a game-high 34 points in a 59-51 win over the home team Wednesday night in Day 2 of the Cougar Classic.
“We made it a little easier on him than it should have been, but he’s a good player,” Cougar head coach Todd Ervin said of Amitie’s court abilities and stellar performance on Wednesday. “He ended up being the difference, I think.”
Ervin added that Chatham had trouble finishing plays and struggled at the foul line, which ultimately cost the squad.
“We missed a lot. I don’t know the number, but it wasn’t good,” he said. “Forget about the eight points (we lost by), we were down five or six (at one point), and we easily missed seven or eight free throws alone. You miss your free throws like that, it’s going to cost you.”
Chatham (2-4) held an 8-4 lead after junior Quinn Burke banged home a basket midway through the first quarter. But Cranford battled back, with Amitie scoring 10 points to help it take a 13-12 advantage in the first period.
Cranford (4-2) built on that lead, as it outscored the Cougars, 16-10, in the second quarter to widen its margin to 29-23 at the half.
Amitie drained another 10 points in the third quarter to extend Cranford’s advantage to seven points by the period’s end.
Chatham sliced Cranford’s lead to 46-41 on baskets from junior Marco Mannino (nine points) and senior Remy deVerenne (six points) with 6:26 remaining in the game. But Cranford went on a 13-10 run to close out the tilt on top.
Burke led the Cougars with 10 points, while Mannino contributed nine in the loss.
Amitie pulled down a game-best 16 boards, as Cranford dominated the glass all night long. Sophomore Enzo Madrini added 11 points and six rebounds and senior Chris Santarelli tacked on 10 points in the triumph.
Chatham returns to the home hardwood Friday night at 7:00 p.m. against New Providence in the final day of the Cougar Classic.
— Jerry Del Priore
Photo is of Michael Tedesco shooting a foul shot.
NY NJ Sports World/Brooklyn Sports World 