Mac Attack: MacAniff Propels Chatham High School Boy’s Hoops to Big Win Over Morris Knolls

Junior Michael MacAniff enjoyed a game for the ages, pouring in a career-high 28 points, as Chatham High School Boy’s basketball team (N.J.) routed Morris Knolls, 78-62, Tuesday night at home.

“He played well,” Cougar head coach Todd Ervin said of MacAniff’s performance. “He went to the boards, got a lot of rebounds, scored inside. So, yeah, he played good.”

But MacAniff did not do it alone. There were three other players who scored in double digits. 6-foot-7 senior center Quinn Burke dropped in 18 points, while junior point guard Ryan Leach contributed 12 and senior Will DesMarais added 11 in the victory.

“That’s what he got to do to get his points,” Ervin said of MacNiff staying in motion. “He’s better off when he’s moving and spacing.”

Ervin also pointed out the dynamic 1-2 combo of MacAniff and Burke, praising his big man for hitting the red-haired baller, as he wiggled himself open on several plays for the bucket.

“Quinn’s a good passer,” he said. “So, if he’s (MacAniff) open, he’ll usually find him.”

MacAniff said scoring has not been at a premium for him. But his teammates, especially Bruke, were able to feed him the ball for good, open looks and helped him get off the schneid.

“I’ve been in a little bit of drought, but my guys got me the ball,” MacAniff said. “Me and Quinn were doing some give-and-go out there. I was able to hit some layups out there. These guys next to me (Leach and DesMarais) were able to find me, too.”

MacAniff paced Chatham (8-4) with nine points, putting it ahead, 21-14, in the first quarter.

After the Golden Eagles (5-6) scored a basket, MacAniff stole the rock and converted a bucket to give the Cougars a 23-16 lead with 7:03 left in the second period.

Both teams went back and forth for some time, with Chatham ending the half up by five points.

However, Leach and Burke combined to score the first five points of the quarter to give the Cougars a 10-point advantage with 6:32 to go in the third period.

After gradually building its lead, MacAniff dropped in seven straight points for his team to swell Chatham’s advantage to 56-41 with 1:47 remaining in the third quarter.

The Cougars eventually finished out the period up by 14 points.

With Chatham sailing along, Burke sank a basket to give it its biggest lead at 21 points with 4:09 to go in the contest. From there, the Cougars cruised to the big win.

Though Chatham did not play a crisp first half, its defense held the club together. But Ervin said the second half yielded better results after cleaning up its first half mistakes against a solid squad.

“It’s a good win. The first half wasn’t great, but we played a great defense,” Ervin said. “But we played better in the second half. Overall, it was a good win. They’re a good team, so we’ll take it.”

The Cougars travel to Mendham, a tough 11-1 team, Thursday at 7:00 p.m.

— Jerry Del Priore: text and photos.