Chatham High School (N.J.) Boy’s basketball coach Todd Ervin said that at this point in the season, all they want to do is survive and thrive.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!And that is exactly what the No. 2 Cougars (24-5) did, as they outlasted six-seeded South Plainfield, 65-57, Wednesday night in the semifinals of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North Jersey, Section 2, Group 3 Tournament at home.
“We shot the ball great (in the second half). We made some stupid plays, obviously. But we got some good looks,” Ervin said, “That team’s good. Good win; survive and advance. That’s all we want to do.”
Senior Michael MacAniff had another impressive game, draining a team-best 21 points in the win.
He did not see action in the finals last year due to injury. But he said he is chomping at the bit to get out there and do his thing and is looking for a different result than last season’s defeat to Colonia (19-10) in the finals.
“I didn’t get to play last year, so I’m definitely hungry,” MacAniff said. “It’s going to be an electric matchup. Colonia is a good program, but we’re definitely coming for vengeance.”
After trading blows in the first quarter like two young pugilists, both teams ended the period at a 17-17 stalemate.
MacAniff gave Chatham a 20-17 advantage after nailing one from beyond the arc early in the first quarter.
Next, senior Marco Mannino converted a bucket and senior point guard Ryan Leach sank a free throw to give the Cougars a six-point lead with 4:37 remaining in the first half.
The Tigers scored a basket, but senior Nick Fabijanic answered with one of his own to reclaim a six-point advantage with 2:35 to go in the second period.
However, South Plainfield dropped in six unanswered points to go into the locker room with a 26-25 lead.
MacAniff began things by sinking two shots from the charity stripe to make it 27-26 Chatham early in the third quarter.
But the Tigers surged ahead 31-27 with 7:15 left in the third period before Leach scored back-to-back baskets for a 32-31 advantage with 6:41 left in the third period.
But sophomore Lucas Andrade drained a three-pointer to stake South Plainfield to a 34-32 lead with 6:12 remaining in the third quarter.
Needed a bucket, MacAniff came up big again with a basket of his own to make it a 34-34 game with 5:25 left in the third period.
Then, junior Jalen Forehan-Kelly went to work and banged one home from three-point land for a 37-34 lead midway through the third quarter.
After a Tiger basket, Forehan-Kelly struck again with another three-pointer to make it 40-36 Cougars with a little over four minutes remaining in the third.
Both squads went back and forth until the Chatham took a 49-47 advantage by the quarter’s end.
MacAniff began the fourth period festivities with a three-point play with 6:44 to go in the tilt. After a Tiger bucket, he followed that up with a three-pointer for 54-49 Chatham lead with a little over six minutes left in the game.
South Plainfield cut the deficit to three points with 4:59 left in the affair. But the Cougars transitioned into scoring mode, outscoring the opposition down the stretch for the victory.
Forehan-Kelly and Leach contributed 12 points apiece, while Mannino chipped in with 10.
Chatham will travel to Colonia Saturday (TBA) for the sectional championship.
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