With the game tied at 55 apiece in the Group 2 semifinal matchup between Mountain Lakes and Newark West Side, senior guard TyJon Huntley drained a corner three for the West Side Roughriders with 4.2 seconds left. While the West Side fan section erupted in cheers, the Mountain Lakes student section remained silent. The Lakers would be eliminated from the New Jersey State Tournament, effectively ending their 2018-2019 season as well.
Season Recap
Despite an emotional ending to their season, the Lakers had a very successful year, finishing with a record of 22-6 and going undefeated in the NJAC-Liberty Conference. The Lakers were also able to make the semifinals of the Morris County Tournament, playing front of a crowd of over 3,000 viewers at the County College of Morris. The boys’ most outstanding accomplishment this season was their performance in the State Tournament, as the Lakers earned their first sectional title in over 35 years by winning the North 1, Group 2 section of New Jersey.
“The whole year we all supported and liked each other. We were a part of a brotherhood,” said center Spencer Myler (’20), who was second on the team in scoring and rebounding. “One of the most important aspects of a team is to play for the team and support your teammates.” His words were evident when watching the Lakers play. With an experienced starting five of Jason Luzzi (’19), Jack Baker (’19), Jake Schicke (’19), David McFadden (’20) and Spencer Myler (’20), the 22 wins accumulated during the season were not the result of any individual player, but a balanced team effort.
The Mountain Lakes boys’ basketball team earned the third seed in the Morris County Tournament–well deserved due to their hot start to the season. Prior to the county meeting in which the teams were seeded, the boys were 9-2 . The boys were given a first round bye and then played 14th-seeded Chatham in the next round. With a 49-38 victory over the Chatham Cougars, head coach John Bydook earned his 500th career win, becoming only the 32nd New Jersey coach to ever do so. In the quarterfinals, the Lakers were able to defeat the Morristown Colonials to advance to the county semifinals and face 2nd-seeded West Morris Central. In front of a packed house at the County College of Morris, the two teams put on a show, but the West Morris Central Wolfpack were able to come out on top, pulling away in the fourth quarter and winning by 19. While their run in the county tournament ended, the boys kept their heads up and prepared for the state tournament.
“The loss in the county game against West Morris prepared us for the high energy games that we would see in the state tournament,” Myler said, as he explained how the team would make a run in states. The Lakers were again a third seed in the North 1, Group 2 section. Despite a strong performance by the Colts, the Lakers were able to come out on top and move on to play 6th-seeded Mahwah in the quarterfinal. The Mahwah Thunderbirds were a much tougher opponent for the Lakers, as Mountain Lakes found itself trailing by 15 at the half, and unable to chip away at the deficit in the third period. With the Lakers season on the line entering the fourth quarter, trailing by 13, the team needed someone to step up and lead the comeback. The team turned to four-year player Jake Schicke.
Schicke, who scored 24 for the game, hit four three-pointers in the final quarter to spark a big comeback for the Lakers. Mountain Lakes, who outscored the Mahwah 39-9 in the fourth quarter, were able to notch a 62-45 victory and advance to the sectional semifinal against the two-seeded Hawthorne. The Lakers, who would play on the road, found themselves in a high-scoring match with the Hawthorne Bears. TJ Palmer, a senior guard for the Bears, lit up the Lakers with 8 three-pointers and 41 points to keep Hawthorne in it. Jack Baker, however, was just too much for the Bears, as he scored 38 of his own, including 5 three-pointers to rally the Lakers to an 84-70 victory. Mountain Lakes would now face off against the 1st-seeded Ramsey Rams, who were ranked as the 20th team in the state of New Jersey.
The State Sectional
In the biggest game of the season for the Lakers, spectators filled the entire Ramsey gym to watch the battle for the North 1, Group 2 championship. Mountain Lakes was looking to avenge its loss in the regular season to Ramsey. Points were hard to come by in this game, as both teams played stout, disciplined defense in the first half. In the fourth quarter, both Jake Schicke and Ramsey guard Jaden Quinerly fouled out, leaving each team with one less starter for the remainder of the game. At the end of regulation, the score was tied at 28 apiece, leaving an overtime period left to decide the sectional champions. Led by six big points from Jack Baker in overtime, the Lakers were able to outscore the Rams 12-3 in the final period and earn the sectional title. It was the first time since 1986 that Mountain Lakes has won the state section. Head coach John Bydook also became the first coach in Morris County to win the section with two teams, as he had earned the sectional title with Kinnelon in 1994.
What’s Next?
Despite the aforementioned loss in the Group 2 semifinal match to West Side, the Lakers were able to end a tremendous season with poise and discipline. Despite the loss of key seniors, the boys will look to continue the success of this season to next year. Combo guard David Mcfadden and center Spencer Myler will be returning next year, along with key role players Riley Albregts (’21), Kevin Christ (’21) and Charlie Plonski (’20). This year’s promising junior class including Navin Ranganathan, James Petersen, and Andrew Sylvester will also play key roles for the Lakers. “Next year we need to have the same relationships with our teammates so that we are playing for the team,” Myler stated, as he looks to accomplish big things in his senior campaign. “We also have to work hard during the offseason and build team chemistry.”
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