Fliers Pass Falcons 52-37 in Opener
Neptunes Defense Leads Way in Win Over Monmouth Reg.
By WALTER J. ONEILL JR.
Its going to be a season of rebuilding for two schools with a long history of outstanding basketball teams. The Scarlet Fliers of Neptune High School finished last season with a 9-13 record and the Falcons of Monmouth Regional are coming off a year in which they ended up 8-14.Last Friday night the 2005-2006 season started with the Falcons hosting Neptune. We dont have any size, but we do have speed, said Ken ODonnell, Neptune head coach. In his fourteenth year at Neptune ODonnell has coach some outstanding athletes and has won a few state championships, divisional championships and conference titles.
This year will be a test, said T.O. Brunson, head coach at Monmouth Regional. The next two years will be when we reach our full potential. Brunson has been coach at Monmouth Regional for the last nine years.
When the Falcons took to the floor they did not have a senior starting. In fact most of the Falcons starting against Neptune were underclassman.
Yes, we are young and we are inexperienced. That wont last long, added Brunson.
Both schools play in the very competitive Class B North division of the Shore Conference. During the opening eight minutes, Neptune took the younger Falcons to school.
Neptune used their speed and pin-point passing to pull out in front of Monmouth Regional 20-8. The Falcons looked out of step and had some communication problems on several passes.
During the second quarter the youngsters of Monmouth Regional learned their lesson of the first quarter and outscored their opponents from Neptune 13-8. Going into the halftime break Neptune had a slight 28-21 advantage.
In the second half the Fliers defense did not allow the Falcons to score in double figures in either of the last two periods. Monmouth Regional scored only 7 points in the third quarter and just 9 in the final eight minutes of play. Neptune on the other hand scored 11 and 13 points to pull away with the 52-37 victory.
Only one Monmouth Regional player scored double digits, Joe Connors had 13 points, Rickey Lewis, Courtney Frazier and Joe William each had 4 points. Iquan Rainey, Austin Whitehurst and Kevin Ortega scored 2 points each for Monmouth Regional.
For Neptune, two players combined for 26 points as Michael Oglesby and Gary Foster each chipped in with 13 points. Kevin Owens Tai-Shon Williams each scored 8 points for the Fliers in the victory over the Falcons.
The Fliers fell to Don Bosco 67-63 in overtime last Saturday at the Tip-Off Classic played at Seton Hall Prep. Don Bosco was ranked 19th in the state in a pre-season poll. Sophomore forward Gary Foster led Neptune with 19 points in the game.
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