Boys basketball battles to the finish

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Junior center Noah Balbuena, who ended the year with 176 points, fronts his opponent in the high post to eliminate a passing lane and deny him the ball..

BY FRANK PAPEO 

Sports Photo Editor 

            The boys’ basketball team ran through their opponents this year after not having a winning season in the past four years. The team had an impressive record of 15-10 and earned a reputation as a force in the division with an 8-5 record.  

            The team put on an impressive run, going 8-3 in their last 11 games. In those 11 games, the boys earned an 84-point differential over their opponents. “We knew what we were capable of accomplishing and during the second half of the season everyone started playing better together, and everything was clicking,” said Brandon Medel. 

            They produced a huge redemption win over Sayreville in January, beating them by 15 points after falling to them in the Holiday Classic over Winter Break. “It felt great since they are one of our rivals. Our mindset going into the game was to play aggressively right from the start until the last second,” said junior Krish Patel after scoring 22 points in the game. “For myself, I knew that I would have to show up to perform my best to help the team get the win.”  

Junior standout Brendon Medel, who finished the year with 230 points, focuses on the basket as he knocks down a free throw.

            Backcourt stars Patel and fellow junior Medel led the offensive attack. Patel showed that dominance when he scored career highs of 27 points against Piscataway and Timothy Christian. “It feels great to be the leading scorer as our team did really well with some great wins against tough teams in the conference,” expressed Patel  

            Double teaming Krish did not solve any problems for teams facing the Knights thanks to Medel, who finished second in points with 230. “I wanted to step up and do my best to be a better leader and help the team win,” explained Medel.  

Junior star Krish Patel, who finished the year with a remarkable 371 points, looks for an openign in the defense.

            Medel keeps improving game by game, scoring a career high 22-points in a late-season game against Edison “It feels great, and it was a big step to take,” said Medel. 

            A powerhouse front court of sophomore Michael Kvas, junior Noah Balbuena, and senior Ehi Odion rounded out the top offensive contributors. Kvas, a formidable force on defense, also scored an impressive 156 points in the year. “It feels good knowing I’m making an impact on the court when I’m playing,” said Kvas.  

            Power forward Odion, the only senior on the team, made sure he provided all the leadership he could for the young team. “Whenever a teammate is not playing their best, I try to help and pick them up,” said Odion, who racked up 156 points for the team, a big contributor throughout the year. 

Sophomore Michael Kvas, who became a key member of the team this season after serving as a role player as a freshman, drives toward the basket.

            Balbuena, a junior, completed the starting five out and got used to the competitive atmosphere in his third year playing varsity. “I gained a lot of experience this year. I was a consistent starter for the first time and played significant minutes in important games,” commented Balbuena. 

            With all but one player returning next year, the boys will look to pick up where they lift off and create more success in the future. 

Posted on 3/14/24

Photos by Abigail Persaud and Kaylee Weingarten