Madison, Mendham, Delbarton, Chatham reach MCT boys basketball final four
RANDOLPH – Mendham is back in familiar territory, and so is veteran coach Bill Connolly.
The Minutemen advanced to a Morris County Tournament semifinal for the first time in eight years on Saturday, defeating last season’s finalists Pequannock, 63-60 in the third MCT quarterfinal at Randolph High School.
No. 5 Mendham, the most storied program in MCT history with 10 titles, returns to the final four for the first time since winning it all in 2015. Connolly also makes his fifth trip back to the semifinals as a head coach, the eighth overall.
The Minutemen will face ninth-seeded Madison on Saturday at County College of Morris after the Dodgers stunned No. 1 West Morris, 67-37 in the quarterfinal nightcap.
“It’s nice to get back to this spot. It’s been a few years for me and the team,” said Connolly, who is in his fourth season at Mendham after serving as an assistant with the Minutemen from 2009-11 under legendary coach Jim Baglin, who won 680 games in 35 years.
“What really impressed me tonight was our mental toughness down the stretch, especially the fourth quarter. We have a good group here with a lot of potential.”
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Mendham (16-5), which has won eight straight and 13 of its last 14, held a lead at the end of each quarter. The lead changed hands a few times in the second half of the third quarter, but the Minutemen opened the fourth clinging to a 44-43 lead.
Minutemen senior Mike Ewing and junior Brendan Brunnock scored 17 points apiece. Senior Luca Cresti poured in 13.
“Pequannock has two prolific scorers and they’re tough to defend. I thought we did a great job keeping them in check in the closing minutes,” Connolly said. “We hit some free throws and came up big to keep some distance.”
Connolly is referring to Pequannock junior Karson Culuko and senior Finn Powers, who combined for 42 points on Saturday. Powers finished well above his average with a game-high 31 points.
Connolly is back where it all started. Mendham won MCT titles all three years he was an assistant and the NJSIAA Group 3 title in 2010.
Connolly spent the next eight years at Morristown, guiding the Colonials to five county semifinals (2013, 2014, 2015, 2017, 2018) and the 2014 MCT final.
“We have eight seniors and they’re happy to be a part of this team,” said Connolly, who has a 52-29 record as Mendham's head coach.
“We’re balanced with experience. It’s a fun team.”
Upset city
Junior forward Tommy Bland scored a game-high 17 points – including four 3-pointers – and added 10 rebounds as Madison knocked off the top seed in Saturday's last quarterfinal.
Sophomore guard Evan Colao dropped in 16 points and dished out five assists as the Dodgers (14-6) had four players reach double figures. Madison senior forward Sean Mariani had 11 points, 15 rebounds and six assists. Junior Jackson Maloney had 13 points and two rebounds.
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Madison has scored at least 63 points in all three MCT wins. The Dodgers have won 13 of their last 15 games.
West Morris (18-3) was paced by senior guard Eli Stoute's 14 points.
Seeing green
Defending champion Delbarton easily won its MCT quarterfinal, 53-37 over Morris Hills on Saturday afternoon.
Junior Lincoln Zimmerman tied for a game-high 17 points, seven rebounds and four assists as the second-seeded Green Wave advanced to their fifth straight MCT semifinal.
The Morris Township school will face No. 3 Chatham in a semifinal.
“We’ve been playing great defense and we’re working out some kinks,” Delbarton coach Dan Whalen said. “We have a good group of guys and their effort is always there. The biggest thing we notice with the team is that they’ve bought into our defensive philosophy.”
Delbarton junior Michael Van Raaphorst contributed 10 points. Seniors Julian Radossich, Mike Vaccaro and junior Will McGinty scored six points apiece.
Senior Andrew Piombino led the 10th-seeded Scarlet Knights (11-7) with 17 points. Senior Justin Clawson kicked in 10 points.
Delbarton (14-4) raced out to a 29-17 lead at the half before pulling away in the third quarter.
Cougars on the prowl
Five-time MCT champion Chatham rolled past sixth-seeded Jefferson, 70-56 in the first quarterfinal.
Senior Ryan Leskauskas led four Cougars in double digits with 25 points Seniors Tim Platek (13 points) and Dan Morton (11) and junior Mike Tedesco (10) combined for nearly half of Chatham’s points.
This article originally appeared on Morristown Daily Record: NJ boys basketball: Morris County Tournament quarterfinals
