FREEHOLD,
NEW JERSEY – The Freehold Boro Colonials ended their two-game losing streak and
took sole possession of first place in the Shore B – North division with a
53-44 victory over the Monmouth Regional Falcons on Tuesday night.
Lance McKenzie scored 26 points.
Photo by Steve Goldberg
“We
were a little bit down obviously coming off of those losses, but we had a
couple good days of practice,” Freehold Boro Head Coach Ben DiBiase said. “We
came together, we had a couple meetings, we talked some things out, and we got
back on the right track today. It was very important for us.”
Freehold
Boro guard Lance McKenzie led the game in scoring with 26 points. Forward
Christian Garcia was the other high-scorer for the Colonials with 16. Garcia
was held scoreless in the first half, but McKenzie was able to carry the team
with his 17 first half points.
“I
only took three shots in the first half,” Garcia said. “It was very hard
getting the ball and getting shot attempts. Coach let me get more on the
outside in the second half, and it paid off.”
“I
just stepped up,” McKenzie said about his performance. “My team depends on me
and I depend on my team. We’re a unit, we’re one, and we have to play as one.”
The
Colonials received a scare early in the third quarter when McKenzie was knocked
to the ground after making a layup in traffic. He was helped off the court
holding his head in pain but returned later in the quarter to finish the game.
“I got
past the defender on the wing and I jumped for the contact, but [Brent] Shelton caught me with an
elbow on the side of my head,” McKenzie described. “My vision got a little
fuzzy, but I still managed to make the bucket. I was just a little shaken up,
but I came back in the game and helped my team for the win.”
Christian Garcia had a stellar second half.
Photo by Steve Goldberg
McKenzie
has been fighting injuries throughout the season, and DiBiase was relieved to
hear that the damage was not serious.
“We
have to get him coated up in some padding from head to toe,” DiBiase joked.
Neil
Thompson, one of the premier players in the Shore Conference, led Monmouth
Regional with 14 points, but was limited to just two in the fourth quarter.
“Our
goal going into the game on the board was Thompson 15 or under and we’re going
to win,” DiBiase said.
Freehold
Boro and Monmouth Regional, ranked second and sixth, respectively, in the Shore
Conference, will be playing in the Battle of the
Boardwalk on Saturday at Monmouth
University. The Falcons
will match up against the No. 4 Middletown South Eagles and the Colonials will
face the Lakewood Piners.
“Lakewood’s pretty good.
They have some athletic players like Division I prospect Jarrod Davis,” Garcia
said. “But I think they’re a lot like Monmouth Regional. They have one star
player and a lot of role players, but if we shut down their best player, we
should get the win.”
