Basketball score-a-thon leads New Jersey prep sports week

When a relentless 40-minute stretch of boys basketball ended in southern Bergen County last Wednesday, Lodi and Wood-Ridge combined for what is believed to be the highest-scoring game in county history.

After two overtimes, Wood-Ridge finally outlasted Lodi at this extended game of run-and-gun, producing a thrilling 130-123 triumph that left players, coaches and fans alike short of breath of afterward.

While the National Federation of State High School Associations does not have records for each state, the 253 points produced in the Wood-Ridge-Lodi score-a-thon is the most listed for a New Jersey game and the 11th most all-time.

"That's actually pretty wild," Wood-Ridge coach Eddie Rendzio told The Record afterward. "We try to stop people, I swear, but sometimes we don't do it as well as we should."

Wood-Ridge led Lodi 59-51 at halftime — especially notable because it scored 65 points in its win the previous day over Hawthorne, while Lodi entered averaging just 55.2 points per game.

Both teams put up video-game numbers. Each squad had four players with 20-plus points, led by Wood-Ridge's Angel Colon, who tallied 22 of his game-high 45 during the two overtimes. He also helped the Blue Devils can 37 tries from the charity stripe.

Heithem Odeh scored 25 points to lead Lodi, which knocked down 18 3-pointers and hit game-tying shots at the end of regulation and the first overtime.

ST. PATRICK STATES ITS CASE
Trenton Catholic won the NJSIAA boys basketball Tournament of Champions last winter when St. Patrick (Elizabeth) did not compete because of an offseason coaching violation. But the Celtics became the top contender for that title after their 72-57 victory Saturday at the Hoop Group Showcase held at Rider University.

Quickly and emphatically, St. Patrick displayed its depth and skill, racing out to a 21-7 lead after eight minutes and a 40-17 halftime cushion in its first game since winning the City of Palms Classic. It got 17 points from the nation's top recruit, swingman and Kentucky signee Michael Gilchrist, senior guard and Western Kentucky recruit Derrick Gordon poured in 14 points and sophomore forward Austin Colbert swatted away four shots.]

SCOTCH PLAINS SHOCKS ST. BENEDICT'S
Scotch Plains-Fanwood went 7-17 last season and even after starting off 5-2 this season, who would have given the Raiders a chance of keeping things close against national juggernaut St. Benedict's on Sunday at the New Year's Jump-Off in Teaneck? Especially after being on the wrong end of a 20-0 run that put the upstarts in a 17-point hole during the second quarter?

As it turns out, Scotch Plains just might be a sectional contender this season. Charles Oliver scored a team-high 21 points, Patrick Dougher hit three of his five 3-pointers as the Raiders outscored the opposition 23-6 in the third period, and Matt Jegede tallied 10 of his 18 points in the fourth, adding up to a 68-64 win that ranks as the state's most shocking result thus far.

Meanwhile, the Gray Bees continued to struggle under first-year coach Roshown McLeod, dropping to 4-3. Tyler Harris scored 21 points for St. Benedict's, but is one of many newcomers to the Newark prep school's roster this season.

RUMSON REPEATS AS WOBM CHAMPION
Manhattan College is getting a terrific shooter next season when Nicole Isaacs leaves Rumson-Fair Haven (Rumson). The senior guard hit six of her team's nine 3-pointers and earned tournament MVP honors as the Bulldogs won their second-straight WOBM Classic championship with a 57-47 victory over previously undefeated Point Pleasant Boro last Sunday at Toms River North High School.{PAGEBREAK}OUR WINTER FOOTBALL FIXES
For those of us looking to satisfy our football fix before next September, a pair of all-star games featuring Garden State prospects are on the radar this coming week.

St. Peter's Prep standout Savon Huggins and Penn State commit Angelo Mangiro of Roxbury will play in the 2011 Under Armour All-America Game Wednesday at Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg, Fla. Meanwhile, Rutgers commit Miles Shuler of Long Branch and Stanford commit Anthony Sarao of Holy Spirit will suit up for the East team in Saturday's U.S. Army All-America Bowl in San Antonio.

Meanwhile, 15 New Jersey prep prospects played for the North team in the Cheseapeake Bowl on New Year's Day. Red Bank Catholic's Jack Tabb caught a 25-yard touchdown pass for his team, which lost by a 30-27 count. Other Garden State notables in the game included Don Bosco Prep quarterback Gary Nova, Winslow Township athlete Bill Belton, St. Peter's Prep teammates Keith Lumpkin and Sheldon Royster, and Paramus Catholic defensive tackle Marquise Wright.

New Jersey All-State football teams

TOP PERFORMERS
* Kyle Casaletto, Southern Regional (Manahawkin) wrestling: Garnered Most Outstanding Wrestler accolades at the Brick Memorial Mustang Invitational at 125 pounds, including a 7-2 victory in his championship bout.

* Luke Dickson, Pitman boys basketball: The senior guard and Division II Chestnut Hill College recruit averaged 27 points in two games, leading the Panthers to the Tournament of Peace championship last week. He also handed out a school-record 16 assists in the first round Dec. 30 against Overbrook.

* Ron Hoover, Haddon Township (Westmont) wrestling: The senior won his 100th match while capturing the 140-pound title at the Haddon Township Christmas Wrestling Tournament on Dec. 30.

* Mark Kukoda, St. Rose boys basketball: His 15-point performance helped him earn tournament MVP honors as the Purple Roses outlasted Point Pleasant Boro, 52-38, in the WOBM Classic final Sunday in Toms River.

* Myles Mack, St. Anthony boys basketball: The senior guard and Rutgers signee canned three 3-pointers during a decisive 17-0 first-half run, finishing with 23 points in a 59-47 win over Plainfield in Sunday's New Year's Jump-Off in Teaneck.

* James Sblendorio, Mahwah wrestling: The senior became the 18th three-time champion in the Bergen County Coaches Association George Jockish Holiday Tournament, winning the 160-pound bracket with a 10-8 decision.

* Johnny Sebastian, Bergen Catholic (Oradell) wrestling: The freshman earned Most Outstanding Wrestler honors at the BCCA George Jockish Holiday Tournament, upsetting the top three seeds en route to winning the 152-pound class.

* Ellie Wilbur, Rumson girls basketball: In addition to playing terrific defense, the senior guard contributed nine points, eight rebounds and eight assists as the Bulldogs defeated previously unbeaten Point Pleasant Boro, 57-47, in the WOBM Classic final Sunday in Toms River.{PAGEBREAK}GAMES TO WATCH
Academy of the Holy Angels (Demarest) at Kennedy (Paterson) girls basketball, Thursday: Perhaps the two top programs in North Jersey tip off here, although Holy Angels has been one of the state's most impressive teams thus far with wins over Ramapo and Pascack Valley. However, the Angels are coming off a Sunday loss to Immaculate Heart Academy. Meanwhile, sophomore guard Erika Brown is averaging 16.2 points for a talented Lady Knights team that figures to contend for the Group 4 state crown.

Rumson-Fair Haven vs. St. John-Vianney (Holmdel) girls basketball, Thursday: Both teams have four Division I commitments, but Rumson's most valuable player could be a Division II signee in Ellie Wilbur (Tampa). In the low post, Rumson has Boston College-signee Victoria Lesko while the Lancers counter with American commitment Arron Zimmerman. St. John Vianney won both games against the Bulldogs by double-digit counts last season.

St. Benedict's Prep (Newark) vs. St. Patrick (Elizabeth) boys basketball, Sunday at Kean University: After losing to lesser-known Scotch Plains, how will St. Benedict's Prep rebound against the state's top team? An interesting one-on-one matchup could take place here with St. Pat's Michael Gilchrist (Kentucky) going against St. Ben's Tyler Harris (North Carolina State).

RECRUITING NEWS
Timber Creek linebakcer Quinton Alston and Paramus Catholic defensive tackle Marquise Wright were the latest to de-commit from Pittsburgh, with their changes of heart coming after recently hired coach Mike Haywood was dismissed. Wright is scheduled for upcoming visits to North Carolina this weekend, Michigan State the following weekend and Miami the weekend of Jan. 21. Alston is scheduled to visit Cincinnati the weekend of Jan. 14. ... Although Point Pleasant Boro tight end Ryan Malleck verbally pledged to Maryland over the summer and has not decommitted, perhaps he is leaning that way. Point Boro coach Calvin Thompson told The Asbury Park Press his standout recently received an offer from Vanderbilt - now coached by former Maryland offensive coordinator James Franklin - and said Malleck will visit the Commodores, Rutgers and Maryland (although that could change with the hiring of new coach Randy Edsall). Miami and Nebraska are slated to make home visits.

Brian Falzarano, a veteran New Jersey sportswriter, covers the state of New Jersey for MaxPreps.com. You can reach him with story ideas or questions at bfmaxpreps@gmail.com.