RUMSON – An otherwise memorable season for Rumson-Fair Haven Regional’s boys basketball team came to a disappointing end Friday in the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group II semifinals when the Bulldogs dropped a hard-fought 62-56 decision to a talented Bordentown team.
Despite the loss, however, it could not take away from the finest season in school history, as coach Chris Champeau was quick to point out.
“I told my kids after the game to hold their heads up,” said Champeau. “We won our first Shore Conference Tournament championship by beating CBA, won our division and also won 24 games.
“We left it all on the court and that is all I could have expected from them,” he said. “It was a great season and I’m proud of the team.”
The game, played before a noisy, standing room only crowd, had several momentum-changing shifts but Rumson, after trailing by as many as 10 points, seemed to have finally gained control of the game in the final quarter when a layup by Morgan Maguire, who was a standout in defeat, Brendan Barry’s three-pointer, and two free throws from Mickey Schluter, put Rumson in front, 53-44, with 5:10 remaining.
Bordentown, though, battled back and closed the gap to 53-52 with 3:46 left.
“Bordentown is very athletic and quick,” said Champeau. “We knew that they wouldn’t give up.”
Rumson’s Thomas Famulary snapped the streak with a free throw, but a basket by Darnill Brown and two layups from Myron Gordon gave Bordentown the lead for good, 58-54.
“When you get down by nine points, you have to fight hard to get back,” Champeau said. “We went up by eight or nine points, but a couple of shots that we usually knock down, didn’t fall.
“We kind of shot ourselves in the foot near mid-court at times and had some turnovers,” he said, “but give credit to Bordentown. They earned it.”
Rumson kept battling and Famulary dropped in two foul shots with 1:38 remaining to make it a two-point game.
Bordentown then turned the ball over, giving Rumson a chance to tie the game, but two shots missed and layups by Danny Ansung and Gordon clinched it.
After trailing almost the entire game, Rumson rallied in the third quarter to tie the game at 36-36 on a three-pointer by Barry.
Gordon regained the lead with a drive, but Maguire, who scored 15 points, tied it again, and Barry followed with a steal and layup to give Rumson its first lead since the opening minute of play. Then came the wild final quarter.
“I love this team,” said Maguire. “The chemistry was great and we had a terrific season.”
