By Jim Hintelmann
NEW MONMOUTH – There is a new look at Mater Dei Prep this season with a flock of newcomers making the Seraphs a solid Shore Conference B Central Division contender.
The Seraphs made it three in a row with an 83-31 rout of Henry Hudson after defeating defending champion Point Pleasant Beach in their season opener and also Perth Amboy Tech –and the Seraphs weren’t even at full strength.
“Two of our transfers from Cardinal McCarrick (the school closed last season) are injured and haven’t played this season but should be back soon,” said Mater Dei Prep’s new coach, Ben Gamble. A couple of our transfers from Marist have to sit out the required 30 days.”
Monday’s game was close only for the first nine minutes with Henry Hudson leading just once at 3-1 on a three-pointer by Amarjit Singh. Singh led the Admirals with 11 points.
Mater Dei scored the next seven points but Henry Hudson tied it again at 8-8 on a three-pointer by Tom DeFilippo and a jumper from Singh, but the rest of the game belonged to Mater Dei Prep as its size, speed and strength on the boards was too much for Henry Hudson to cope with.
“We still should get better,” said Gamble, “but we have some good games coming up. We play Pope John XXIII next week. They are ranked seventh in the state,”
Kyle Elliott scored 16 points for the Seraphs while football star Eddie Lewis added 15.
Hendy Hudson coach Vinnie Whitehead wasn’t pleased with the outcome, although the loss wasn’t do due to a lack of effort.
“We have one of our better teams,” said Whitehead, “but Mater Dei Prep draws from all over. We only get our players from Highlands and Atlantic Highlands.”
