EDISON, NJ–This past summer, the Elizabeth Summer League didn’t get off the ground for the first time in a few years due to the coaching change there. Back in May, long time head coach, Donald Stewart, who also happened to be a member of Elizabeth’s T of C Championship team led by Luther Wright in 1990, was let go. The following month, former South Brunswick head coach, Chris Balent, who led the Vikings to their first state title game appearance since 1968 before losing to Linden in the Group IV State Championship, took the position. GMC Hoops had a chance to speak with Balent on Sunday during the opening night of action, and learned that the Elizabeth Summer League will return in 2008.
“One of the first things I was told was that the league would be back,” said Balent. This past summer, Elizabeth, which reached the high school’s main campus on Pearl Street. “The Dunn Center is such a great facility,” stated Balent, who also added that it is very difficult to have the Elizabeth players compete in other leagues because many players don’t have proper transportation. “Many of the kids either walk or take the bus to school,” said Balent. As a matter of fact, a number of the players on the team live in the Port Elizabeth area, and have to walk about two and a half miles to school. Elizabeth benefited from the fact that the TBSA Fall League is being run on Sundays since players can have their parents give them a ride.
On opening night at TBSA, Elizabeth played Colonia, and after trailing by one at the half, 17-16, the Minutemen opened the second half with an 11-0 run to take a 27-17 lead that it would never relinquish as they won, 37-35. Meanwhile, in other action, Trenton used a 9-1 spurt down the stretch to take a 61-52 lead, and went on to defeat Bishop Ahr, 63-57. Roselle Catholic trailed 11-4 early, but then embarked on a 50-14 surge to close the game for a 54-25 victory over Timothy Christian. In the featured game of the night for GMC Hoops, J.P. Stevens lost to Bridgewater, 52-38. Details on these games will be available later.