Despite Recent Losing Streak, Tigers Have Surpassed Last Year’s Overall And Division Win Total
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–On Thursday night, the South Plainfield Tigers dropped a tough two point decision to J.P. Stevens in regular season action to slip to 5-15 overall. However, with a recent 73-69 victory over Old Bridge in the GMCT Play-In Round, the Tigers surpassed their win total from last year. SPHS was 4-18 a year ago including a 1-13 mark in the rough and tumble GMC White. Besides getting five wins overall, the Tigers have a better conference record (was 3-18 in the GMC in 2009-10), and divisional play (3-11).
First year head coach, Bob Conway, a long time assistant coach at the school, still managed to accomplish some improvement despite getting the job late (in October). The Tigers defeated Sayreville twice, Edison, Middlesex, and Old Bridge. The Tigers have been led this season by senior forward, Denzel Mensah, who has played all but one game for SPHS. As of the Old Bridge game, Mensah was 107 of 208 from the floor overall for 51 percent, and 55 of 107 from the line for 51 percent for a 15.8 points per game average. Mensah is also averaging 8.5 rebounds per game, 1.5 assists per game, and 1.3 steals per game. Claude Payne has chipped in with 8.2 points per game and 3.2 rebounds per game while Bryant Rosario has added 7.2 points per game, 3.1 rebounds per game, and has made 14 of 47 from three point range. Sharif Ross and Troy McNair overcame lingering injuries from football season to contribute.
Ross, who has played in 16 games, and averaged 3.6 points per game, is second on the team in rebounding with a 5.2 boards per game average while leading the team in blocks with 14. Meanwhile, McNair, who is averaging 4.2 points per game in 17 games played, and is sixth on the team in rebounding with 2.8 boards per game, leads the team in assists (1.8 apg) and steals (1.5 spg). Joe Skwiat has also contributed with 3.9 points per game and 3.4 rebounds per game. The Tigers have had some struggles offensively averaging less than 50 points per game, and shooting 37 percent from the floor including 25 percent from beyond the arc, but a bigger problem is on the defensive end, where they have given up just under 60 points per game.
South Plainfield also has a bright future ahead. In addition to having eight players coming back next year including Skwiat and Payne, the Tigers have a solid freshman team this year. For the first time since the 2004-05 season, South Plainfield has a frosh team that can contend for the Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament Championship. This year’s team, coached by former Athletic Director, Al Czech, was seeded second in the Amboy tourney, and recently had a record of 13-1.