Raiders Have Won 14 Straight Since Losing to P-Way on Opening Day of 2015-16 Season
COLONIA, NJ—Right off the bat, the Colonia Patriots will be facing a very tough obstacle as it begins its 2018-19 boys basketball campaign. On Friday night, the Patriots, under new head coach, Jose Rodriguez and with top returnees, Chad Baker, Luke Valeriano, and Chris Sica, will be traveling to Scotch Plains-Fanwood for a non-conference season opener.
The Raiders of Scotch Plains have dominated GMC foes over the past three seasons. Coming into Friday night’s game against Colonia, SPFHS has won 14 consecutive games against GMC opponents dating back to opening night of the 2015-16 campaign when it lost to Piscataway. Over the past several years, the Raiders have beaten the likes of Woodbridge (2017 and 2018 Eric LeGrand Games), Colonia (opening day 2017-18), Perth Amboy (opening round of the 2018 North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 State Playoffs), J.P. Stevens (3 times), Edison (twice), South Plainfield (twice), Metuchen, Middlesex, and New Brunswick.
Over the past two seasons, Scotch Plains-Fanwood has gone a combined 42-13 including a 20-7 mark a year ago, and a 22-6 record in 2016-17. After defeating 15th seeded Amboy in the opening round of the 2018 North Jersey Section 2 Group 4 Tournament, the second seeded Raiders were knocked off by Christopher Mann led Phillipsburg in the Quarterfinals. Newark East Side eventually defeated Linden for the sectional championship while P-Way reached the semifinals for the GMC. Last year, Colonia actually started the season at 0-3 with tough losses to playoff teams including Scotch Plains (22-6), Hackettstown (19-9), and Sayreville.
Looking at Scotch Plains-Fanwood’s schedule this season, the Raiders have other GMC opponents that they’re matching-up with including J.P. Stevens in the opening round of the 2018 Anthony Cotoia Tourney in South Plainfield. Tonight’s matchup between Colonia and Scotch Plains-Fanwood is scheduled to start at 7:00 PM.