SOUTH BRUNSWICK, NJ–Most people lookin at South Brunswick’s roster would think in their minds that the 2007-08 season would be a rebuilding year. In my mind, however, I knew going into the season what they were made of. So did the players, the parents, and some fans. After a Group IV State Championship apperance at The RAC behind 7,000 fans against Linden last year, in which the Vikings fell, eight of their first nine players were lost to graduation. Right after most schools let out in June, and summer started the Vikings lost their head coach Chris Balent, who left to take over the head coaching job in Elizabeth after compiling a 49-9 record as the Vikings coach in two seasons. While playing in the summer league at TBSA, South Brunswick searched for a coach all summer, and were missing two, sometimes three people out of there starting lineup. Missing Arman Wilson to AAU tournaments and Basketball Camps, Troy Confessore to soccer preparation for the fall season, and sometimes Mohammed Sanu to football, the Vikings only had two regulars Jordan Teicher and Sean Lease.
Compared to most GMC teams in the TBSA summer league, like Piscataway, JP Stevens, Monroe, and St.Joes that had their entire team for most of the summer, South Brunswick on the other hand, didn’t have their players or even a COACH. Being as the Vikings are 6-5 up to this pointon January 16th, 2008, I am very happy with that. Especially since they dropped a triple overtime game to Piscataway who hasn’t faced any trouble in GMC. Besides that there was that loss to Red Bank in the 2007 Buc Classic Finals by six, even though they were down by a point, and had the ball with 30 seconds left, and then another overtime loss on Tuesday night to J.P. Stevens. If you think about it the Vikings could be 9-2, and fighting for the top spot of the conference with Stevens and P-way. I believe the vikings aren’t getting the credit they deserve even though their record is only a game over 500.
Dating back 4 years ago, the seniors were apart of a cinderella freshmen story, being the 12 seed in the GMCT, and going all the way to the finals before losing to JFK. Five of those players from that team are the first 5 of 6 for the 2007-08 varsity team. Troy Confessore, Arman Wilson, Chris Weir, Jordan Teicher, and Sean Lease. It has been a great four years for this bunch, going to the Freshmen Championship, Winning the JV Championship sophmore year, Group IV runner ups as Juniors, and having a strong season in their senior years. Leading the team in scoring is Arman Wilson with around 17 a game, then producing a really strong year is Jordan Teicher with 9.5 points a game and 8 rebounds a game, also Junior Football Standout Mo Sanu is doing a great job defending each teams best player. Troy Confessore is picking up the load at point, and Sean Lease is doing a good job on the offensive end when the Vikes need it.
Thursday January 24th the Vikings will host Piscataway, which might be the only time Piscataway faces a team their size and strength. Then two days later the Vikings will head to the Bird Cage and take on St.Joe’s which is always a tough game for both teams. 1st year coach Joe Hoehman has done a good job, and is trying to develop his younger players by giving them significant time this year like Cody McHugh, Brett Pinnix, and Vito Ross. The Vikings will sure be ready when it comes to the GMCT and the Central Jersey Group IV playoffs.