Travel Team Update: P-G Now 3-1

January 24:  P-G 33, Bound Brook 31.  P-G jumped out to a 10-2 lead in the first quarter then fought off a feisty Bound Brook squad for the rest of the game.  Will Howes hit a runner in the final seconds to seal the win.  Bryan Gardiner led a well-balanced attack with eight points.

January 31:  P-G 25, Somerville 20.  It seemed like there was a lid on the basket for most of the day.  P-G dominated the boards and moved the ball well.  They took a lot of good shots.  They just didn't happen to go in.  Fortunately, the P-G defense stifled Somerville.  Andrew Martin led the P-G attack with 10 points.

Next game:  February 7 at home versus Manville.

LSU Defense Stifles Visiting Villanova

LSU's defense clamped down on visiting Villanova today at the Peapack Gym as LSU won 25-22.  LSU allowed 4 points in the first quarter and 4 in the second to build an eight point half time lead.  The boys were even more stingy in the third, allowing only 3.

Villanova came alive in the fourth, but the LSU lead was too much for them.

LSU held Villanova's star player, Jarret Mogavero to six points.

The win extended LSU's win streak to four.  Walter "the Bandit" Rivas led the way with 10 points, marking the fifth consecutive game in which he has reached double figures.  Will "the Thrill" Howes added 9, Ryan Lane 4 and "Fast Break Jake" Wagner 2.

LSU's Dynamic Duo

Walter Rivas and Will Howes continue the Peapack-Gladstone tradition of good basketball and good sportsmanship. Walter and Will were key members of the Peapack-Gladstone Bulls, who won a trophy as the regular season champions of the Chester Basketball League, 5th and 6th grade boys division in 2008. The Bulls finished with a 10-2 record.

Walter and Will are LSU's dymamic duo. They have each scored in double figures in each of LSU's four games to date. The dynamic duo's winning ways have rubbed off on the teams 5th graders, and on 6th Grader Jesse Milesnick, who plays forward.

LSU boasts seven excellent fifth graders this year: Center Ryan Lane, Forward Miles Kenny and Guards Noah Kleitsch, Nick Liccardi, Liam McGonegal, Jake Wagner and Murphy LaFerle. All of our seven 5th graders have contributed.

LSU looks forward to an 11:45 am game at the Peapack-Gladstone Gym. Please arrive at 11:30 ready to play.

LSU Stops Texas' Streak at Three

A well-coached Texas team came into the friendly confines of the Peapack Gym with an undefeated record and dreams of a perfect season.  But like many teams before them, the Peapack Gym dashed those dreams.

LSU was playing shorthanded.  Center Ryan Lane was out with flu-like symptoms.  Guard Nick Liccardi was on the disabled list with a concussion suffered while skiing.  The rest of the LSU team came together and played like a team.

LSU moved out to a 7-0 lead in a first quarter that was marred by fouls and injuries.  LSU was playing outstanding defense, but there seemed to be a lid on the basket.  The lid didn't come off of the basket in the second quarter, but LSU held on to a 11-6 lead at the half.

The offense came alive in the second half.  Walter "the Bandit" Rivas exploded for seven of his 11 points and Will "the Thrill" dropped in fourteen of his seventeen points.  The game marked the fourth consecutive game where LSU's dynamic duo have both scored in double figures.

Anthony D. scored 11 to pace Texas.  His twin brother, Mark, added 6.

LSU will defend their three game winning streak against Villanova on Saturday in Peapack.

LSU Boys to Host Texas This Thursday

Right now, they are the team to beat.  Texas sits atop the 5th and 6th grade boys division with a perfect 3-0 record.  They bring that perfect record into the friendly confines of the Peapack-Gladstone Gym, a location that has dashed the championship hopes of many a Chester team over the years.  LSU boasts a 2-1 record after winning two games by margins of 27 and 11 in the past week.  LSU will be without the services of guard Nick Liccardi, who is on the disabled list after a skiing accident.  Tip-off is at 7:15.

This Week in LSU Basketball

Practice:  Wednesday 4:30 to 5:30 at the Peapack-Gladstone Gym.  We are preparing to play an undefeated team, so attendance is very important.

Game #4:  Thursday 7:15 PM versus Texas.  Texas is undefeated, so we need to show up at 7:00 pm ready to run.  

Game#5:  Saturday 11:45 AM versus Villanova.  Please arrive by 11:30 AM ready to play hard.

LSU Basketball: "The Posse"

Since we have ten players on the LSU basketball team, Coach Pat and I have divided the team into two squads.  Even though one squad (The "tip-off squad") always starts the game, these are not "starters" in the traditional sense of the word.  The two squads are designed to be equal.

The Tip-off Squad plays the first four minutes of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters.  Then comes "The Posse".  The Posse plays the second four minutes of the 1st, 2nd and 3rd quarters.

Why are they called "The Posse"?  

The dictionary defines posse as "a group of people summoned by a sheriff to aid in law enforcement."  Most of us are familiar with the term from Cowboy movies and old Westerns.  The posse is a bunch of men on horseback summoned in an emergency to find and stop the bad guys or to rescue someone in need.

When our posse comes into the game off of the bench, they bring high energy into the game.  They are the good guys who are brought into the game in a time of need to beat the opponent.  And so far they have done a great job.

The leader of The Posse is Walter Rivas, who is known for his ability to steal the ball from the opponent and start a fast break.  His deputies are Forward Miles Kenny and Guards Liam McGonegal, Noah Kleitsch and Jake Wagner, who have shown that they have the speed and the determination to keep the opponent from scoring.