Boys Basketball – Jersey Mike’s Week 6 Teams of the Week: Holmdel and Rumson-Fair Haven
The way the Rumson-Fair Haven boys basketball team is playing right now, not many teams would likely line up to play the Bulldogs at a time of year during which wins are precious.
Not only did Holmdel take on the Bulldogs last Saturday in Rumson after waiting out a Senior Day ceremony that recognized a whopping 19 seniors, but the Hornets agreed to let Rumson -- a team that has clobbered every opponent for the last four weeks -- have the first points of the game.
Rumson started off its Senior Day game vs. Holmdel by giving its longtime team manager, Matty "Cools" Newman, his first start and turning him loose for a steal and layup to start the game. The basket set off a celebration for Newman, a special needs student wearing his No. 99, before the teams returned to action.
The home team defeated Holmdel, 75-50, as part of a 4-0 week that also included wins over Red Bank Catholic and Newark Arts. That resume made Rumson an overwhelming choice as the Week 6 Jersey Mike's Team of the Week, but the Bulldogs have chosen to use the honor to pay back their gracious rival.
Rumson-Fair Haven will share the Week 6 Team of the Week honor with Holmdel, donating their $200 Jersey Mike's gift card and commemorative ball to the Hornets for their show of sportsmanship toward Newman and the team on Saturday.
Since Saturday's loss at Rumson, it appears the basketball gods are joining Rumson in paying back Holmdel. Needing to win two out of four games this week against four opponents with winning records, Holmdel opened the week with a come-from-behind road win over Middletown North and a 21-point road win over a 13-5 Raritan squad that beat the Hornets by 17 points the first time the two played.
Holmdel is now a lock for next week's Shore Conference Tournament and appears to have karma on its side, not to mention a young starting lineup of four sophomores and one freshman that continues to improve.
As for Rumson, the Bulldogs are one of the state's hottest teams, having won 11 straight games, climbed to No. 17 in NJ Advance Media's Top 20 and thrown themselves into the conversation for the No. 1 seed in the Shore Conference Tournament.
Last week, Rumson dominated the Shore's top-ranked team, Red Bank Catholic, 53-37, on Feb. 1 to end RBC's 11-game winning streak. The Bulldogs then handled Matawan, celebrated Senior Day with a win over Holmdel and rallied from an 11-0 deficit to top Arts at the Metro Classic in Toms River.
Rumson continued its hot streak to start this week, routing Manalapan, 77-55, behind a colossal performance from senior Scott Gyimesi (43 points, 20 rebounds).
Week 1: CBA
Week 2: Manasquan
Week 3: Red Bank Catholic
Week 4: Jackson Memorial
Week 5: Manalapan
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