Boys’ Basketball Takes Down Top Team in NJ

The boys’ basketball team had a weekend to remember with showdowns against some of the top teams in the country.

 

On Friday, January 25, the Knights lost a heart-breaker to Roselle Catholic by a score of 48-47. Roselle Catholic came into the game ranked second in New Jersey and 17th in the nation.

 

Things were not going to get any easier for Gill as the Knights were scheduled to take on Ranney, the number one team in New Jersey and 6th ranked squad in the nation. Coming off a tough loss against a high-profile program could have spelled disaster for Gill.

 

Except, the boys did not let the loss bring them down; it actually inspired them.

 

“I told the kids that we lost to an exceptional basketball team on Friday night, and you can’t be afraid to lose,” said head coach Mergin Sina. “Even though we lost, it gave us an understanding of how to fight right to the end, and it gave the kids a great experience in how to handle a high-pressure game against great competition. The hope is they use this experience down the line.”

 

The Knights took their coach’s words to heart as they then rallied to defeat Ranney 62-60.

 

It was the epitome of a team win as many players contributed to the victory. Connor Murphy ’19 had 20 points and 11 rebounds and fellow senior Paul Mulcahy had 13 points, eight assists, and seven rebounds. A pair of juniors also had great games as Zach Martini recorded 10 points and 10 rebounds while Will Soucie contributed 13 points as well.

 

“It’s a team game, and the kids play it the right way,” said Sina. “One night the leader will be Paul, another it could be Connor; it can be any kid’s moment and that is why we are successful. We rebounded from a tough game that we should have won, and we made adjustments and fixed what we needed to and got a huge win two days later. This will definitely help us prepare for that final stretch and help the kids know that they can compete at the highest level.”

 

With the win over Ranney, the boys’ basketball program is now currently  ranked second in New Jersey by NJ.com. The Knights next take the court on Tuesday, January 29 against Hunterdon Central.