New Providence Boys Basketball Bounces Millburn

There was no doubt that the New Providence boys basketball team came ready to play Tuesday afternoon.

The Pioneers played a solid first half, working their passing offense to precision and then hitting seven-of-nine three-point field goal attempts. New Providence also committed just one foul and turned the ball over only five times in the first 16 minutes, in a quick first half.

Following two, small, early-game deficits, New Providence led the rest of the way en route to a commanding 53-44 triumph over Millburn in the Cougar Classic at Chatham.

In its next Cougar Classic game at Chatham - which will be Wednesday at 4 p.m. - New Providence will compete against Morristown. New Providence will then challenge Chatham Friday night at 8.

Leading the way for the Pioneers (3-1) against Millburn was senior guard Seth Keller, who poured in a game-high 19 points. He made all three of his first-half three-point attempts and finished with five overall, including two more for the first six points of the third quarter.

“We had a shoot-around at 9 a.m. and that helped,” said Keller, who also agreed that his 19 points was a season-high. “We’ve [the seniors] been playing together since the fourth grade. We played really well as a team.”

Keller’s first three-pointer, which came from the left side, gave New Providence the lead for good at 6-5.

For the game, Keller made five-of-six three-point attempts, with his only miss coming early in the fourth quarter.

“Seth’s thing is that he’s a good spot, open shooter,” said New Providence head coach Art Cattano, who now has 394 career wins. “He’s patient and waits for his opportunity.”

The only two Millburn leads were 2-0 on an inside basket from senior center Tony Bai and 5-3 on a three-pointer from the left side from sophomore guard Ben Kizel. Bai and Kizel paced the Millers (0-4) with 15 points each, with Kizel connecting on all four Millburn three-pointers.

Keller also produced a key assist and came up with one steal in the first quarter. He dished the ball to junior Michael Marchesano, who followed with his only three-pointer to make the score 9-5. Marchesano finished with 14 points.
New Providence led 29-18 at intermission, making 10-of-18 field goal attempts and both free throws. All four Pioneer players that scored in the first half – Keller, Marchesano, senior forward David Barletta and senior forward Scott Ferraro – had at least one three-pointer.

Ferraro also scored in double digits, finishing with 10 points, including two three-pointers.

“We don’t have a lot of depth, so we’re looking to take time off the clock and work on getting open shots,” Cattano said. “We had three bad shots in the first half and we really can’t afford any.”

It took nearly three minutes for either team to score when the third quarter commenced. Keller then connected on back-to-back three-pointers – both from the same spot on the left side – to increase New Providence’s lead to 35-18.
You could tell Keller was in a groove shooting the ball and was not getting a hand in his face at all from any Millburn defender.

His final two three-pointers gave New Providence its first of two 17-point leads, which were the biggest advantages the Pioneers held.

“We calmed down with the ball,” Keller said.

Cattano said they told the kids to be patient and try for good, open looks.

“Millburn is a good team," he said, "and this is the first time in years that we’ve had a lead on them at the half.”

Millburn was down by 17 a second time at 37-20 and then behind by 16 by the score of 40-24 going into the fourth quarter. However, head coach Roger Blind’s team did not give up and pulled to within eight points at 44-36 with 4:48 to go. At that point in the fourth quarter, Millburn had a 7-1 edge in field goal attempts.
After a New Providence timeout, Millburn scored again on a layup in the lane that Kizel banked in to cut the Pioneer lead to just six at 44-38.

Barletta halted a 9-0 Millburn run by making two big free throws. Bai followed with an inside basket to make it a six-point game again at 46-40.

“We knew Millburn would make a run at us,” Cattano said.

New Providence answered with an inside basket by junior Derek Singer, which were his only points, and a free throw by Marchesano to make it 49-40 with 1:30 to go.

Keller then made one of two free throws to put New Providence up 50-40. Singer followed with a big steal to give the ball right back to the Pioneers.

Millburn committed its 10th foul of the second half following Singer’s basket, putting New Providence in the double bonus for the final two minutes. Keller made one more free throw in two attempts and then Marchesano made both of his shots from the foul line to make it 53-40.

Kizel scored the game’s final four points on his last three-pointer and one of two free throws.

Barletta made a three-point play on an inside basket and free throw for the final points of the first half. He also finished with three blocked shots.

Bai also grabbed eight rebounds, including two on the offensive glass.

New Providence has now won three straight since opening with a non-conference setback at Johnson.

“Millburn was the best team we’ve played so far,” Keller said.

COUGAR CLASSIC BOYS’ BASKETBALL
AT CHATHAM HIGH SCHOOL
MILLBURN (0-4)                                  12         6         6      10 - 44
NEW PROVIDENCE (3-1)                      16      13      11       13 - 53

MILLBURN MILLERS (44):
3-Ben Kizel, sophomore, 1-4-1-15
23-Tony Bai, senior, 6-0-3-15
12-Gabe Inwood, senior, 1-0-0-2
15-Brian Barkley, junior, 1-0-0-2
10-Aidan Kahn, senior, 3-0-2-8
33-Bobby Reel, junior, 1-0-0-2
Starters: Kizel, Inwood,
Reel, Barkley, Bai
Totals: 13-4-6-44

NEW PROVIDENCE PIONEERS (53):
12-Michael Marchesano, junior, 3-1-5-14
21-Seth Keller, senior, 1-5-2-19
33-Derek Singer, junior, 1-0-0-2
24-David Barletta, senior, 1-1-3-8
15-Scott Ferraro, senior, 0-2-4-10
Starters: Marchesano, Keller,
Singer, Ferraro, Barletta
Totals: 6-9-14-53