Fair Lawn fights off Rutherford with free throws by Greg Mattura of The Record
LYNDHURST — Justin Ensuncho and his Fair Lawn teammates kept making one clutch free throw after another in the fateful fourth quarter.
Ensuncho was among four Cutters who combined to shoot 11-for-12 from the line in the fourth to help stave off Rutherford, 67-57, in Monday’s opening round of the Bartlett Memorial Holiday boys basketball tournament at Lyndhurst.
“It’s something that we were lacking the last two years,” Cutters coach Kyle Sabella said. “When we had the lead the last couple of years, we didn’t have these guys to knock down free throws and seal games.”
Ensuncho, a senior guard, made all five of his fourth-quarter free throws and scored a game-high 25 points for Fair Lawn (3-1). In the fourth, freshman Darius Sohikish (14 points) was 2-for-3 from the line, while juniors Tyler Johnson and Patrick Snoad each were 2-for-2.
“We were all tired, but we know free throws can win games,” said Ensuncho, among North Jersey’s leading scorers at 25.8 points per game, “and [Rutherford] was trying to foul early.”
Fair Lawn owned a 38-21 halftime lead but trailed, 55-54, after repeatedly turning the ball over in the second half against Rutherford pressure. Senior Anthony Avoletta kept the Bulldogs within striking distance by scoring 14 of his 18 in the third. Senior guard Dom Mignone scored 12 of his 18 in the fourth, with his steal and layup providing the one-point lead.
“The fact that we were down one and made the adjustments to go back and take the lead, that’s a credit to my guys, and my seniors, and Justin, not giving up,” Sabella said.
ELMWOOD PARK 63, HASBROUCK HEIGHTS 59 (OT): Eugene Figueroa, a 6-foot-4 senior forward, led Elmwood Park back from an 11-point halftime deficit by scoring all of his game-high 21 points after intermission.
Tied at 52 after regulation, Figueroa scored seven points in OT, turning a putback into a three-point play and also sinking two free throws in the final seconds to seal the win for Elmwood Park (4-1). He was 7-for-7 from the foul line.
“He’s been working on it and he’s been shooting free throws better,” said Crusaders coach Kevin Tuohey. “He was in foul trouble early. I think he settled in and realized the game was coming to him and really just took over the glass.”
BECTON 63, LAKELAND 43: Collins Tanui, Daniel Hanas and Justin Roseboro shared the ball and combined for 51 points, with Tanui hitting three-pointers, Hanas attacking the lane and Roseboro owning the glass.
Tanui, a senior guard, hit five three-pointers and scored a game-high 18 points, including eight in the third to help Becton (3-1) extend its 35-30 halftime lead to 56-37. Hanas’ strength is driving bankers in transition, and the senior swingman scored 17. Roseboro is a 6-4 junior forward who tallied 16, with nine created via second-chance points.
“These guys are totally unselfish; they don’t care who scores, and all they’re focused on is the end goal of bringing home the win,” Wildcats coach Dan Balaban said. “And whoever gets the job done gets it done. They played very well together.”
PALISADES PARK 53, LYNDHURST 33: Palisades Park (3-2) led 20-4 after the first quarter and maintained a double-digit lead the rest of the way despite playing without senior forward Will Taylor (knee).
The Tigers created quality shots early with quick, short passes, and freshman guard Christopher Rodriguez scored nine of his game-high 19 in the first quarter.
“The first quarter we took care of our passes, we took care of the ball a little bit better,” Tigers coach John Wiseman said. “We hit our layups and we got a couple of steals, and [Lyndhurst] missed some shots.”