Dunellen Recreation Department’s 7th Grade Boys Basketball Travel Team won the Jersey Basketball Association (JBA)’s gold division championship, having played a perfect season, 17-0.
Alex Miller
Dunellen's 7th grade travel basketball team and coaches celebrate first JBA championship.
This was the first year that Dunellen participated in the JBA. Based on same-sized neighboring towns, Dunellen was initially placed in the blue division. During the regular season, the team was undefeated (13-0) in the blue division. The league decided to move the team up into the gold division which is a higher competition level, seeding the Destroyers in 8th place out of 9 teams. According to Dunellen Recreation Director Alex Miller, the JBA moves teams up or down at playoff time so that each division will have a balanced competition.
The Destroyers played its first gold division game in preliminary play against #9 seed Union and beat them 57-43. In the quarter-finals, they upset the #1 seed Branchburg who had a 10-3 regular season record, beating them 54-40. In the semi-finals, the Destroyers ousted #4 seed New Providence with another win, 56-37.
The final championship game was played on Sunday, March 13, on the home court of the #2 seeded team Clark. The 7th graders brought home the gold by beating Clark 55-34.
Player roster:
Joe Medina, Nasir Tippett, Anthony DiNapoli, Josh Wenzel, Nasir White, Jacob Senewe, Drew Johnson, Michael Burr, Marquise Jones, Bruce Doll, TJ Stokes, Mike Olsommer.
Coaches:
Dave DiNapoli, George Johnson, Anthony Buccino
Assistants:
Mike Burr, Mark Olsommer