By ANDY LOIGU

The Hackettstown Tigers deserve praise for scheduling tough non-conference basketball games. Coach Mike McDonagh has always said, “You never get better by playing cupcakes.”

At the Hoops to Help Showcase at County College of Morris on Sunday, the Tigers (3-5) lost to Christian Brothers Academy (6-2) by a 50-43 score. The Colts took an early nine-point lead and never surrendered their edge. Liam Kennedy had a game-high 17 points for the Monmouth County squad, including a trio of three-point bonus bombs.

Hackettstown cut the lead to four in the third period, when Jeff Morgan canned a three. He finished with nine points. Tyler Akers led the Tigers with 12. Matt Arcona and Robert Begley contributed eight points apiece.

It is to Hackettstown’s credit that the Tigers kept the game close.

CBA has been a basketball power at the Jersey Shore for over five decades. I was a letter winner on a Lakewood team that split a pair of games with CBA 50 years ago, in the 1966-67 season.

We lost 42-41 in December and then traveled to Middletown Township in late January with an 11-2 record and the number two ranking at the Jersey Shore. CBA, at 12-1, was number one. This was a big game, on the road. We pulled it off with a 43-36 win. Our All-State point guard John Richardson (later a co-captain at Temple) scored 15 points and swingman Beenie Ballard made them pay for playing a box-and-one by depositing 16.

The low scores tell you what a defensive team CBA was, because we won our next two games 95-50 over Howell and 86-54 at Wall. CBA played with discipline, did not turn the ball over, and kept us from dominating the boards. That’s been their game for 50 years ever since.

The CBA starters back in 1967 were Chris Hill, Bill Gladding, Bill McCrea, Dave Brown, and Bob Woodward. No, he wasn’t the same Bob Woodward who investigated Watergate for the Washington Post.

A good reason for looking back at a game played 50 years ago would be to tell the current players to enjoy your sports experiences. You will remember games you are engaged in playing, 50 years from now.

Warren Hills’ Not So Restful Wrestling Weekend

In wrestling action, Zach Nauta and his Warren Hills teammates won three matches on Saturday at North Warren, on very little sleep. The Blue Streaks lost a tough match at powerhouse Delaware Valley on Friday evening, and then had to travel to Blairstown for a quad meet which started at 9 a.m.

Keep in mind that the Blue Streaks had to get there in time for weigh-ins and warm ups, before the action started.

Zach had a tough one for his morning opponent, state qualifier Alex Carida of Hackettstown. Zach battled to a 6-4 triumph and the Blue Streaks went on to post three impressive wins, 55-9 over Hackettstown, 64-9 over host North Warren and 56-9 over Middle Township (not to be confused with Middletown) who traveled all the way from Cape May County.

The Blue Streaks now are 7-4 on the season. Having fallen one win shy of a trip to the team state championships last February, when they lost in the North 1 Group 3 section final, Warren Hills is a team on a mission. The Nauta family is leading the way as Logan Nauta is wrestling at 113 pounds as a freshman and Cameron Nauta is at 152 pounds as a junior.

Warren Hills Record Holder Passes Away

The Warren Hills sports community and citizens of Washington mourn the passing of Tony J. Beasley, who passed away on Jan. 1 at age 59. A 1975 Warren Hills graduate, he was a lifelong Washington resident who made numerous civic contributions and had many friends.

His school record in the 100 yard dash still stands, 40 years later. He also ran for the cross country team.

He served in the Army National Guard for 10 years and was a longtime volunteer for the Washington Borough Fire Department. Also, he was the treasurer for the Washington Relief Association and coached youth softball and soccer.

Additionally, he served on the Friends of Lafayette College Football Steering Committee, which sponsored many players, including Warren Hills graduate Archie Fisher.

He will be remembered and missed by all those who knew him.

Ladies and gentlemen, Elvis has left the building.