5th Grade Boys Travel Basketball Remains Undefeated

The following was submitted by Michael Dzikowski:

After coming off a successful 2012 season as 4th graders, in which they finished 14-5 and as Runner Up in Garden State Basketball League, this year's Springfield 5th grade boys seemed poised to return to the finals as they have raced out to a 3-0 record. In their home opener against Scotch Plains, the Jr Dawgs took the lead from start to finish by handing Scotch Plains it's first loss of the young season 37-14.  

Big man Daniel Munoz and Aiden Forys lead all scorers with 9 and 6 points.  However, it was the defense and the rebounding by the Dawgs that really led the way as Scotch Plains was often held to just one shot and finished with under 15points. Brandon Doran led all boarders with 5 rebounds, Munoz  (4 rebounds, 3 blocks), Forys (3 rebounds) Mike Kanarek (3 rebounds) Gavin Dzikowski (3 rebounds) and Alex Gary (2 rebounds).

Against nearby Clark, Springfield continued its dominance on the defense end and rolled past the Crusaders 46-12. Zach Abramovitz lead all scorers with 10 points, but he wasn't alone, as Springfield, in the true meaning of a "team" received scoring from many: Munoz (9 points) Forys (6 points), Cole McTernan (5 points, but a monster 7 rebounds!), Mike Kanerak (4 points , also 7 rebounds) Mark Cunningham (4 points) Gary (4 points) and Dave Ares and Anthony Corigliano each finished with 2 points.

In what was the final game before the holiday break and so far the Dawgs best team effort, Springfield traveled to Bridgewater on Sunday to face another undefeated team. This time, and without the services of their big man Munoz, Springfield would not run out to an early lead but, in fact, find themselves down 10-5 at the end of the first quarter.  

Bridgewater's own big man seemed to have his way in paint as he scored 12 of his 20 points in the first half to keep his team up by two at intermission. In what seemed as a tough assignment (with no Munoz), a defensive rotation of Doran (3 rebounds), Anthony Apicella (2 rebounds), Abramovitz, (6 points, 5 rebounds) and McTernan (7 points, 3 rebounds) pulled together when it counted and shut down the "giant" as he would only have 4 points in the 4th quarter. But similar to last season, this group of Dawgs continue to fight and act as if the 4th quarter always belongs to them .....and it would seem as if they were correct. With less than 2 minutes remaining  and down by  5 points, Kanerak (8 points, 4 rebounds) hit 2 key jumpers (one of them a "bomb"!), and Forys (8 points, 2 rebounds)  a layup to cut Bridgewater's lead to 1 with under 30 seconds left.  From there Corigliano (6 points, 4 rebounds) would take over, as after just one offensive rotation he would take the pass from Forys and drill a 15-footer game winner from the elbow. Dave Ares (3 rebounds, 5 steals), who was basically the defensive star, also chipped in with 2 points. The Dawgs next game will be during the break, as they enter into the Readington Holiday Tournament .