 High School Basketball:
Highland Defeats Pleasantville in Second Game of Olympic-Cape Challenge
Saturday, February 16, 2002
By Jerome Michaels
SJSports Special Correspondent
It was now the Tartans from Highland, representing the Olympic Conference, taking on the Pleasantville Greyhounds ready to showcase their talents on the basketball court Saturday afternoon at Rutgers-Camden University. After watching the Olympic Conference capture the first game of the day, Highland followed suit and walked away with an 87-76 win. The Tartans had control throughout most of this game, sustaining a lead as much as 20 points that the Greyhounds worked hard in closing the huge margin.
Highland went right to work taking this Olympic-Cape Challenge serious. The momentum was definitely in the Tartan's favor as they jumped out to an early lead. Coach Harold Little used his bench well as Highland worked the ball around the perimeter for the open shot. Keeping to his game plan, Little didn't not hesitate to replace players if they weren't executing properly.
The Greyhounds would use a full court press to try and create turnovers, but Highland took their time and moved the ball over the half court line to break the pressure. Kevin Haines took most of the ball handling responsibilities for Highland. It didn't matter who was in the lineup for the Tartans in the first half as they increased their six point first quarter lead into double digits at the half. After a total of twenty points scored in the first quarter, this game picked up as both teams went into the locker room with a 36-25 Highland edge.
The second half began with senior Adam Trinidad controlling the interior as Highland jumped out to their largest lead of the game. But it didn't take long for the Greyhound pressure finally began to work. But the lead that Highland built was too much to overcome. Highland was lead by Kucinski game high 25 points, Wynn added 16 points while Buchter chipped in 10 points. McKinley also had the game high 25 points, Warner finished with 19 points and Simpkins scored 17 points for the Greyhounds from Pleasantville.
Photos by Art Redd
     
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High School Basketball:
