Mustangs playing like one of Shore’s elite
Memorial boys clinch state playoff berth with 10th win
BY WAYNE WITKOWSKI
Staff Writer

Brick Memorial’s boys basketball team had a goal of making the NJSIAA tournament for the first time in five years and wasted little time achieving it.

Off to its best start in memory at 10-3, the Mustangs last Monday clinched a berth in the states in the midst of a three-game winning streak, and is in hot contention for a Shore Conference Tournament berth as well, barring a late-season slump. Brick Memorial started off 9-3 before losing a game in 1999-2000, when it last made the postseason.

“I’m not surprised. I thought we had the potential to be very competitive,” said coach Ron Gerulfson.

“I’m not surprised; that was our goal,” said point guard Larry Cittadino. “The team is really excited about it. We’ve worked really hard.”

Coming off a 63-57 victory over Jackson, the Mustangs clinched the state tournament spot with a 70-34 victory over Pinelands, as Cittadino led the way with 15 points, while James Cherrick and Jay Frank added 11 and nine points, respectively. Frank fired in 17 points on Thursday and Cittadino pumped in 13 in a 47-34 victory over Toms River North. Mike LePore and Frank grabbed 17 rebounds between them.

“It’s really important to take care of the ball and the coach pointed out to us that in those last three games, we had seven turnovers in each one,” said Cittadino.

Along with a big game on Thursday at home against Brick Township, Brick Memorial has a huge one next Thursday against Toms River East. Brick Memorial lost the first time around against Toms River East in double-overtime, 65-64, and both are tied for first place in the Shore Conference A South at 6-1. The Mustangs erased a 10-point halftime deficit in that game before Toms River East hit the deciding basket with five seconds left in the second overtime. Brick Memorial’s final shot to win it went off the rim and out.

Although Cherrick’s 18 ppg average is one of the highest in the Shore, Gerulfson said his team is well-balanced offensively and improved defensively.

“We really need different people to step up,” said Cittadino. “Everyone is looking for James Cherrick, who is one of the leading scorers in the Shore Conference. We need different people scoring because we’re not a big rebounding team.”

And with the way Cittadino and Frank have fired in key points from the backcourt, Brick Memorial is getting its needed balance.