Argo Online

By Ben Teicher

After a Prep B State Championship, the Rutgers Prep Boys’ Varsity Basketball team has responded with a very strong 2009-2010 campaign. Matt Rennie and Victor Angeline are the two returning starters from last year’s team, and Mike Klinger, Malcolm Thomas, and Donald Taylor all had a significant part in last year’s championship. The Argonauts opened up with a hungry Pennington ball club and were defeated 73-37 on December 14^th. However, the boys responded with a couple of wins on the road over Piscataway Vo Tech and New Providence. The team was ready for one of the deepest holiday tournaments down at Ridge for the 2009 Len Sapanak Tournament. In the first round, Prep took on Irvington from Union County, and lost a close battle 60-52. Yet they rebounded two days later with a win over a traditionally strong Colonia team 54-48, but came up short in the fifth place game against the defending Greater Middlesex County Champion Piscataway Chiefs 55-45. Point guard Mike Klinger was selected on the all tournament team averaging 18 points during the tournament.

Beginning in January, Rutgers Prep had still not played in front of the home fans, but on January 5^th, the boys took the floor against Princeton Day School and had a good turnout with a 71-55 win and had a balanced victory led by Matt Rennie’s game-high 19 points and 18 rebounds, along with Mike Klinger, who had 14 points, and Malcolm Thomas and Malcolm McNeil with 14 and 10 points, respectively. The boys followed with a one point victory over county foe North Plainfield at home, which set up a date with Pennington at home on Saturday January 9^th. As the game was approaching the bleachers were filled to capacity to see a rematch of last year’s Prep B Championship. Junior Malcolm McNeil is in his first year at Rutgers Prep didn’t realize how big the rivalry was until tipoff.

“When I saw every seat was full I realized how serious the match up was,” McNeil said,” It felt like there was so much anticipation around one regular season game.”

Although Prep fell to Pennington 60-43, the score wasn’t indicative of how close the game was. The fans really got a sense that this could be another special year for the Argonauts. Losing the game against Pennington actually benefited Prep because it gave them confidence that they played right with their best opponent. As a result, Prep won six straight games over Somerville, Wardlaw-Hartridge, Oratory, Dickinson, Montclair Kimberly, and Nottingham. Senior captain Victor Angeline has been very happy with the team’s chemistry at this point.

“Despite a tough loss at home we were able to come together,” Angeline said, “and collectively grind out one win at a time.”

Unfortunately, Rutgers Prep took their six-game win streak into Prep A powerhouse Hun, and lost another tough battle 45-31. They responded with a win over Princeton Day, but fell to Gill by a score of 62-51.

At this point the Rutgers Prep record stands at 12-6 but it should only get better since the team has had great experience playing one of the toughest schedules the program has ever played. Prep received the 7^th seed for Somerset County and plays town foe and 10^th seed Franklin High School at Rutgers Prep February 8^th, which will set up a potential matchup at 2^nd seed Ridge High School. In addition, the team will be trying to defend their Prep B title when tournament play starts on Valentine’s Day, as Prep earned the 3^rd seed and host Solomon Schechter. The schedule does not get any easier because Prep goes on the road against Peddie and Hillsborough. Even with the season nearing a close, the future looks very bright with only two seniors graduating this year.