THIEL AND CLABBY LEAD EAGLES TO A SEASON-OPENING VICTORY AGAINST MIDDLETOWN NORTH

A second half comeback and great play down the stretch from Garret Thiel and Brian Clabby helped Middletown South win over Middletown North on opening night 50-43.

A 9-0 run in the first quarter helped them take control over the first half, taking 28-24 lead into half.

“We had a long talk at halftime.” South coach Kevin Cullen said. We had our backs against the wall and fought back hard in the fourth.”

South picked up its intensity in the third, but North still led 39-38 at the end of the third.

The Eagles took their first lead since early in the first quarter with 6:50 left in the game, and never trailed again.

Kyle Cancilleiri was in foul trouble all game and was held to 8 points before fouling out at the 3:30 mark while trying to post up on the block. Already down a player because of an injury to forward Will Low, the Eagles relied heavily on other players.

“We really picked each other up tonight,” Cullen said of his team. “And that’s the sign of a good team. I can always count on 100 percent from all my guys.”

Ahead by only 1 point with less than two minutes left in the game, Clabby scored on pullback jumper from just outside the block to extend the lead to three.

Clabby was fouled in the backcourt with 30 seconds left and sank both free throws to make it a two-possession game.

Thiel scored his ended the game with 16 points and 4 rebounds on the night when he put down a free throw to put the game out of reach of Middletown North. Clabby ended with 6 points, all in the fourth quarter, and four rebounds after a foul shot with about 10 seconds left. Matt Callori added 8 points as well as showing he can defend the middle of the paint for South.

The Eagles will take their 1-0 record into Manalapan next Monday to try to get on an early winning streak in the A-North.



The hockey team lost to Saint John Vianney 3-0 in what was described to me as a closely contested matchup beween the two teams at the Wall Sports Arena.