When
the men’s basketball team ended its season in the Northeast
District Tournament on March 11 with a close loss to Orange CC (NY),
Head Coach Kelly Williams acknowledged that “as a coach you
always want one more game.” But he’s more than satisfied
with the Vikings’ 22-7 season and its first trip to the Northeast
District Tournament since 1998.
“It was
by far the best season in my seven years as coach,” Williams
said. “The players made the effort both athletically and academically.”
Even the losses were close, he notes, with three of them in overtime,
and three others by less than 10 points. Strong games included a
77-76 victory in double overtime against Salem on Jan. 19, and solid
wins against regional rivals Del Tech, Ocean, and Essex. Williams
enjoyed his 100th career win in a 63-50 victory over Brookdale on
November 29.
Lackawanna proved
to be Mercer’s toughest Region 19 opponent, defeating Mercer
twice during the regular season and again in the regional championship
on March 4, when the Vikings suffered a heartbreaking 76-73 loss
in overtime. Still, the Vikings’ strong record earned them
a trip to the districts. There they faced Orange CC (NY) on March
11, losing 84-79 after falling prey to a seven-point Orange scoring
run in the final minutes. Even in defeat there were still some shining
stars including guard Mantas Armonas, who scored 20 points, and
6’8” center Jores Dongo, who added 16 points and 13
rebounds.
All season long,
Mercer got stellar contributions from numerous play-makers, relying
on speed and a full-court defense that tired many worthy opponents.
The Vikings relied on experienced sophomores Armonas, who averaged
15 points per game, and Cliff Barnhill, whose role as point guard
was critical, particularly in the closing games of the season.
Freshmen made
up the rest of the line-up. Williams was particularly pleased with
this recruiting class. “They were really good kids. It made
my job a lot easier. Armonas and Barnhill set a tone that the freshmen
players signed on to,” he noted. Freshman starting point guard
Eric Blackmon-Hayes served as team captain. Other freshmen notables
were forwards Landry Nguema, Anthony Ross and Don McCall, and guard
Craig Dacres.
“This
was a young group,” Williams said. “This first-year
experience should help to make them stronger mentally and physically
for next year. That has always been my vision: to produce quality
players and keep them here for two years.”
First team All-Region
and All-GSAC honors went to Dongo and Armonas.
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