BLOOMFIELD – The Bloomfield High School boys’ varsity basketball team once again will have a relatively young roster when the high school season commences in the winter.
But unlike last year, when the team had virtually no varsity experience, this year’s Bengals are experienced.
The Bengals, who finished with a 9-17 record this past winter, are gaining more experience this summer. After hosting a team camp last month, BHS is hosting its annual Summer Boys’ Basketball League that features 24 high schools. Games are played Mondays through Thursdays beginning 5 p.m. Every team makes the playoffs that begin the week of July 25. The semifinals and final are both July 28.
BHS head coach Pat Brunner was proud of his team’s play in the team camp where the Bengals went 5-2, beating Ridge, Dickinson, Columbia, Verona and Elizabeth and had close losses to Seton Hall Prep and Bloomfield Tech.
“We performed really well in that (camp),” said Brunner in an interview right before the Bengals’ game with West Orange on July 5 in the Summer League.
The Bengals only lost three graduated seniors and return several key players, led by rising sophomore point guard Michael Ramos, and rising senior guards Myles Toppin and Francis Lorenzo. Toppin is coming off an outstanding track and field season, specializing in the jumping events.
Other returning players who logged valuable time last year are rising senior power forward Al-Samad Henderson and rising junior forward Kyle Barrow.
This summer, Brunner wants to see which players can step up even more from last year.
“Right now, we have a lot of guys who were role players last year and they’re going to have to try and step up their game and we’ll see where they fall,” said Brunner, who will enter his 12th season at the helm. “When we were good, we have one or two really good kids and everybody else was complementary. This year, we kind of have a lot of complementary players who are good. We’ll see who steps up.
“Last year we were very inexperienced and had really no varsity players returning. This year, we have a lot of guys who got a lot of minutes and hopefully that will serve them well.”
The Bengals defeated West Orange, 56-51. BHS assistant coaches Mike Passero and Mike Aldiero coached the Bengals during the win.
“Once again, we have young guys; but this year we have young guys with experience,” said Passero following the win over West Orange. “They are playing well.”
Brunner likes the team’s chemistry. He also mentioned the Bengals will be a better outside-shooting team.
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