Nutley HS boys’ basketball team defeats rival Belleville to move to 6-2

NUTLEY – Senior Will Montgomery scored 18 points; freshman Marty Higgins had 13 points and sophomore Matt Schettino had 11 points to lead the Nutley High School boys’ varsity basketball team to a 64-45 home win over rival Belleville, 64-45, Monday, Jan. 11.

Senior Geoff Bevere had seven points; sophomore Anthony Fabiano had six points; senior Devin White had four; senior GianCarlo Padilla and sophomore Elmer Zamora each had two and sophomore Evan Cirminiello had one for the Raiders, who outscored Belleville, 23-12, in the third quarter for a 54-38 lead.

The win was the fourth in five games and improved the Raiders to a 6-2 record.

It marked the second time the Raiders defeated Belleville this season. In the first meeting, the Raiders won, 64-57, in overtime in the Charlie Dolan Holiday Tournament consolation at Kearny on Dec. 30.

NHS enjoyed a three-game winning streak that was snapped with a heartbreaking buzzer-beating loss to Glen Ridge.

Schettino hit two three throws for a 50-49 lead, but Max Thompson hit a three-pointer at the buzzer to give host Glen Ridge a 52-50 win on Saturday, Jan. 9.

Schettino finished with a game-high 25 points. Bevere had 10 points; Montgomery had eight; Higgins had three points on a three-pointer; and senior Devin Merritt and White each had two.

The Raiders defeated Johnson Regional and Technology last week.

Montgomery scored 20 points and Higgins had 16 points in the 66-54 win at Johnson Regional on Jan. 5 in Clark. Schettino had 13 points; senior Antonio Olivo had 10 points and Bevere had five points for the Raiders, who erased a 23-22 halftime deficit with a 23-10 third-quarter run.

Bevere and Montgomery each had 13 points in the 49-44 overtime victory over Technology at home for their third straight win. The Raiders outscored Technology, 5-0, in overtime. Higgins also had nine points.