Nutley HS boys’ basketball team is No. 12 seed in state tournament; wins three straight to move to 12-9

NUTLEY – The Nutley High School boys’ varsity basketball team received the No. 12 seed in the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 tournament and will visit fifth-seeded Cliffside Park in the first round on Feb. 29.

The Raiders snapped a three-game losing streak with three straight wins, defeating Glen Ridge, Golda Och and Livingston to improve to a 12-9 record.

Sophomore Matt Schettino scored 10 points and senior Devin White had seven points to lead the Raiders to a 42-36 home win over Glen Ridge on Feb. 9. Senior Geoff Bevere, freshman Marty Higgins, and senior Devin Merritt each had six points; senior Will Montgomery had three points and seniors Antonio Olivo and GianCarlo Padilla each added two points. The Raiders led 9-3 at the end of the first quarter before outscoring Glen Ridge, 15-8, in the second quarter for a 24-11 halftime lead.

Schettino led all scorers with 13 points, including hitting four 3-pointers, and Bevere had 12 points in the 63-27 home win over Golda Och on Feb. 11

Sophomore Anthony Fabiano had eight points for the Raiders, who led 42-12 at the half.

Bevere had 14 points and Higgins scored 13 points with three 3-pointers in the 56-45 win at Livingston on Feb. 12. Schettino had 10 points; Montgomery had nine; Olivo had four; and Merritt and White each had three.