Orange HS boys’ basketball team looks to develop this season

Photo by Joe Ragozzino.
Orange HS head coach Jamaal Cooper, shown kneeling, talks to his players during a second-half timeout during the home scrimmage against Newark Arts on Dec. 10.

ORANGE, NJ – For the Orange High School boys’ basketball team, this season is about development.

The Tornadoes are extremely inexperienced. In fact, they have no one back from last year’s 11-14 squad and have just one senior.

However, head coach Jamaal Cooper knows his team will always give a top-notch effort. That was evident in a 56-56 tie with Newark Arts in a preseason scrimmage on Dec. 10 at OHS. The Tornadoes trailed by nine points in the fourth quarter before storming back and taking a two-point lead, only to have Arts hit two free throws to tie the game. Orange’s desperation shot at the end fell short. There is no overtime played in scrimmages.

“We’re going to be in so many games just because we play hard,” said Cooper, immediately after the scrimmage. “Execution, understanding each other, trusting each other, that’s going to come. That might come county (tournament) time.”

Orange will have a big test to open the season this Friday, Dec. 14 against Montclair at home at 7 p.m.

The Tornadoes will use five juniors in a nine-player rotation. The juniors are point guard Rasheed Johnson, guards Zakeem Burton, Elijah Thompson, and Nyzeek Mann, and 6-foot-2 forward Giovanni Peterkin.

Hasaun Hester, a point guard, and forward Lou Julien are the sophomores. James Simeon, a guard, is the lone senior, while freshman guard Kyle Robinson will see time.

With their quickness and athleticism, the Tornadoes plan to full-court press a lot, looking to create turnovers that will lead to points.

Cooper particularly has been impressed by Burton, who can drive to the basket. Thompson is the team’s top perimeter shooter, while Peterkin is expected to be a force in the paint.

The Tornadoes will take their lumps. But it’s a learning process, and Cooper is confident his team will make strides as the season progresses.

“We’re going to be in games, but our inexperience isn’t going to allow us to finish games. But it will come in time,” he said.

Schedule

Dec. 14, Montclair, 7 p.m.

Dec. 18, at Bloomfield, 4 p.m.

Dec. 20, at American History, 7 p.m.

Dec. 26-27, 29 at Hillside tournament

Jan. 4, Payne Tech, 7 p.m.

Jan. 10, at Barringer, 7 p.m.

Jan. 12, at Wayne Valley, 1 p.m.

Jan. 15, Millburn, 7 p.m.

Jan. 17, Columbia, 7 p.m.