Matawan's Cory Soanes Instrumental in Hard Fought Win
By Mike Ready
LINCROFT – The No.1 ranked Brookdale men remain undefeated after Thursday night’s 75-68 win versus Union County College at the Collins Arena.
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Led by Joe Nickerson’s (Barringer H.S.) 15-second half points and 23-total points, the Blues (16-0, 10-0) were able to squeak by their longtime nemesis, Union County, in their toughest game of the year so far.
Union (9-5, 7-4) has always given Brookdale a run for their money and Thursday night’s game was no different, as the Owl’s came back from a 19-point deficit, 57-38, with just over 10 minutes to play to pull to with five, 67-62, with only 2:36 left in the game.
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But that was as close as the Owls would get, as Brookdale’s David Rosado (Saddle River Day School) and Nickerson scored back-to-back buckets to surge ahead by nine points at 2:13. After a Union basket made it 71-64, the Blues all-everything sophomore guard Cory Soanes (Matawan Regional H.S.) put the finishing touches on the game at 1:21. Grabbing an offensive rebound, Soanes put up one of his patented ‘Turn Out The Lights’ slam dunks to push the lead back to nine, 73-64. The Owls never got closer than seven points after that.
The six-foot-one inch Soanes was once again a terror at both ends of the floor for the Blues, as his athleticism, quickness and incredible vertical leaping ability combine to make him as complete a basketball player you’ll find in Region XIX play. Soanes prides himself on his defensive play, usually matching up against an opponent’s best player, but his talents go way beyond that.
“We knew we had to play hard because Union always gives us a tough time,” Soanes said. “I really wasn’t expecting it to come down to the end like that; I’m just glad we got the win. I never look to be a big highlight; I’m just making a play for two points and helping the team out. Defense is my game and I only score when I have too.”
Soanes scored 14 points Thursday night and added seven rebounds, four off the offensive glass, and had two steals.
“This was our closest game of the year by far,” Soanes added. “I think we kept our composure and heads really well; it was a good test. Every team that walks into this gym or every gym we walk into they’re coming after us; everyone wants to beat the number one team. We just need to be prepared and play hard every game. It’s only going to get worse as the season rolls on.”
Nickerson, playing in only his fifth game this season due to academic restrictions, is averaging 18.2 points per game in those five games since his return. Thursday night, besides his 23 points, he grabbed seven rebounds, handed out four assists and had two steals.
Rosado finished with 13 points, five rebounds and two steals while Rahsaan Johnson dropped in 10 points, pulled down seven boards and dished out two assists.
Sophomore guard Tevon Bennett chipped in with eleven points and sophomore point guard Ricky Stephens hauled down five rebounds, handed out three assists and had five steals.
Brookdale plays an afternoon matinee game this Saturday at the Collins Arena against Passaic County C.C. with a 3:00 P.M. tipoff.
Passaic (9-17, 9-11) is led by sophomore guard Jesse Jones (24.4 pts/gm, 4.8 reb/gm), and Sophomore center Kurtis Askew (19.8 pts/gm, 11 reb/gm).
