Hilltoppers Get Special Visit, Beat Union Catholic By 8

The Summit High School boys basketball team pulled off their second win in a row tonight, when they downed the Union Catholic Vikings at home, 58-50.

A sense of team composure, fast ball movement, and great shooting were factors in the victory, but the fact that the boys got to meet Coach Rick Pitino and watch the Louisville Cardinals practice was a plus as well.  The Cardinals were in town to square off against Seton Hall Thursday night, and they needed a place to practice.  Since they were staying at the Hilton in Short Hills just a few minutes away, Summit High got the call.

"We found out 10 minutes before they got here," Dwaine Dabney said.  "I was in the locker room and then Coach Pitino was in my face.  I got to shake his hand!"

"Their game is a lot faster," he said, adding the Hilltoppers tried to add some of these elements into their own game.  "It's crisp.  They're physical.  We sped it up a little bit, we played faster."

"Louisville is my favorite team," Cris Cafiero said.  "It inspired us.  We saw how fast and athletic they were.  It helped us: these incredible athletes were playing this ridiculous game."

Louisville's presence in the Summit gym must have had an effect: the Hilltoppers came out looking calm.  Shawn Hillas was on early, contributing nine out of Summit's 14 points in the quarter, and Cris Cafiero looked to repeat Thursday's success from distance as he hit his first shot–a deep 3-pointer from the left-hand side. At the end of the first eight minutes, Union Catholic led 16-14.

Summit made a point to make Union Catholic's 6'11" center a non-factor, and they did a great job.  The Hilltoppers held the visiting Vikings to just six points in the second quarter.  Set plays were executed well, and Hillas's trademark hustle was a big part of the Hilltoppers' second quarter attack.    

With a block, a cross-court steal, and a pair of converted free throws, he pushed Summit to the half.

Clayton Johnson hit a pull-up jumper, Cafiero added another three, and the Hilltoppers hit the locker room at half with a six-point lead, 24-20.  Matt Wooley did an excellent job dominating under the hoop, shutting down the Viking size down low.  Dabney made a great power move for two, and Cafiero hit a three pointer from the left side to close down the third quarter ahead 35-29.

Union Catholic pulled within a point at 35-34 in the beginning of the fourth quarter, but Wooley answered with a huge block and Clayton Johnson put up a big drive for two.  David Newton was a fourth quarter star, as he was fouled several times.  He put up nine points to seal the deal for Summit, ahead eight points at 58-50.

In addition to back-to-back wins and the Louisville visit, tonight's game continued what Cafiero started against Roselle Park in terms of scoring.

"I just kept shooting," he said.  "In the past, I wouldn't keep shooting.  It's been going in for me and it's been working out."

Wooley's big performance in the paint was inspired by the Cardinals' physicality in practice.

"It impacted me," he said.  "I got to see how big men play."

As the Hilltoppers improve to 6-6, Coach Eugene Maxwell was complimentary of his team's performance.    

"One of our strongpoints is our bench," Maxwell said.  "We've got guys, and we can sub big for big, guard for guard.  We stayed patient on offense: in the past, we rush and take bad shots.  That causes anxiety."

Maxwell also acknowledged the impact Louisville's practice had on the boys.

"It was inspirational," he said.  "We got the call the day before, and they had a great practice.  All the guys had the chance to see them.  It was unbelievable for these guys."

The Hilltoppers will travel to Arthur L. Johnson on Tuesday, where they hope to get a win over .500 and take their successes to the next level.