The Summit High School boys basketball team took on the Roselle Rams yesterday, hoping to get an important road win and their second victory against the Rams this year. Unfortunately, miscommunication and a lack of urgency both contributed to a Hilltoppers loss, as they were beaten 59-42.
The Hilltoppers got off to a slow start in the first quarter. Clayton Johnson hit Matt Wooley under the hoop for two to start it off, but Roselle answered with a 14-0 run that left Summit in a daze. The revitalized Rams, who Summit beat earlier in the year, now possessed a great scoring threat in a freshman who was hurt for the beginning of their season.
Shawn Hillas pulled up for a 3-pointer to stop the Roselle scoring, but the Rams added a 3-pointer and another bucket to end quarter one down, 14-5.
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The second quarter continued the Roselle rally as the Rams put up six before the Hilltoppers responded. Two Wooley layups and two Johnson jumpshots added nine for Summit in the second, but Roselle put up twelve, and the Hilltoppers hit the locker room down 31-14 at the half.
Halftime looked to be refreshing for Summit, as they put up a quick four points courtesy of David Newton and Wooley, but the Rams did not stop scoring: another 14-0 run was finally stopped when Cafiero drove for a layup inside 2:00. Newton added another layup and the Hilltoppers rode into the fourth quarter down 45-22.
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Summit started shooting in the fourth quarter, with Newton driving and Cris Cafiero hitting 3-pointers, but the Hilltoppers couldn't maintain the energy or consistency of the Rams. Despite great hustle and effort by Hillas and Dwaine Dabney in the fourth quarter, the Hilltoppers fell to Roselle, 59-42.
Dabney cited problems with the Hilltoppers' speed on offense in the tough loss.
"We just didn't move," he said. "We were slow offensively. Our shots weren't falling."
The Summit boys will take on Hillside at Summit High at 4 p.m., and while they do not have long to rebound, Dabney mentioned the areas of the team's game that need improvement and attention.
"We need to work on talking, moving around, and making shots," Dabney said. "We just need to play better as team."
