Spotswood’s Daniel Yarus takes a pass from the wing in a GMC Blue Division game at South River on January 20, 2023. (Photo: Mike Pavlichko)
Spotswood and South River met early last season in a game that would maybe define, in some small way, the rest of their seasons.
The Rams pulled out a five-point win, went on to knock off perennial power St. Joseph-Metuchen on the road during the Christmas break, and went all the way to the Central Jersey Group 2 final against Manasquan.
The Chargers had a highly-respectable year as well, but couldn’t get over the South River hump, either in two regular season meetings or in the standings.
This year, much of the Rams have departed to graduation, and Spotswood sees opportunity.
There are still some parts to work out for Steve Mate, now in his 29th season with the Chargers, the longest tenure of any basketball coach in the GMC after the retirement of North Brunswick’s Ed Breheney.
But even after all that time, he still loves being in the game, and doesn’t plan on being one to sit a few rows back in the stands for a long while.
Click below to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko preview the upcoming season with Spotswood boys’ basketball coach Steve Mate:
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