Senior Dave Caruso of St. Joseph-Metuchen is fired up after a play against Colonia on Tuesday, December 19, 2023. (Submitted photo)
Head coach Jan Cocozziello knew he would have a lot to replace with the graduation of Josh Ingram, who averaged 21.5 points per game for St. Joseph-Metuchen last season, but whose contributions could be measured in many other ways that don’t show up in the box score.
So far this season, Jeremy DeCaro has been unable to play due to injury – a big blow to the Falcons to be sure – but the rest of the Falcons have done quite alright, thank you.
They’re 3-0 a week into the season, 2-0 in the GMC Red Division. As good as Joe’s has been the last several years under Cocozziello, that’s the first time his team has opened with three straight wins, and a first for the program since Dave Turco’s final season as head coach, 2016-17, when they went 26-2 and won yet another GMC Tournament Championship, their seventh in a string of nine over a ten-year period.
It didn’t hurt that Jeremy Clayville stepped up in last Thursday’s opener, dropping 43 points in a 92-82 win at Piscataway. He also led the way with 18 against Monsignor Farrell of New York Saturday, while Owen Griffiths led with 15 in a 43-42 win Tuesday night at Colonia.
Griffin and fellow senior Dave Caruso also have been among the leaders offensively, which will play JP Stevens Thursday at home before heading into their holiday tournament up at Livingston High School.
Click here to hear Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko talk with St. Joseph head coach Jan Cocozziello about the Falcons’ 3-0 start to the season:
Discover more from Central Jersey Sports Radio
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.