Red-hot East Brunswick, now ranked, is off to best start since 2012, with no sign of letting up

It was thirteen years ago, the last time East Brunswick got off to a start like this.

That one got off with a bang, as the Bears won their opener at rival St. Joseph-Metuchen, beating a Falcon squad with a young, spindly freshman named Karl Towns. (There was no “Anthony” yet, at least not publicly.)

That team won its first 15 games of the season, beat St. Joe’s again, lost to them in their third meeting – an epic double-overtime donnybrook in the GMC Tournament final at Rutgers – then went on to win the Central Jersey Group 4 championship, falling to Atlantic City in the state semis.

Current East Brunswick coach Mark Motusesky was an assistant on that team under legend Bo Henning, and he’d sign up for all of that today if he could.

He might not have to, though.

The Bears are off to a wonderful start, 5-0 for the first time since that magical season of 2012-13. And they’re doing it with a senior laden group that took some lumps early last year, then picked up some steam as the season went on. It’s been a steady progression from last March to this December, and they’ll head into the Christmas break perfect.

Matt Mikulka – East Brunswick’s all-time leading scorer with 1,469 points after Tuesday’s 75-70 home win over Franklin – is pacing the Bears with 23.2 points a game, while the Bears are getting serious contributions from several others. Fellow senior Cam Vick is averaging 16.8 per contest, and by the way, he hit a nearly full-court heave at the end of the first half Tuesday night in a play that should end up on SportsCenter. (Watch it below.)

But really, it’s the defense that has impressed Motusesky, and this team’s ability to find ways to win.

The schedule hasn’t been easy. After opening with a win at the Outerbridge Crossing Challenge over New Dorp (NY) and another over Monroe the following Tuesday, they had three big challenges: Sayreville, South Plainfield and Franklin – all at home.

They won the first two by five each – Sayreville was a GMCT semifinalist a year ago – and beat Franklin by four Tuesday behind 2 from Vick – including 7-of-10 at the line – 18 from Andrew Caruso, and 17 from Mikulka.

All in a day’s work.

Motusesky and the Bears hope there are many more like it to come.

Click below to hear East Brunswick boys’ basketball coach Mark Motusesky talk about the Bears’ red-hot start to the season with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko:

East Brunswick will be back in action over the break in the Buc Classic at Red Bank Regional, opening up against Shore Conference opponent Ranney on Saturday at 2 pm. They’ll face the winner of Howell and Old Bridge on Monday afternoon.