For a team that went to the Group 4 final in 2025 to have its top scorer limited to five first half points might be a disaster for most teams in their opening game of the season.
Montgomery’s Ethan Lin didn’t score much in the first half, but he didn’t have to, as No. 2 Montgomery – ranked No. 9 in the state – knocked off state No. 7 Don Bosco Prep at home, 66-47 in the NJBCA Tip-Off Classic on their home floor in Skillman.
And if this is any sign how the season will go, it could be another special one for the defending Central Jersey Group 4 champions.
Sophomore Connor Benedict was red hot over the first 16 minutes, leading the Cougars with 15, all on shots from beyond the arc. He had three alone in the first quarter, giving his team an early lead, and helping get it back after the Ironmen had gone ahead.
He only missed one first-half attempt, clapping his hands in frustration on the one he missed.
He’s just a sophomore, mind you, finishing with 21 on 7-of-8 from beyond the arc. Add to that fellow soph, Mike Simborski, who led the team with 16, and Montgomery has found some scoring from its youth for the long season ahead.
The Cougars took the early lead, but it was tight, and Don Bosco went ahead late in the first quarter before Montgy got it back in the second, and never looked back. Still, they only led 28-24 at the half.
After the break, Benedict cooled, and Simborski heated up, scoring 13 in the third quarter alone. He got good looks inside from Lin, who eventually ended up with 17, eight after the break. He hit three times from beyond the arc.
The third quarter was the difference, with Montgomery building what would turn out to be an insurmountable 15-point advantage,
About the only downside of the night? With four seconds left, Monty missed a pair of free throws when would would have sent the student section into a frenzy… leaving Montgomery with 66, one shy of “67” points.
If that’s all that went wrong, it was a good night in Montgomery.
Click below for postgame reaction with Central Jersey Sports Radio’s Mike Pavlichko, presented by Sportsplex at Metuchen:
