CLARK, NJ- The Arthur L. Johnson High School Crusaders returned to their home court to take on the Cranford High School Cougars, but they were shorthanded coming into the game.
Senior Brandon Hund was out due to the flu, senior Eric Bretz was out due to an ankle injury and junior Bobby Lukasiewicz was out due to being sick, giving part of their starting lineup a bit of a different look before the opening tipoff.
In an inspiring battle, the Crusaders turned a ten-point deficit into a one-point deficit in the fourth quarter before ultimately coming up just short to the Cougars 49-46 Tuesday night in Clark.
Junior Ben Kosiek and sophomore Bill Sasse were inserted in the starting lineup and saw extended time in the lineup and carried the team. In the first quarter, the teams played a close game, with the teams trading shots, with Kosiek and Sasse combining for eight points in the quarter as Cranford held a 14-10 lead after the opening eight minutes.
“We didn’t have a scorer, so we had to play five as one and try and pass the ball and everybody gets a shot,” Kosiek said. “[We had to] be more confident and try and get any opportunity we could get.”
Cranford saw offensive production from Hunter Goff and Jeremy Ruka, as they helped to extend the Cougars lead to 21-12 with 5:00 left in the third quarter, but the Crusaders would fight back to get the score to a tie. Kosiek connected on two free throws and drained a three-pointer.
Junior Matt O’Connor and freshman Joe Carney capitalized on free throws, as Johnson closed the half out on a 9-0 run, sending the game to halftime tied at 21-21.
Johnson grabbed their first lead of the game in the opening seconds of the third quarter, with Sasse capitalizing on a shot. Cranford would respond with a 7-0 scoring run, receiving points from Ruka, Arjun Petgrave and Goff, giving their team a 28-23 lead with 4:09 left in the third quarter.
Goff added two more baskets in the quarter, while Cole Blazek got a basket, as Cranford took a 34-27 lead heading into the fourth quarter.
Cranford opened the quarter on a 7-4 run, receiving baskets from Ruka, Petgrave and Goff as the lead became 41-31 Cougars with 5:26 left in the fourth quarter, but Johnson would make the key stops needed to give them a chance. Sasse made one of two free throws and drained another three-pointer, cutting the lead down to 41-35 with 4:06 left.
Sophomore Anthony Ferreira made a shot to trim the lead to 41-37 with 3:12 left in the fourth quarter, making a comeback look likely. Cranford would build a lead of 45-39 with 2:27 left, but Johnson was not ready to concede.
Sasse cut the lead to 45-41 with a shot and on the very next possession, Kosiek knocked down a shot and was fouled, completing the three-point play, making it a 45-44 Cranford lead with 1:29 left. After Goff made another shot for Cranford, Carney made a shot, cutting the Cranford lead down to 47-46 with 0:24 left in the fourth quarter.
The comeback would not be completed, as a long three-point attempt by sophomore Tino Puentes missed, but the play in the second half stood out to the coaches. In the loss, Kosiek and Sasse scored 16 points each for the Crusaders.
Full Coverage of Johnson Boys Varsity Basketball Rally Falling Short Against Cranford HS Here
