The Bridgewater-Raritan High School boys’ basketball team has navigated the high-stakes final stretch of the season.
Under the guidance of Head Coach Gene McAteer, now in his 18th season, Bridgewater-Raritan compiled a solid 13-8 record while battling through the many opponents of the rugged Skyland Conference.
The team’s success was a collective effort, featuring contributions from junior forward Tyler Hamby—who currently leads the team in rebounding and free-throw accuracy—and sophomore Joseph Chien, who made a statement in his varsity debut with 17 points.
Other impressive performances from the season include senior guard Eli Milton, who recorded 22 2pt conversions over 26 games, alongside Brandon Ur, who also matched Milton’s score-wise. Apart from scoring, junior Jack Braswell has provided a strong presence in the paint with 134 rebounds, and senior Josh Baker has added, along with his veteran skills, 56 points and 19 rebounds.
While the team has shown immense chemistry, senior guard Richie Gardner has emerged as the most dominant offensive player this season. Gardner, who was recently voted the top senior boys basketball player in New Jersey in an NJ.com fan poll, has consistently asserted his dominance on the court.
Gardner averaged 16.6 points per game and has delivered six 20-point performances this winter, including a game-winning buzzer-beater against North Hunterdon High School.
Gardner emphasized the team’s mindset to stay consistent throughout the season.
“Our mindset as a team this year is to constantly learn and improve from both wins and losses,” Gardner said. “We watch a crazy amount of film and are actively figuring out where things went wrong and constantly trying to get better. We believe we could have won every game we’ve lost, which gives us that much more fuel and motivation walking into the next game.”
Despite a tough quarterfinal exit in the Somerset County Tournament on February 7, the Panthers have maintained a high level of intensity. The leadership of seniors like Richie Gardner, Eli Milton, Josh Baker and Brandon Ur has kept the team focused on the upcoming NJSIAA state tournament, where their veteran experience will be a primary asset.
Bridgewater-Raritan’s season came to an end when it fell in the first round of the North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 state tournament to Plainfield High School, 60-38, on Thursday, February 26. Plainfield is the defending Group 4 state champion.
