The AL Johnson High School boys basketball team opened its season with a 73-63 setback to the Brearley Bears on December 14 but bounced back to nip the Dayton Bulldogs, 5450, on December 16.
Dean Yellen led the Crusaders against the Bears with a game-high 23 points, including a 3-pointer, to go with two assists, two steals and a rebound. Luke LaPorta pumped in 15 points, including a pair of 3-pointers, five assists and a steal. Brandon Raparelli sank 11 points, including trip 3-pointers, and added five assists, two steals and two rebounds. Finn Downey nailed a pair of 3-pointers, pulled seven boards and had a pair of steals. Ryan Malcolm had four points, four rebounds and a steal. Carlos Pina had six rebounds and two points. Jake Brower had two points, four assists, a steal and a rebound.
Tom Puglise led the Bears with a double-double (17 points, including a 3-pointer, 19 rebounds) to go with six assists and three steals. Ryan Obiedzinski put up 15 points (trip 3pointers), and added four rebounds and three assists. Mark Davis finished with 14 points (2 3-pointers), four blocks, three rebounds, a steal and an assist. Joe Pinto had 12 points, seven rebounds, five steals and six assists. Rey Gonzalez had 11 points, three assists and three rebounds. Alex Skwarek had four points, four rebounds and an assist.
Yellen also led all scorers against the Bulldogs with 27 points, including five 3-pointers, three rebounds and an assist. Malcolm had seven points, nine rebounds, three assists, a block and a steal. LaPorta had six points, six rebounds, four assists, a steal and a block. Raparelli had five points (3-pointer), four assists, three rebounds and three steals. Brower netted five points (3-pointer), two steals, a rebound and an assist. Downey had four points, six rebounds and a steal.
Luke Sherman led Dayton with 13 points (3-pointer). Aden Pecana and Malcolm Jackson both had seven points, including a 3-pointer. Jon Rodrigues had seven points, Preston Benjamin sank a pair of 3-pointers and Kyle Rosenstock scored five points, including a 3-pointer. JJ Perez nailed a 3-pointer.
