Bogota Basketball

28-February-2020
  On Thursday-27-February  the basketball teams from Bogota play inter-divisional games against teams from the Liberty Division. The Lady Bucs would travel to Butler to play the Lady Bulls.  Butler would win the game by a score of  44-23. Ruby Recio was the top scorer for Bogota with 10 Points including 2 Three Point Baskets.  Butler’s Amanda Osmolowski would have a game high with 15 Points. Kaysey Scott recorded 3 Three point  Baskets for the Lady Bulldogs. Bogota finishes their season with a record of 5-19

  The Men’s Basketball Bucs would play the Secaucus Patriots on the Jay Mahoney Court in Speary Gym. Before the game Seniors from both teams were honoured.  Eleven Patriots : Issac Conil, Agon Ferati, Joe Petruzzelli, Isaac Poueriet, Dan Chinchilla, Omar Mustafa, Anthony Ramirez, Daniel Youn, Lorenzo Ruivivar, Dominick Polifronio,  and Darshan Patel stood at Centre Court and acknowledgment by the Attendees. For the Bucs Scorekeeper  Matt Bugger and Forward Brian Dela Cruz came forward to be honoured by the Speary Gym audience. 
   The Game started with Bogota taking a quick 3 point lead. Secaucus would overtake the Bucs and build a six point advantage  midway into the first quarter. This would be the Patriots  largest lead of the night. In a game where no lead was safe Bogota tied the score at 14 late in the quarter. Secaucus would score two more points and hold a 16-14 margin after the first eight minutes. Each of the next three quarters saw the score tied as each buzzer sounded.  As the pace of the game increased the players would move faster then they could control. This lead to a number of unforced turnovers followed by a dash to  seize the ball before an opponent.  At the half the score was tied at 28.  After the restart the Patriots would score first, then Bogota’s Evan Meberg would grab the lead back beginning by converting two Technical Foul Shots. Mr. Meberg  followed that by launching a Three point basket from well out side the arc.  Bogota would get a five point lead, but at three quarter time the score would be tied again at 37.  
  The game became a match of attrition with players either reaching the maximum number of fouls, or by needing to be sidelined for medical attention. The action on the court moved to contact inside the paint. At times a set of Grandmother’s fine china be left at Centre Court and not be disturbed.  After 31 plus minutes play came down to seconds. At the 20 second mark Bogota’s Vincent Ducut  would make both of his foul shots for a 52-50 lead.  Ten seconds later Patriots’ Jamling Lama then tied the score at 52 with his two free throws. 
    The overtime began with Secaucus’ Agon Ferati would win the opening tip-off. This became important towards the end of the extra session. The Bucs’ Taj Collins made his two free throws. Yorlin Motolio, with a heavily taped ankle,  drove the lane and has fouled for his effort. Mr. Motolio would make only one of his foul shots giving Bogota a three point lead.  Issac Conil scored and was able to tie the game at 55 with his bonus free throw.  As time continued to move on,  Bogota’s Jaden Feliz tried to sneak under the basket but was stopped,  he did draw another foul. Mr. Feliz would also make the second shot and give his team a one point lead.  With a jump-ball being called deep in the Bucs end, Bogota would be awarded possession due to Secaucus winning the tip-off.  After a series of inbound attempts Secaucus would regain the ball at Center Court. The Patriots took one more time out to set-up a play.  The play resumed at 2 second on the clock. At 1.5 second Secaucus’ Isaac Poueriet tried to power the ball pass Bogota’s Evan Meberg. At .02 Mr. Poueriet got his own rebound for another chance , but now Mr. Meberg would block that attempt and finally the game would come to an end. Bogota would hold on for a 56-55 win. Both Bogota’s Evan Meberg and Secaucus’ Jamling Lama would finish the game (tied) with 21 points and 2 Three point Baskets. 
 Bogota finishes their regular season with a record of 18-5. The next play on Monday-2-March as the #1 seed against #16 Wallington  in the first round of the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic  Association Men’s Basketball North 1, Group 1 Tournament. This will  be held on the Jay Mahoney Court at Speary Gym Tip-off time is scheduled for 7:00p. 

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Select photos from the Bogota Blog NJ collection of  Bogota  sports are

available at  Bogota Blog NJ Zenfolio store at: Bogota Blog NJ/Bogota Sports

( To help  support Bogota Blog NJ with its coverage of Local stories & sports

 please contribute  at: donate to Bogota Blog NJ )