Lakewood Middle School team has a perfect season

BY TIM MORRIS
Staff Writer

CHRIS KELLY staff Jackson's Major Jesse Arnstein competes in Sunday's Freehold Area Running Club St. Paddy's 10-Miler at Michael Tighe Park in Freehold Township. LAKEWOOD - It wasn't the perfect 20-0 season that Lakewood Middle School boys basketball coaches Mitch Gertner and Tim Brown were most proud of.

Nor was it the Ocean County Intermediate Athletic League Blue Division crown LMS easily won. Even capturing the prestigious Run for the Roses Tournament at St. Rose in Belmar to end their season recently was nice, but it wasn't the most important accomplishment this group of kids attained this year.

Nope, winning is nice and is a result of hard work and dedication, but Gertner and Brown were elated by watching this group of boys grown as individuals.

"We're teaching more here than just the game of basketball," said Gertner, who along with Brown, has coached at LMS for six seasons. "It's important to us that these young men grow up to be fine citizens. We emphasize the need for them to be fine human beings. To work as a team, support each other, be respectful and humble. It isn't all about winning."

A few weeks ago, LMS put an end to its brilliant season by winning the Run for the Roses Tournament. Lakewood knocked off top-seeded Neptune in the final to win the crown.

Willie Hawkins drained a 10-foot turn-around jump shot at the buzzer to give Lakewood a drama-filled 47-45 victory in the championship game.

"Winning that event to cap off the season was really nice," Gertner said. "It was great for our kids who worked so very hard for the past two years here at the middle school."

Gertner, however, was even happier when LMS was given the team Sportsmanship Award for the event.

"We discussed how important winning an award like this is after the game," Gertner said. "Not many teams that win the tournament also receive the Sportsmanship Award. It shows our kids that we can win with dignity and grace. That is far more important than the final score."

Lakewood, which was the No. 2 seed, trailed by as many as nine in the first half. But Hawkins swished a three-point shot just before the halftime horn to bring LMS back to within six.

"That gave us some momentum going into halftime," Gertner said. "We knew that Neptune was a very talented team. But we also realized that our group of guys could play with just about anybody. I think we proved that in the second half."

Indeed, LMS came out and erased the six-point deficit right away. Lakewood even forged ahead by six points later in the quarter. The fourth quarter, however, was nip and tuck.

"It was close right to the very end," Gertner said. "We were fortunate to have the final possession of the game. We drew up a designed plan for Hawkins, and he just created something on his own."

Hawkins, who scored 14 points in the final, was named the tournament's Most Valuable Player, while teammate Deandre Cannon was selected to the all-tournament team.

Lakewood used a balanced scoring attack in the championship game. Hawkins, Cannon, Deon Smith, Kaenan Kearney and I-Dequan Allen all contributed key points.

Chance Edwards, Dequan Moore, Fuquan Jones and Nick Gonzalez all made significant contributions during the season, Gertner said.

"We had a lot of depth and character on this team," Gertner said. "They were committed to the program. They worked extremely hard for the past two years, not only on developing on the basketball court, but growing off the court as well. We take great pride on developing our young men in to fine people."