As the final buzzer went off, parents’ and students’ cheers filled Hunterdon Central’s gym. This is a common occurrence during the Flemington Raritan Youth Recreational Basketball games. However, it’s more than just a basketball program, these games bring friends, parents, and peers together. This season there are eight teams: Camporeale, Rudolph, Giordano, Walsh, Hilfiker, Deluca, Fisher, and Aimone. Each team has around ten players on it and two parent coaches.
Here are the stats from week one:
During the first game, we saw Team Giordano take down Team Aimone in an easy win. Junior Zach Herrling scored a league-high 21 points. When asked about his performance, the star player said, “ I just had to do what was needed for the win, but I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.” He also talked about his team’s upcoming game against their competitor, Team Fisher. Herrling said, “Coming off a big 40-point win, I think we have the momentum and fitness to take down this team. We also need to make sure our players keep their passion and anger in check. And, when Simon Failla gets the ball, we just let him shoot.” This quote pokes fun at Herrling’s close friend Simon, while also showing how competitive the league can get.
In the second game, Team Camporeale and their star studded roster, including last season’s rookie of the year, Robbie Stratt, defeated Team Hilfiker after a super close game. They won in overtime.
For the third game on Sunday, Team Rudolph took on Team Deluca. Rudolph won after a game winning layup from junior Cade Contaldi.
Lastly, in the final game of week one, Team Walsh was victorious over Team Fisher, following a great game from junior Jake Breuer and senior Ced Lustado.
One other very exciting part of the league is the instagram page. The account is passed down each year by retiring seniors. It features weekly standings, takeaways, and scores with stats after every Sunday. This page also promotes positivity around the league and motivates players to play their hardest, giving them a chance to get recognized.
These games get more competitive by the week which inevitably means they get more exciting as well. One example of a competitive game was the game between Hilfiker and Camporeale. Hilfiker’s team went into this game as heavy favorites, but both teams got off to a slow start. Halfway through the first quarter the score was only 2-0. Then, both teams got hot. Connor Moran and Robbie Stratt from Team Camporeale started hitting some shots. As the game progressed, both teams were close near the end of the fourth. After a failed half court heave from Team Camporeale, the game was forced to be decided in overtime.
Overall, Flemington Recreation Youth Basketball league, also known as FRYB, is a very exciting and intriguing program for both spectators, and players. If you get a chance, you should definitely come see for yourself!
