Bridgemen Basketball Team Remains Undefeated in League Play

The Fort Lee Bridgemen varsity basketball team is a tight-knit unit on the court and off the court, and it's showing in their recent results.

The boys team is currently in first place atop the Big North American Divison with a record of 4-0. Ridgefield Park is one game behind the Bridgemen at 3-1. There have been many keys to the team’s success so far this season, but defense and chemistry seem to be the major focal points for the club.

“Team chemistry is a huge thing for this team,” said assistant coach James Puliatte. “They have played the most unselfish basketball I have seen a Fort Lee team play in some time. The kids are all friends and look out for each other. We had a pasta dinner the other night where the team just got a chance to eat lasagna and play video games with each other.”

The team also has leadership, which is an important part of any team's success. Puliatte has been very impressed with the leadership role senior Tyler Sanders has taken on with the team, for example.

“Tyler has been huge for us, especially in how he has matured in the past few months,” said Puliatte. “He was named captain in the practice after the double overtime win against Ridgefield Park where he sank two free throws down one with less than 15 seconds left to play in double overtime. Tyler's maturation has really helped some of our younger guys in the maturation process. They look up to him as a big brother, and he has relished in that role. Some of our players have done a complete 180 with their attitudes in a positive direction since the season has started, and I give that credit to Tyler.”

Preparation, as stressed by Coach Ziemba, has also been big part of the team’s play, and the players have bought into what the coaching staff is trying to accomplish.

"The coaching staff scouts opponents and works on scouting reports and makes multiple films for the team to watch," Puliatte said. "I have never seen a high school team watch so much film, and the kids are really buying into it. I tell them it's just like using a study guide for school. You would never want to walk into a test with no knowledge of the material. You want to be familiar with it so you feel comfortable out there.”

The Bridgemen will look to continue their streak in the league, but it will not come easy. They play Dwight Morrow on Tuesday, and the coaching staff knows that they will have their hands full, especially with Tyler Kearny, one of the best point guards in the division.

Fort Lee will stick to what has been working and look to continue what has been a fun and successful season thus far.

Fort Lee High School Sports Recap

Boys Basketball

Scores from last week:

Fort Lee-47, Westwood-44

Rutherford-63, Fort Lee-55

Fort Lee-62, American History-45

Team Record: 8-4

Next Week: Jan. 17 vs. Dwight Morrow; Jan. 19 vs. Lakeland

Girls Basketball

Scores from last week:

Fort Lee-52, Westwood-40

Fort Lee-46, Saddle Brook-30

Hoboken-49, Fort Lee-46 

Team Record: 6-6

Next Week: Jan. 17 at Dwight Morrow; Jan. 19 vs. Lakeland; Jan. 21 vs. Mahwah

Wrestling

Scores from last week:

Sayerville-41, Fort Lee-28 

The Bridgemen also lost to the Westwood Cardinals.

Team Record: 0-6

Next Week: Jan. 18 vs. Northern Valley Demarest

Bowling

Scores from last week:

Lakeland-7, Fort Lee Girls-0

Lakeland-7, Fort Lee Boys-0

Mahwah-4, Fort Lee Girls-3

Mahwah-7, Fort Lee Boys-0

Team Record: 2-6 and 2-6

Next Week: Jan. 18 vs. TBA; Jan. 20 at Ridgefield Park

Track

On Jan. 10, the Fort Lee Boys and Girls Indoor Track teams participated in the North Jersey Track Championship at Fairleigh Dickinson University. For the boys team, the highlight was Nick Gogic advancing to the semifinals in the 55 meter hurdles with a time of 8.3. For the girls, the highlight was Ashley Jenq running in the semi-finals of the 55 meter dash in a time of 7.7. 

On Jan. 14, the team ran in the New Jersey Group II State Relay Championship at the John Bennett Indoor Complex in Tom's River. There were over 40 schools participating in the meet. The two best performances for the boys team was the Sprint Medley team, which consisted of Jonathan Spenst, Frankie Goris, Masaru Yamaguchi and YuYu Fahmy. The team ran a time of 3:55.57 for a 19th place finish. In the Distance Medley, Yuki Takahashi, Masaru Yamaguchi, Soichiro Itagaki and YuYu Fahmy ran a time of 11:50.80, which landed them in 21st place. The two best performances for the girls were the Distance Medley team of Melanie Plattner, Larissa Anndeherz, Julie Lau and Christina Ramirez, who ran a time of 14:07.61 for 13th place. In the 3200 meter relay, Melanie Plattner, Julie Lau, Christina Ramirez and Larissa Anndeherz ran a time of 10:53.55 for a 15th place finish.

Next Week: Jan. 17 at Ridgewood 2 Indoor Track Championship at Rockland Community College, NY.

Athlete of the Week

Josh Ford, Boys Basketball

Sophomore Josh Ford put together a nice week for the Bridgemen, who are at the top of the Big North American Divison standings. Ford scored 13 points in a win against Westwood, 19 points in a loss to Rutherford and 17 points in a win against American History. Ford knows that offense is important, but he also prides himself on defense and knows the incredible importance of playing good team defense.

“Defense helps us on offense,” said Ford. “Defense is the key to winning.”

Ford and his teammates have done a good job this season containing other teams' star players, and it all starts in practice.

“Just work hard in practice, and it will carry over to the games,” Ford said.