'We did some amazing things': Plainfield boys basketball cruises to Group 4 title
PISCATAWAY — Plainfield is back on top. The Cardinals left no doubt Sunday night before a crowd of 6,700 at Rutgers' Jersey Mike’s Arena.
Led by electric sophomore guard Micah Gordon, dominant senior center NaJai Hines and a talented long list of players behind them, the Cardinals beat Montgomery 65-48 in the Group 4 championship game.
Gordon finished with a game-high 24 points with three assists, Hines had 18 points, 16 rebounds and four blocks and junior forward Devin Thomas scored eight points.
Plainfield’s state title was its fifth overall and first since 2012 when it won the state Group 3 crown. Plainfield finished 29-3 with a nine-game win streak that included Union County Tournament and North 2, Group 4 titles.
“We did some amazing things this year,” said Cardinals coach Mike Gordon, who’s Micah’s father. “I really think this team might be the best defensive club in the history of our program.”
Central 4 champ Montgomery might agree. The Cougars were making their first state final appearance and finished 25-6. Plainfield proved an entirely different opponent than the ones the Cougars had steamrolled in four sectional games and a state semifinal triumph.
The Cougars were held to almost 15 points below their season average. Junior guard Ethan Lin scored 18 points for Montgomery and senior guard Christian Hill added 10.
“I thought Micah Gordon was exceptional tonight and really got them going,” said Montgomery coach Kris Grundy.
Players like Thomas, Kiian Kirkwood, Marcus Richards and Rashawn Williams were contributors to Plainfield. They have been throughout the special season.
“Kiian and Marcus are two guards who just don’t get tired – we just build off each other’s energies,” said Micah Gordon.
Gordon scored eight points in the first quarter and eight more in the second. He started the second with consecutive 3-pointers that gave the Cardinals a 22-10 lead.
“We have been preparing in all of our practices, and we been locked in every day, we just knew that once the game started it was over from the jump,” said Micah Gordon. “Our energy is unmatched in the state. We are a group of teens with no intentions to do bad and we just go out and play hard and it’s really just a mental thing for us. We worked hard since last year.”
His father has had quite the experience. He was a standout on the 2004 team that was beaten in the Group 4 final by Lenape, went on to have a strong career collegiately and returned to assist Jeff Lubreski when the Cardinals won back-to-back state titles in 2011 and ’12.
Now, he has a title as the head coach in a special season for the Cardinals.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Boys Basketball: Plainfield tops Montgomery for Group 4 title
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