Winter brought basketball, and the boy’s varsity team saw a successful season with a 9-4 record. “This season was a short but great season for us. We played well in our division and were one of the top teams in it,” boasts Jalen Pichardo, 10, with pride in his team’s performance. “It was very rewarding to be able to go out there and play with the guys everyday for the time we were able to.”

The sense of camaraderie was firm. “As a team there were some parts where we were unbeatable as long as we stayed focused,” reflects Alani Ajigbotosho,10. Whether they were soaring or navigating rough patches, the team’s dynamic remained strong and carried them to the GMC Finals.

According to NJ.com, “East Brunswick (9-3) led by a 34-23 margin at halftime and [advanced] to play at the winner of Wednesday’s matchup between third-seeded North Brunswick and second-seeded South Plainfield in the tournament final.” Their victory led to a finals match against North Brunswick, and though that one was lost, it marked the end of a very successful season for the Bears.

“Our seniors definitely will be missed next season with them being a big part of the team. But, next year the success shall continue,” states Jalen; and with such optimism and determination, the future of the boy’s basketball team looks bright.