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With all eyes - and sometimes multiple bodies - on star junior guard Aiden Derkack, there is usually always room for someone else from Colonia to sneak past security. Or in the aggressive case of junior guard RJ Wortman, just power right on through to the basket and answer any questions later. 2/21 - 8:00 PM Boys Basketball Final Piscataway 63 Colonia 70 It looked initially as if Derkack would have his typical monstrous scoring night when he dropped in nine points in the first six minutes of action to stake his top-seeded and 16th-ranked Patriots to an early seven-point lead against second-seeded Piscataway.
But Piscataway had dispatched stocky 6-4 Donald Nwaigwe against the 6-6 Derkack, and his rugged defense - along with the help of friends at times - neutralized Derkack through the second and third quarters about as well as anyone had done all season. That’s where Wortman came in, full speed ahead through the lane with the ball in his hands, or cutting off back screens to the hoop for layups. He scored 12 of his game-high 23 points in those middle quarters to take pressure away from Derkack and lead the Patriots to a 70-63 victory in the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament final Friday night at Monroe.
“I just felt I had to get going so every one else could get going, I feel like when I play tough we all come together and everyone plays hard,” said Wortman, who also pulled down 13 rebounds. “It starts with me. Aiden, Zach (Smith), everyone.
Dylan (Chiera), Jayce (Rodriguez), the whole team,” he said. “Even on the bench, they all get excited for everyone.” Colonia celebrates the 200th win for head coach Jose Rodriguez after winning the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament boys basketball final between Colonia and Piscataway at Monroe Township High School in Monroe Township, NJ on 2/21/25.
Scott Faytok | NJ Advance Media There was plenty for them all to be excited about as Colonia (23-4) won its second straight GMCT title and handed head coach Jose Rodriguez his 200th career victory in the process. Three of those wins came this season against a much-improved Piscataway team (22-5) under first-year coach Bob Turco. The Chiefs had finished the last five seasons under .
500. “It feels awesome. So happy for him.
He’s a great coach,” Wortman said. Derkack did finish with 21 points (4.5 below his season average), which made this just the third time all season that he was not the club’s leading scorer.
It was Wortman the other two times, as well, though it is not a bragging point at all for him. “it starts with him,” Wortman said of Derkack. “He gets it going for us; he’s a great player, and he helps me get going.
” Chiera scored 10 points for Colonia, which had built a lead as high as 16 points in the third quarter, but watched Piscataway (22-5) whittle that down to five, 68-63, late in the game with its fullcourt pressure. Nwaigwe scored 16 points and had nine rebounds, and reserve sophomore forward Jayden Harrison scored 16 points and had six rebounds for Piscataway. Teammate Nate Davis, a senior guard, closed with 14.
( Check back soon for more details ) Mike Kinney can be reached at [email protected] . Follow him on X (formerly Twitter) @MikeKinneyHS .
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