Cougars Sweep the Court: Boys Stays Perfect with Dominant 70–33 Win Over Princeton, Girls Roll Past Delaware Valley

Nicholas Mistretta

MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent

SKILLMAN — The Montgomery boys’ varsity basketball team continued its blistering start to the season Thursday night, overwhelming rival Princeton 70–33 at home to improve to 7–0.

The Cougars controlled the game from the opening tip, using balanced scoring, defensive intensity, and a series of extended runs to put the Little Tigers on their heels and never let them recover.

Fast start, no let-up
Montgomery set the tone early with an 18–10 advantage in the first quarter, then tightened the screws defensively in the second, outscoring Princeton 19–10 to take a 37–20 lead into halftime.

The Cougars came out of the locker room with the same energy, posting a 21-point third quarter while limiting Princeton to just 7 points. By the time the fourth quarter began, Montgomery’s lead was insurmountable, and the Cougars were able to manage the clock and rotate freely while still closing out a convincing 12–6 final frame.

Benedict, Lin lead balanced Montgomery attack
Montgomery’s offense was efficient and unselfish, with multiple players contributing in double figures.

Connor Benedict paced the Cougars with 18 points, showcasing his inside-out versatility with three two-point field goals and four three-pointers. His perimeter shooting helped stretch Princeton’s defense and opened up driving lanes for teammates.

Right behind him was Ethan Lin, who poured in 17 points, scoring on a mix of drives, mid-range looks, and a three-pointer while also going 4-for-4 from the free-throw line. Lin’s ability to attack the basket and absorb contact kept the pressure on Princeton throughout.

Mike Simborski added 14 points, knocking down five two-point field goals and a three, while Shriyans Mallavarapu chipped in 10 points and a steady presence in the frontcourt.

Montgomery also received contributions across the rotation. Raf Aguilar and Mohamed Ndiaye each scored 4 and 2 points respectively, with James Henderson hitting a three-pointer for 3 points, and James Kamara adding 2 points inside.

As a team, the Cougars finished with 20 two-point field goals, seven threes, and nine made free throws, reflecting a well-balanced offensive approach that allowed them to score from all levels of the floor.

Princeton’s effort falls short against Cougar depth
Princeton, now 1–4, was led by Michael Frenia, who scored 13 points on six made field goals and a free throw. Samuel Raymond added 6 points, while Jaden Colvin and Zion Madden each hit from beyond the arc for 3 points apiece. Noah Wadler and Mathew Ghaim chipped in 2 points each, with Raymond Han and Stirling White combining for 3 points from the stripe.

Despite their efforts, the Tigers struggled to match Montgomery’s pace and depth, particularly in the middle quarters when the Cougars blew the game open with a 40–17 combined edge in the second and third.

Girls Roll Past Delaware Valley

Balanced Attack, Tenacious Defense Lift Montgomery Girls Over Delaware Valley, 45–25

SKILLMAN — The Montgomery Cougars girls’ basketball team turned in a complete performance on both ends of the floor Thursday night, rolling to a 45–25 home win over Delaware Valley to improve to 3–1 on the season.

Montgomery jumped out to an early lead and never looked back, outscoring Delaware Valley 15–5 in the first quarter and 14–5 in the second to take a commanding 29–10 advantage into halftime. The Cougars remained in control through the third, winning the period 12–9 before easing to the finish in the fourth.

Johnson and Schulberg pace Cougars’ offense
The Cougars were led by Alia Johnson, who posted an impressive double-double with 15 points and 11 rebounds, along with 2 assists and 2 steals. Johnson attacked the rim all night, knocking down five two-point field goals, adding a three-pointer, and going 2-for-2 from the line.

Aliza Schulberg once again provided a major offensive spark, finishing with 13 points on two two-pointers, two three-pointers, and 3-for-3 free throw shooting. She also filled the stat sheet with 3 rebounds, 3 assists and 2 steals, helping drive both the scoring and the ball movement.

Abby Schwartz added 5 points (including a three-pointer), but her impact went far beyond scoring. Schwartz was dominant on the glass with 11 rebounds, and contributed 1 assist, 1 block and 4 steals, setting the tone defensively on the perimeter.

On the wings, Sophia Lehmann and Virginia Herring stretched the floor from long range. Lehmann finished with 5 points (one three-pointer and two free throws), adding 2 rebounds, 2 assists and a steal, while Herring knocked down two three-pointers for 6 points, along with 4 rebounds, 1 assist and 1 steal.

Off the bench, Grace Gandolfo chipped in 1 point, 1 assist and 2 steals, and Prisha Grover grabbed 4 rebounds and dished an assist, giving Montgomery valuable minutes in the rotation.

As a team, the Cougars totaled 35 rebounds, 11 assists and 12 steals, combining effort on the glass with active hands in the passing lanes. Offensively, Montgomery hit 7 three-pointers, pairing inside strength with perimeter efficiency.

Delaware Valley struggles against Cougar defense
Delaware Valley, which entered the contest at 3–1, found points hard to come by against Montgomery’s pressure and rebounding.

The Terriers were led by Peyton Dierker, who scored 8 points on a combination of inside finishes and two three-pointers. Klaudia Burke added 7 points (including a three and 2-for-2 free-throw shooting), while Maggie Simpson contributed 4 points. Ally Moschberger scored 3, and Taylor Fox and Rylee Hintenach rounded out the scoring with 2 and 1 point, respectively.

Montgomery’s defense kept Delaware Valley to single digits in three of the four quarters, including just 10 total points in the first half, effectively controlling the game from the outset.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com