Simborski, Lin Power Cougars Past Pingry in Statement Home Win

Nicholas Mistretta

MHS ’79 Cougar Sports Correspondent

SKILLMAN — The Montgomery boys varsity basketball team continued its strong season with a convincing 68–54 home win over Pingry on Monday, riding big performances from its top scorers and a strong first half to move to 15–3.

Pingry (11–5) arrived with an impressive record and a reputation for efficient offense, but the Cougars controlled the game from the opening tip.

Montgomery jumped out to a 19–15 lead after the first quarter, then seized firm control in the second. The Cougars outscored Pingry 17–9 in the period, tightening up defensively and attacking the rim on offense to take a 36–24 advantage into halftime.

The third quarter saw both teams trade baskets — each scoring 15 points — with Montgomery maintaining its 12-point cushion at 51–39. The Cougars then closed the door in the fourth, matching Pingry’s 15 points and calmly finishing off the 14-point victory.

The win came on the back of a dominant one-two punch:

• Mike Simborski poured in a game-high 27 points, knocking down eight two-point field goals and three three-pointers while adding two points at the foul line.
• Ethan Lin complemented him with 24 points of his own, on five two-pointers, two threes and a perfect 8-for-8 night from the free-throw line.

Together, the duo combined for 51 of Montgomery’s 68 points, consistently breaking down the defense and answering every Pingry run.

The Cougars also got timely contributions from the rest of the rotation:

• James Kamara finished with 9 points, attacking the basket and going 3-for-3 from the line.
• Mohamed Ndiaye added 4 points, all from the stripe, providing valuable minutes and steady play.
• Xavier Harrigan and Shriyans Mallavarapu each chipped in 2 points.

Montgomery’s ability to get to the free-throw line was a key difference. The Cougars converted 17 free throws on the night, with Lin, Ndiaye and Kamara leading the way, helping Montgomery maintain control whenever Pingry tried to cut into the lead.

Pingry was led by Ryan Rust, who scored 17 points on a mix of drives and perimeter shooting. Dylan Cowell added 12 points, Daniel Hall and Ryan Moye scored 6 apiece, and Justin George chipped in 6 more, but the visitors were never able to overcome the early deficit or slow down Montgomery’s top scorers.

Photo Credit: Nicholas Mistretta/headlinenewsmontgomery.com