Basketball team in new division

After finishing with a stellar 22-4 overall record and going undefeated (10-0) in the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (NJAC) last season, the Vernon Township High School boys basketball team has been promoted to the NJAC Freedom Division.

There, it will compete with Hackettstown, Jefferson, Wallkill Valley, Lenape Valley and Newton.

“We are looking to compete for the division title again this season,” head coach Connor Healy said.

“After reaching the H/W/S semifinals last season and losing a tough one to Hackettstown, we are looking to bounce back and compete for the H/W/S championship again. We are also looking to make a deep run in the state tournament when that time comes.’’

Among the key returning players are junior Alex Fessel (guard, First Team All-League, 14.3 points per game, 3.9 rebounds per game and 3.6 assists per game last season), senior Ben Jurewicz (forward, First Team All-League, 8.3 ppg, 8 rebounds per game and 1.1 assists per game last season) and senior Dhamir Morfe-Chess (forward, 3.5 ppg, 2.7 rebounds per game and 1 assist per game last season).

Senior Brett Burke (guard); juniors Aden Karwoski (guard), Michael Pecoraro (forward/guard) and Ryan Ajamian (forward); and sophomores Dylan Heykoop (guard) and Kevin de Stani (guard) are among those hoping to make a positive impact on the varsity level.

“Ben Jurewicz was one of our captains last season as a junior,’’ Healy said. “He’s a four-year varsity starter with a ton of varsity level experience - the leader of our program and one of the hardest workers around. Alex Fessel has been a starter since his freshman year and really broke out last season as a sophomore. He’s one of the top guards in the area and will also be a leader for our program this season.

“Expecting big things from Dhamir Morfe-Chess this season as a starting senior forward who can play inside and out. He got some quality minutes last season as a junior and contributed in a number of key match-ups. He can do a little bit of everything on the floor and is looking to make a big impact for us in a number of ways.’’

Last year, the Vikings advanced to New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) North 1 Group 2 Sectional Tournament, where they lost a close game to Westwood, and advanced to the Hunterdon/Warren/Sussex Tournament semifinal round.

“First, we always take it one practice at a time and one game at a time,’’ Healy said. “We put a big emphasis on steady improvements and stacking days to develop as an individual player and team player throughout the season.

“We are anxious to get off to a good start and looking to compete for the championship in our Holiday Tournament,” he said. The Route 23 Classic at Lakeland Regional High School begins Dec. 27.