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North Warren Edged by Veritas Christian 49-45

February 14, 2023

**Lucas Czezmadia scored five points for North Warren. Photo by J. Phalon**

Despite a 19-6 third quarter, North Warren boys’ basketball fell to Veritas Christian 49-45 on Feb. 4.

The Patriots were dominated by Veritas in the first half going into the third quarter 33-17. Head coach Rob Steingall said afterward that his players didn’t follow the plan.

“We had a game plan and we didn’t run in the first half and we did kind of get to the game plan in the first half,” Steingall said afterward.

They did find their game returning from halftime, as Christian Otufale broke out for 11 of the Pats’ 17 third quarter points. But he was held scoreless in the fourth quarter. He finished the game with 12 points, including a second quarter free throw.

**Christian Otufale scoring in the third quarter. He notched 12 points. Photo by J. Phalon.**

“We came back and made a run and then we got out of it again,” Steingall said. “Unfortunately, you know, it’s too little too late when you start out a game not following the plan. Things can go sideways pretty quick, and they did a couple times.”

Craig Shipps led the Pats with 16 points with Lucas Csezmadia adding five.

**Veritas can’t get past Craig Shipps, who led the Pats with 17 points. Photo by J. Phalon**

Heading into their Feb. 14 contest against Phillipsburg, North Warren hopes to snap a four losing streak that began with the Veritas game. Those games included a 73-49 loss to Vernon Feb. 7, 58-40 to Passaic Charter Feb. 9 and 75-35 to South Hunterdon Feb. 10.

The Feb. 14 game at Phillipsburg will be a double-header, with the Patriot boys tipping off at 5:30 p.m. and the girls’ squad playing at 7 p.m.

Joe Phalon, Contributing Writer

Contributing Writer

Joe brings decades of journalism experience to the Ridge View Echo, covering everything from local school boards to the U.S. Supreme Court. A former National Law Journal editor and Columbia Law School press officer, he now enjoys telling community stories in Blairstown, where he lives with his wife, Rose, and their two dachshunds.