Lyndhurst, NJ- A few years back Perrin Mosca coached the Lyndhurst (NJ) High School girls team. Following a successful run Mosca switched to the boys program at the same school. He still does what he can to look out for the girls program. No more evidence is needed than the fact, at the request of current girls coach Christian Boyce, Mosca restarted the Lyndhurst Summer League.

The league is contested at the Lyndhurst Middle School with games played on Tuesday and Thursday. The gym is divided into two courts with a pair of games at 4,5 and 6 pm. Two twenty minute running halves allow the schedule to move along. The ten team league started in June and will wrap up later this month. A few observations from a first time visit to the well run circuit….

The opening game on a blistering hot day where you thanked the Lord for the gym having AC, Bloomfield and Ridgefield Park battled to the buzzer. Ridgefield Park led by eight at the break. Bloomfield started the second half on a 7-0 run . The game wa tied with five minutes remaining. Bloomfield made the plays in the stretch to earn the 43-41 victory,.

Ridgefield Park coach Dorian Capuri saw her team do some good things. For one, they hit perimeter shots against the Bloomfield zone. The Lady Scarlets also penetrated baseline and found a cutter inside on several possessions. Capuri is not the regular season coach. As is the case in many leagues, an assistant or someone close to the program runs the show in the summer with the head coach observing. Capuri played for Ridge field Park about four years ago prior to playing a year at Rutgers-Newark. She knows the value of summer ball.

"The competition keeps the kids sharp, " she said. "I think summer and fall leagues are very important to more than stay in shape, you get to stay sharp and improve. You can’t expect to come out the beginning of practice in November and try to get going at that point.

The second game saw Becton face Hackensack. A team that made the states with all sophomores starting, Becton was without three key players. This is summer and players have other commitments that necessitate missing a game or two. No one got on the board the first five possessions as turnovers were more frequent than field goal attempts. Two free throws with three minutes remaining were Hackensack’s

first points. The Lady Comets closed the half strong, trailing Becton by one possession, 9-6

The second half saw Hackensack dominate and wear the opposition down. That Lady Comets also got into the offensive groove to post a 29-17 victory.

in the other gym Rutherford defeated NorthArlington 38-15. Prior to the game Rutherford coach Ed Guy spoke enthusiastically about his team’s prospects."We were young last year," Guy said. "We have a lot of kids back and they are working hard." Defense was a staple for Rutherford (14-10) last season. "A number of our games were in the thirties," Guy said. "Defense is still important but this group should score a little easier." Defense was quite evident in the win over the Lady Vikings.

Summer ball can be casual in the sense you cannot put too much stock in the result. . As noted, teams may be minus a starter or two. It is a time for teaching. Case in point. Ridgefield Park is a traditionally strong zone team.in their game with Bloomfield they went man. "I was concerned with Bloomfield’s outside shooting*, " Capuri said. " Also, it’s good for the girls to learn and master man to man defensive principles before going zone."

Yes, summer ball can appear casual. Once the ball goes up it’s all competitive out on the floor.