If you go to Henry Hudson’s gym tonight at 5:30, you’ll have the opportunity to see Coach Brian Kelly’s Admirals as a team that has beat all odds, and overcome teams with far more backup players. It is the team that took a 47-43 win in a nail biting finish against Shore Regional Shore/Middlesex tournament last month.
This team with nine on the rooster has a 6-1 season standing and is determined to give the community a team in which to be proud.
The Admirals, coming off four victories in its last five games, will meet College Achieve Central School of North Plainfield, coming off two losses.
In that tournament match with Shore last month, Admiral brothers Jack and Michael Fitzpatrick dominated on the court against the Blue Devils with Junior Jack Fitzpatrick scoring 18 points and sophomore, Michael scoring 10. While the game progressed neck and neck for a while, Hudson had created a 10 point lead in the third with the help of senior Jeremy Way, junior Kevin Pharo, freshman Joseph Newell and senior Damyon Sparks-Edwards all playing like a well-oiled machine. Shore fought back in the fourth period but with Michael Fitzpatrick at the line and making two free throws the Admirals held the lead at 46-43. With a time out with 2 seconds left in the game, it was Michael once again who returned to the line, made his first free throw and rebounded his second to hold the ball for the buzzer, leaving a 47-43 final score.
Hudson boys are determined to make their mark this season. Spectators say it may be too early to call a Cinderella story in the making, but then they add “they are all players to contend with and we are looking forward to seeing how they progress.”
It’s also a team with history and pride in the Admirals and Henry Hudson. It was Coach Kelly’s father, Larry who was a 1,000 point scorer for the Admirals in the 1970s, and it’s been said his son took over as head coach some five years ago to see how he could help a team which then had a 2-24 season.
When Jack Fitzpatrick graduated from Holy Cross School in Rumson, and signed on as a Hudson freshman to the basketball team, he ended that first season named one of the top ten freshman in New Jersey. When his brother Michael became a freshman the following year, the duo and the rest of the team finished the season with the 6-1 record, and that holiday tournament victory, the first since 2014.
Jack is now on track to score 1,000 points this season as a Junior and Michael is on track to do the same in spite of breaking his collarbone his freshman season.
For the first time in over a decade Henry Hudson is making waves on the basketball court. It is the behind the scenes work, enthusiasm and determination that has made a difference.
Living in the Gravelly Point section of Highlands, the Fitzpatrick brothers formed their own AAU team to help Henry Hudson develop in the off season; their teammates from AAU team “Gravelly Point” are also making an impact on the Admiral’s Varsity.
As a freshman Newell is playing varsity and scored 20 points his last game; sophomore Blakely Smith is also adding his own excellence to the team. The Fitzpatrick brothers are making a name for themselves in school and athletic history with their combined effort on a unified team.
Neighbors and spectators say this year’s basketball team’s passion for the sport has played a major role in bringing the community together and rallying behind a team that puts camaraderie, sportsmanship and hard work in the forefront of all their efforts.
The Admirals roster of nine is led by seniors Jeremy Way and Daymon Edward Sparks, juniors Kevin Pharo, Phinn Kozie and Jack Fitzpatrick, sophomores Billy Quinn, Blakely Smith and Michael Fitzpatrick, and freshman Joseph Newell.
The basketball program also has a junior varsity team preparing to keep up the tradition now building of an Admiral’s winning team. Marc Hutchinson is assistant varsity coach and Greg Altmaier is Junior varsity coach, with Jason Cavagnaro the coach for the middle school basketball team.
“The chemistry is undeniable and the support of each other and of Henry Hudson is heartwarming,” said one proud spectator. He said while he has no relatives on the team he attends the games for the sheer joy of seeing young athletes at their best and learning techniques and strategy from coaches who excel.
