If there wasn’t a lot of concern over the shaky and poor play of Middletown North’s varsity basketball team, there is now. North began last week in the thick of the pack with two huge A North match-ups.

Both away, North began at CBA in a game that felt like a heavyweight title fight.  After falling behind by more than ten after a hot start, North went on a furious fourth quarter rally. They came up just short 55-48 as they got as close as 1 but could never retake the lead.

After the loss North had one more game to play that week. A rematch of last year’s state championship game at Colts Neck finished off the week. Emotions were high as both sides and their crowds pushed for a victory. It was Colts Neck that came out on top 56-33 in what was North’s worst game of the season. A game that featured no offense after the first quarter and suspect effort doomed North in the second half.

North starts the new week on Monday January 14 at home against cross town rival Middletown South. For the first time in years North is in the middle of its season below .500 at 5-6. This is must win for North who expects a sell out and a huge student section in black. A surprisingly better Middletown South team has all the earmarks of a great game.

North will look to get back in transition and hit the shots that haven’t been falling lately.