By Jim Fenton, The Enterprise (Brockton)
BRIDGEWATER, Mass. – The Bridgewater State University men’s basketball team made the most of its recent trip to New Jersey for a holiday tournament.
The Bears won the Montclair State University Holiday Classic, defeating the host team and the University of Mary Washington of Fredericksburg, Va., in the title round last Friday and Saturday.
Off the court, the BSU players and coaches went to New York City where they toured the 9/11 Memorial in lower Manhattan.
“I think the kids had a good appreciation for it,’’ Bears coach Joe Farroba said of visiting the site of the 2001 terrorist attack. “A lot of them were talking about it, how they were in third grade when 9/11 happened.
“We were walking around and it really puts in perspective what happened that day. It’s very solemn. You get there, and to me, it’s like going to Arlington National Cemetery. That was the reaction that I had.’’
Farroba told his players about one of the 9/11 victims, Kingston native and Bridgewater State graduate Bill Hunt, who worked as a vice president and bond broker at Eurobrokers in the south tower of the World Trade Center.
Hunt’s brother, Dan Hunt, now an assistant women’s basketball coach at Bentley University, was a captain for Farroba when he played for the Bears during the 1990s.
Farroba has made it a habit of bringing his team on trips during the semester break. The Bears have visited Florida, San Antonio, San Diego, Huntington Beach, Calif., and Phoenix to play holiday tournaments in the past.
Getting the chance to play in New Jersey and spend five hours touring New York City, with the visit to the 9/11 Memorial being the highlight, was the latest opportunity for the program.
“It’s something I’ve always tried to do at Bridgewater,’’ said Farroba, whose team also went up and down the Hudson River viewing the sights of the city. “I think it really helps to have guys hanging out together and develop chemistry.’’
In the two games, Bridgewater State rallied from 15 points down in the second half to overtake Montclair State, 78-75, then defeated Mary Washington, 70-60. The Bears also won the tournament in 2005.
Sophomore Michael Lofton was named the tourney most valuable player after getting 11 points, nine rebounds and nine steals in the final while Brockton residents Shawn Yard and Brendan Monteiro were selected to the all-tournament team.
“It was very rewarding,’’ said Farroba. “The big thing is, now can we build on it?’’
The Bears return to action on Saturday afternoon when they travel to Fitchburg State to open the Massachusetts State Collegiate Athletic Conference season. BSU (5-5) will be bolstered by the return of senior forward Anthony Fortes, who will make his season debut after being the team’s leading scorer last year with 14.3 points per game.
“If someone had told me that we would not have Fortes and have four new starters and be 5-5, I’d have taken it,’’ said Farroba. “We lost to some good teams. Now we’ve got Anthony back and it’ll be interesting to see how that works out.’’
Farland earns honor: BSU senior midfielder Shelby Farland was recently named to the ECAC Div. 3 New England All-Star team in field hockey. She set school records with 32 goals and 77 points last fall and was the Little East offensive player of the year.