Ocean City honors the “Champs”

Mayor Jay Gillian invited the group of high school students standing near the back of the City Council chambers up to the front of the room.

“All right. Come on up, boys,” Gillian said.

Then he paused for a moment and smiled.

“I should say, ‘Champs.’ Excuse me, not boys,” the mayor corrected himself as he began shaking their hands one by one.

Champs, indeed.

Members of the Ocean City High School boys basketball team and their legendary coach, John Bruno, were honored Thursday night during a City Council meeting for winning the Group III state championship.

It was the first state championship for the high school boys basketball team since 1964.

“What an amazing feat. I was born in ’64, so that’s a long time ago,” Gillian told the players.

The Red Raiders went on a 9-0 run to close out a 55-46 victory over Colonia High School in the state Group III title game on March 22.

During the playoffs, the Red Raiders outscored their opponents by a combined 80 points to finish the season with a 26-6 record.

    Mayor Jay Gillian reads the city proclamation honoring the high school championship basketball team.
  

Naming the players one by one, Gillian read a proclamation honoring them as one of the “greatest teams in school history.”

Bruno and his assistant coaches, Ryan Gill and Tom Ballezzi, were praised for their leadership in guiding the team to the championship. It was Bruno’s first state title in his 37-year coaching career.

“The student-athletes of the Ocean City High School Boys Basketball Team represent themselves, their school, and their community with great distinction by demonstrating outstanding dedication, determination and team spirit; and Bruno has led the team with distinction and mentored his players on and off the court,” the proclamation stated.

Bruno smiled when Gillian and the members of City Council extended their congratulations to him.

“The team that you built and your coaching, the way you represented Ocean City, was nothing but class and was unbelievable. We’re so proud of you. The way you guys worked as a team, it just goes without saying,” Gillian said.

Bruno didn’t make any comments during the ceremony, allowing his players to speak for the team. The players thanked Bruno for his mentoring and leadership, giving him a round of applause when he accepted the proclamation from Gillian.

The tight-knit squad was characterized by teamwork, assists and poise under pressure.

“That’s what real basketball is. There’s not one person that stood out.  Any night, any player would just score. They just played like a team like I’ve never seen before,” Councilman Tony Polcini said.

    Mayor Jay Gillian greets the players as they enter the Council chambers.
  

During their historic run, the Red Raiders were supported by local fans in sold-out gyms. After winning the title, they were welcomed home with an Ocean City Fire Department escort and well-wishers lining Ninth Street downtown.

“Thank you, everybody, for your support. This one was for the city. I’m glad we brought it home,” senior Chris Pontari, who played forward and was the team’s sixth man, said during the proclamation ceremony.

Team members included Pontari, Alec Bell, Corey Clemens, Kevin Entress, Columb Higgins, Dean Lappin, Josh Lenko, Nevin Millstein, Quinn Olek, Tighe Olek, Luke Passarella, Brendan Sardy, Luke Tjoumakaris and Liam Zintner.