January 18, 2012

Bayonne's Rodney Wilson (left) drives towards the basket in the second quarter. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Dickinson at Bayonne Boys Basketball Photo Gallery

BAYONNE – After a recent loss, a not-so subtle reminder was sent to Rodney Wilson courtesy of head coach Mickell Taylor, he needed be more aggressive on the offensive end. Bayonne's three-year starter and senior captain not only took the message to heart, but responded with his best game of the season.

A relentless Wilson was in attack mode right from the start as he put up a season-high 25 points and 12 rebounds in the Bees' 77-55 victory over Dickinson in a showdown of two of Hudson County's top public school teams.

"Rodney Wilson was aggressive like he should be all the time," Taylor said. "The kid's capable of scoring 20 all the time."

"I'm just trying to be aggressive," the 6-foot-3 swingman said. "I know everybody feeds off me so I try to come out hungry because everyone's going to follow my lead."

Wilson went into attack mode for Bayonne (8-4) with 10 points and four rebounds in the second quarter. His teammates followed suit with the aggressive play on offense as it went on a 22-8 surge during the period to take a 39-24 lead into the half. Five different players scored for Bayonne in the six-minute stretch.

"When Rodney's on we really play around him," senior guard Steve Betancurth said. "If he's driving, everyone's spotting up and then vice versa. When we drive, we kick it out to him. When he's playing aggressive it really helps us a lot."

"We're a totally different team because they go behind him," Taylor explained. "When he's going, they're going. He's the senior captain. He's their leader. When he's down, they play down. They play through his emotions. When he plays well we go."

Taking their cues from their senior captain, Bayonne attacked the paint, resulting in a 31-21 advantage in rebounds and 29 shots from the foul line.

The Bees converted 25 of their opportunities from the charity stripe, nine by Wilson, as the visiting Rams (8-4) struggled to  keep pace and maintain its composure as the game wore on. A frustrated Dickinson was called for four technical fouls, three coming in the fourth quarter.

"(Bayonne is) good, but they're not 22 points better," said Rams head coach Sean Drennan, calling it his team's worst performance of the season. "We just played Hudson Catholic to one point in the first half."

Dickinson's duo of point guard Tyquan Burno and shooting guard Duane James led the way with 16 and 14 points respectively.

Ricky Hoffman added 13 points and six rebounds, while senior guard Dayron Caldwell scored 12 points for the Bees. Junior point guard Garry Gaston was all over the court with nine points, six steals and four assists for a Bayonne team, which has now won six of its last eight games.

"That's definitely the best we've played all year," Taylor said.

"I think we're coming together at the right time."

Dickinson's Duane James (left) drives at the baseline and finished with 14 points. (Photo: Jason Bernstein)

Dickinson at Bayonne Boys Basketball Photo Gallery