STRONG START: Jason Larranaga drives around a foe for Majeski Foundation last Monday at the Community Park courts in the opening night of action in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League. Larranaga tallied 11 points to help Majeski Foundation, which is comprised of players from The College of New Jersey men’s basketball team, defeat NJ Path Academy 27-22 in a game shortened to one half by the thunderstorms that hit the area. In other action on Monday, Caesar’s Bagels & Deli edged Planet Fitness 52-51 as Quayson Williams tallied 14 points to lead the way for the victors. (Photo by Frank Wojciechowski)

By Bill Alden

Even though The College of New Jersey men’s basketball team played just eight games last winter in a season abbreviated by COVID-19 concerns, Jason Larranaga made a lot of progress.

After playing seven minutes a game off the bench and averaging 2.5 points and 1.0 rebounds a game as a freshman in the 2019-20 campaign, guard/forward Larranaga started every game as a sophomore, averaging 12.3 points and 5.0 rebounds a contest as the Lions went 7-1.

Last Monday night, Larranaga and his TCNJ teammates, playing as the Majeski Foundation in the Princeton Recreation Department Men’s Summer Basketball League, hit the Community Park courts looking to build on their success this winter.

“We are so happy to get back out here, we had a short season,” said Larranaga

“I have good teammates and coach [Matt Goldsmith] put me in the right spot last season.”

Facing NJ Path Academy in the opening night of the league’s 32nd season, Majeski got off to a good start, jumping out to a 23-13 lead.

“It is just good to get up and down the court,” said Larranaga. “It is kind of hard to organize our guys because people are working and they are going home to see their families.”

The 6’5, 190-pound Larranaga put in some good work, tallying 11 points as Majeski built a 27-22 lead at halftime and got the win when the game was called at that point due to the thunderstorms that hit the area.

“I have been working on trying to be strong going to the hoop and stuff like that,” said Larranaga, who ended up as the second highest scorer for Majeski with David Rodriguez tallying 12, draining a trio of three-pointers. “I have been in the gym lifting a lot, trying to get my strength.”

While Majeski showed some strong defense in the victory, Larranaga acknowledged that the squad needs to tighten up at that end of the court to be a force this summer.

“We emphasize defense at TCNJ, we have to communicate really well to be successful at that end,” said Larranaga.

“We are off to a good start but we could use some work, especially on box outs.”