The Cherry Hill High School East boys varsity basketball team (25–4) suffered a season-ending loss to Montgomery High School (26–4) in the NJSIAA Group IV state semifinal round on Tuesday, March 10, falling 67–37.
The game was played at Deptford High School, a neutral site for both teams.
The Cougars solidified a solid start, trailing by just four points at the end of the first quarter. East showed strong team-centric play early, highlighted by a three-pointer in a big moment from Ryan Olson (‘26). Montgomery was led by guard Mike Simborski (‘28), who finished the game with 28 points and nine rebounds. As the root of Montgomery’s biggest plays of the game, he certainly altered the tone of the game.
The second quarter was difficult for the Cougars, with Montgomery extending its lead to 32–16 as they headed into halftime. East was led by center Noahm Marciano (‘26), who logged three three-pointers and finished the game with a team-high of 13 points.
For Montgomery, 6-foot-9 center Shriyans Mallavarapu (‘28) dominated the quarter, imparting a major impact in the paint. Mallavarapu finished the game with 23 points, 12 rebounds, and three blocks.
The Cougars struggled to turn the second half around for a win, as Montgomery continued to extend its lead in both the third and fourth quarters. East struggled to find consistent, successful offensive tactics against Montgomery’s strong defense and size, giving the Cougars minimal opportunity to cut into the deficit.
Despite the growing margin, East continued to compete with energy and looked for scoring opportunities from the perimeter. The Cougars earned three-point baskets from star guard Chris Abreu (‘27) and Noah Johnson (‘26), which briefly provided momentum for the team and its supporters. However, Montgomery continued to dominate the pace of the game on both the offensive and defensive ends of the court.
As the clock wound down, Montgomery maintained its advantage and closed out the game with a whopping 67–37 victory, ending the Cougars’ season in the NJSIAA Group IV semifinal round.
“It sucks that our season ended earlier than we had hoped for, but we still had such a great season, and I couldn’t have asked for a better ending to my career,” said Olson. “Playing at East was so much fun and a great part of my life where I was able to make friends and memories. Hopefully, the guys returning will be able to get us back there.”
Despite the loss, East’s season leaves plenty to celebrate. The Cougars captured a defining victory over rival Lenape High School in the Group IV playoff championship, avenging last year’s defeat in the same round. With standout guard Abreu and small forward Chris Delgado (‘26) selected to the D2 Sports Network all-star game — a showcase featuring many of South Jersey’s top players — the team’s talent has earned recognition beyond the season itself. Moreover, since key contributors like Abreu and Jamieson Young (‘28) — currently recovering from injury — are expected to return next season, East will look to build on this year’s momentum. From the packed, palpable student section environment to the team’s postseason run, the Cougars energized the East community throughout the winter. Though the season has ended devastatingly, the foundation for another strong run remains firmly in place, giving East basketball fans much to look forward to.
