Great B Ball Games of '68

1968 was probably the penultimate basketball season in PAHS history. The varsity went 24 wins with one loss. The one loss was to South River which always had a knack of exploiting our weak spots be it in basketball or football (of course they had Joe Theisman at the time). The most dynamic regular season game was  the one against cross town rival St Mary's High. Brian Taylor, probably the best basketball player ever to come out of PA, scored an astounding 84 points in that one single game, a state record at the time. PAHS went on to win that game 125 to 75. One of the six times that the team scored over 100 points that season.

And that was only the beginning. Amboy tore through the group 4 tournament prelims defeating state powerhouses Plainfield, Linden, T Jefferson and Hackensack in that order. Then the climax, the state championship game in Atlantic City Convention Hall against an equally talented Neptune team. The game was close the entire time,, never more than a few points separating the two Jersey basketball powerhouses. The lead changed hands a number of times, sustaining a roiling fever pitch of emotion at each lead change. The final few minutes were no exception. The score tied at 70-70 with two seconds left. Brian Taylor stepped up to the foul line and with everyone holding their breath, calmly sank two free throws to ice the game. Perth Amboy High had gone the distance and for the first time in NJ high school sports history, bought home the state championship. In Group 4 no less, group 4 consisting of the largest schools in the state.

And the JVs were not to be outdone either.  They went on to a 20 and 1 season.                  

                                                                             Or the Freshman who went 17 and 1.

All in all 1968. It was a very good year.