These are no longer the youthful
Cardinals. These Cardinals are the
veteran seasoned battle tested Mighty Cardinals. But there is a ghost that roams the hallway of the High School
that was built over a cemetery. Lets go
back to find out about this ghost.
March 1975
The horrific loss to Scotch Plains
Fanwood ended an undefeated 25 consecutive victory run by the heavily favorite
Union County Champion Cardinals. The
Ghost of 75 roamed the hallways only for one year and was put to rest as the
Class of 76 brought home the crown defeating undefeated (30-0) Neptune for the
group crown.
March 1983
It was early spring of 1983. Plainfield excited the entire state as they
took down heavily favorite Trenton Central in the Group 4 state championship at
then known Brendan Byrne Arena (Izod Center).
The future look spectacular as the majority of the impact players would
be returning. Plainfield finished with
their highest state ranking ever (Ranked #2 by the Star Ledger). The Repeat buzz has started, and the chant,
“WE’RE #1” begun.
December 1983
The season began with a buzz that
was not felt since the regular season undefeated 1975 era. Returning from the 1983 state championship
team was Tournament MVP – 6’5” Eric “Squirrel” Felder, 6’4” Del Harrison, 6’0”
point guard Michael Pretty, 6’3” sharp shooter Hasaan Tally, 6’4” Walt Monroe
(note: 6’4” Walt Monroe Jr. currently on JV team) 6’8” identical twins Raymond
and Ronald Gregory, and 6’8” Lurch (its been a long time forgot his name). The Buzzword was REPEAT. But the Cardinals did suffer a loss that did
not seem to hit the press. Legendary
assistant and JV coach Mr. Morris Griffin left the Cardinal program and joined
the Panthers of East Orange.
January 1984
The Cards were impressive. In one game they took down Columbia High
School who featured (15 year NBA player Mark Bryant). The Gregory twins
dominated Bryant, who was a first team Parade All-American. The Cardinals blew
out the only team that was predicted to give the Cardinals a challenge. The REPEAT chant starts to grow louder!!!
March 1984
The Cardinals rolled through the
season and was favorites to repeat by all the experts and Cardinal
faithfuls. All the Cardinals would have
to do is beat Mr. Griffin and the East Orange Panthers to claim a 2nd
consecutive sectional crown. But Mr.
Griffin knew the Cardinals well, and the over-confident heavily favorite
Cardinals suffered the most devastating defeat since the undefeated 75 team
lost to Scotch Plains-Fanwood in the playoffs.
The Repeat chant was silenced.
Ever since there has been rumors
of the ghost of 84 roaming the halls expressing what should of, would of, could
of!!!
December 2011
The buzz is eerily familiar with
the Class of 2012 as it was with the Class of 84. 28 years later everything is ghostly familiar.
Team with size, shooters, and quickness. 84 had legendary Rico Parenti
(the only state championship coach in Plainfield History at the time) and now
Coach Lubreski (the only Plainfield coach to win 3 consecutive sectional crowns
and reach the TOC finals.)
DEJAVUE????
Have we learned from past
mistakes? The big difference, our
coaching staff is intact and last year is a distant memory. Lets put the Ghost of 84 to rest….
THE NEW JOURNEY BEGINS!!!!
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