Six years cancer-free, Shore basketball coach making a difference on and off the court
TOMS RIVER – A work of art it was not. But the end result was an early-season masterpiece for Central Regional, which ground its way to a 48-40 win over St. John Vianney in a Tuesday quarterfinal at the WOBM Christmas Classic.
“It’s good to win the day after Christmas – any way you can get it,” Central head coach Mike Clemente said. “It wasn’t pretty but we got it done.”
And while hardwood beauty may be in the eye of the beholder, anyone who saw the simple social media post from Clemente last week understands that some wins are bigger than others, with the message reading: “12/21/17 – 12/21/23 … 6 years cancer free.”
It was six years ago last week that Clemente returned to the bench after a grueling battle with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma, enduring five months of chemotherapy after having a softball-size tumor removed from near his heart.
“It’s always emotional when I think back to all the stuff we’ve been through as a family, and that was six years ago," said Clemente, now 38. "But without my family, as well as the Central Regional school and my basketball team, my extended family, I would not have been able to get through it.”
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As his wife Allison, and their two children, Emily, 7, and Audrey, 3, said goodbye on their way out of RWJ Barnabas Health Arena, Clemente’s players made their way out to greet family and supporters after the victory set up a semifinal showdown Thursday with Toms River North, which needed overtime to knock off previously unbeaten Colts Neck, 68-56.
12/21/17 - 12/21/23…
6 Years Cancer Free 💪🎗️#Grateful— Mike Clemente (@ClementeHoops) December 21, 2023
Making a difference
With four straight wins, Central (4-1) moves forward with a team that won 20 games a year ago and returns most of its firepower. But there’s an understanding that what happens here is more than just wins and losses.
It was during the 2016-17 season that Clemente, a 1,000-point scorer for the Golden Eagles under his father, Mike - the Central coach for 32 years - started a one-day showcase event to raise money for Coaches vs. Cancer. Then the cause became intensely personal that July when he was diagnosed.
Now the 8th annual Jimmy V Showcase at Central Regional on Jan. 20 is as competitive as any event in the state, featuring 10 top teams to benefit the V Foundation for Cancer Research, having raised $110,000 over the years.
This year’s field includes: St. Rose taking on reigning Group 3 champion Ramapo; Central facing South Jersey power Mainland; reigning Group 2 champ Manasquan against Group 4 finalist Egg Harbor; Rumson-Fair Haven facing Rutgers Prep; and Toms River North against Matawan.
“Any time I go to different events that coaches are at, coaches are always asking me to be a part of the games,” Clemente said. “The lineup this year is definitely the best lineup we’ve had. And people see how much money we’ve raised so you are giving back to something that means so much to so many people affected by cancer.
“I’m very proud of the amount of money we’ve raised. And it’s not just me. There are so many people who are big part of the fund-raising aspect of that. The day after we finish my mom is coming up with new ideas about how we can raise money, and the whole community in general has been great. It’s really special.”
Unbreakable bonds
It’s a cause that has helped make the program stronger, providing the strongest example of all about the importance of giving back within the community.
“Coach does speak about it and let everyone know what he has been through,” said senior guard Miles Chevalier, who scored 13 points against St. John Vianney. “Last year for the five-year anniversary our assistant coach John Fredo made a video off all the past players saying congrats on being cancer free for five years. It was really nice, so everyone knows about it. I’m really proud of him.”
“We’re all so close as a team. We’re always here for him, and whenever one of us has a family problem or something outside basketball, he’s always there for us,” added junior guard Jaycen Santucci, who added 15 points and 14 rebounds against the Lancers.
The growth of the Golden Eagles as a team is why there’s so much optimism this season, after reaching the Shore Conference Tournament quarterfinals last year for the first time in nearly three decades, with Santuccci averaging 17.8 ppg. and 7.7 rebounds as a sophomore, and Chevalier averaging 17.1 ppg., with 58 triples, last season.
“There’s a lot of talent,” said Clemente, in his ninth season. “And it’s not just top heavy where it’s one or two guys, We have very good players at the top but good players throughout. We have the most basketball-first guys since I’ve been here. They all care about each other, which is the most important thing.”
And even when the Central has to grind out an ugly like it did Tuesday, there’s an understanding that something beautiful taking place whenever the Golden Eagles take the court.
Stephen Edelson is a USA TODAY NETWORK New Jersey sports columnist who has been covering athletics in the state and at the Jersey Shore for over 35 years. Contact him at: @SteveEdelsonAPP; sedelson@gannettnj.com.
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: Mike Clemente, Central NJ basketball coach, cancer-free, making difference
