Bloomfield’s basketball team might be a bit undersized when it comes right down to it, but the competitiveness and chemistry of the current underclassmen-led Bengals are traits to hang one’s hat on.
One of those youngsters is Sean Perrotta, a persistent and productive point guard who is building on a solid season while scoring, rebounding, assisting and defending at a high level for a Bloomfield squad which entered this week with an 11-3 record, including a 3-2 mark in the strong Super Essex Conference-Colonial Division.
The strong 6-foot-1, 185-pound junior is averaging 14. 5 points, 8.2 rebounds, 3.6 assists and 1.8 steals per game, and had one of his best games in an important conference victory when he tied his single-game career-high with 28 points as the Bengals finished strong in a 75-61 triumph over visiting neighborhood rival Montclair on Thursday (Jan. 15).
For his efforts, which also include 10 rebounds in a hard-fought 51-43 setback to undefeated Shabazz on Tuesday, Jan. 13, and 14 points, 8 rebounds, 4 assists and 2 steals in a 58-34 victory over Newark East Side on Jan. 10, Perrotta is the latest Parisi Fairfield/Sideline Chatter Athlete of the Week.
An outstanding student as well as a diligent ‘team-first’ player, the Bengals’ 3-year varsity guard is the cerebral and highly-skilled athlete any coach relishes having on his roster.
“Sean is unbelievably smart, an extremely hard worker and is exactly the kind of player you want to coach,” said Bloomfield’s eighth-year head coach Mike Passero, who recently eclipsed the 100-victory plateau in that Jan. 10 victory vs. East Side. “He has a 4.25 GPA and takes four advanced placement courses plus comes from a great family background of great students and people.”
Perrotta combines with fellow junior guard AJ Cruz, the team’s leading scorer, to form one of the more productive backcourts in the SEC, plus there are a number of key role players, such as junior guard Cameron Arana, who contributed 17 points vs. Montclair, which makes the Bengals a difficult team to defend.
The latest Parisi Fairfield/SC AOW has already topped h.is rebounding total of 99 last season in 28 games for the 16-12 Bengals when he also contributed 13.3 ppg.
“With the circumstances being that we don’t have a conventional big man all I try to do is my job on the glass as other guys block out for me and we look to do a good job blocking out as a team effort,” said Perrotta. “When we can earn victories like we did against Montclair, which was a big win against a crosstown rival before a packed house in our gym, you just do whatever you can do to help the team achieve that win.
“Our coaches made sure that we were ready against Montclair which has a great team and it was definitely great to bounce back after a tough loss to Shabazz in a game we felt we should have won.
“But, you can’t think too much on what is over, not when there is always the next game to prepare for.”
Bloomfield hits to road to face Orange on Thursday (Jan. 22) in SEC-Colonial Division action before hosting North Star Academy, 11:30 a.m., Saturday (Jan. 24) in an SEC crossover.
Among the big division matchups are a chance at redemption in two upcoming home games against both Millburn (4 p.m., Tuesday, Jan. 27) and Livingston (7 p.m., Tuesday, Feb. 3), a pair of teams the Bengals lost to earlier this season.
The return matchup with Montclair is 7 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 12, in the Mounties’ gymnasium.
“Everybody in our division controls their own destiny right now,” said Passero. “We like our team and its determination to make this season a special one.”
Also upcoming is the 2026 Essex County Tournament which will seed its field on Monday, Jan. 26, at Caldwell High School.
“There is no doubt that we want to finish strong this season in conference, county and state tournament play, and we feel we can be a scary team for anyone to play now and in the future with our talented, young guys,” said Perrotta. “Our chemistry is great and our coaches make sure to keep us together in the summer and fall ball as well, and in the weight room or out on the court.
“We’ve been playing together since the seventh grade at Bloomfield Middle School, we’re friends in school as well, and the coaches reminds us of our motto which is to ‘Bring someone with you’ when you go to the gym or work out.
“If you just go by yourself all the time, you’re not helping the team as much as you can.”
Perrotta has had early contact with the U.S. Naval Academy and Fairleigh Dickinson University with many more colleges certain to get involved as the young man moves forward with a season-and-a-half of high school ball still to go.
“I definitely want to play college basketball,” said the Bengals standout backcourt ace. “I like the intensity of the college game and like t watch players like Purdue’s (point guard) Braden Smith who controls what happens on the floor and makes his teammates better while being like an extension of his coach Matt Painter.”
Perrotta’s family is big on education. His three sisters Grace, Gina and Anna were all 3-sport (soccer, basketball and track) standouts at Bloomfield High School and Grace is a Navy graduate who is now a Marine Corps pilot stationed in Okinawa, Japan.
Their grandfather, Edward Sheehy - mom Kate’s dad – was in the U.S. Navy during World War II.
“I’m proud of my family, including their dedication to working hard in school and beyond, and in the service to our country by both Grace and my grandfather,” added Perrotta,” whose favorite classes at Bloomfield High School include Physics and History. “I never like to just sit around and I like to keep busy with working out, playing basketball or doing my class work.
“Right now, I’m just enjoying this basketball season and being with my teammates and coaches every day. There is plenty of work still to do for us, and I know we welcome the challenges ahead!”
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Parisi Speed School has been empowering athletes for over 30 years, since 1992. As the industry leader in youth performance training in the country, they have successfully trained over 1,000,000 athletes to include schools, teams, youth organizations and individual athletes from 7 years of age to the Pros in MLB, NFL, MLS, NBA and WNBA.
Parents and coaches are invited to visit their website for additional information at www.parisifairfield.com or contact their Director, John Cirilo at 973 227-0199.
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