Nathan Zanetich Shines in Season Debut, Leads Eastern Past Lenape, 64–59

Nathan Zanetich, 13, Scored 13 points in season debate.

Nathan Zanetich didn’t need long to remind everyone what Eastern had been missing.

Making his season debut after an injury, the senior forward delivered a composed, physical performance that anchored the interior and helped Eastern pull out a 64–59 win over Lenape. Zanetich finished with 13 points and 13 rebounds, but his impact stretched far beyond the box score.

“I hold myself to a high standard,” Zanetich said. “Even when I wasn’t allowed to play, I treated practice like game speed so I’d be ready to go.”

Eastern set the tone early, taking a 16–13 lead after the first quarter before weathering a Lenape push in the

second. The Vikings trailed at halftime but responded with their best stretch of the night in the third quarter, outscoring Lenape 21–13 to regain control. Eastern closed it out with a steady fourth quarter, leaning on rebounding, clock awareness, and interior defense to seal the five-point win.

Zanetich’s return gave Eastern a clear advantage inside, especially alongside fellow big man Sean Karbach. While Lenape looked to space the floor and rely on perimeter shooting, Eastern’s frontcourt clogged the paint and limited clean looks at the rim.

“Our coach kept saying it was a guards’ game, but Sean and I knew one of us would have a mismatch,” Zanetich said. “That let our guards attack with the ball more because they couldn’t help off us.”

Karbach complemented Zanetich with 10 points, while Alex Grossman led all Eastern scorers with 14 points and a perfect 5-for-5 effort from the free-throw line. Jake Tulman added 13 points, and Landon Bethea chipped in 10, giving Eastern balanced scoring across the lineup.

Communication and discipline on defense became crucial late as Lenape tried to rally behind its shooters. Zanetich helped secure defensive rebounds off missed threes and made sure his teammates stayed locked in situationally.

“We can give up a two,” he said. “We can’t give up a three. It was about rebounding, talking, and understanding the moment.”

Lenape was paced by Nolan Barnes, who scored 21 points with three three-pointers, while Brett Halfpenny added 18 and Jaiden Boyd chipped in 16. Despite strong individual performances, Lenape struggled to consistently score inside against Eastern’s size and physicality.

For Zanetich, the performance was about more than just returning to the lineup. With his college decision already made — he is committed to TCNJ — the senior said he’s playing with freedom and focus.

“I don’t have anyone to impress,” he said. “I’m just here to win.”

With Zanetich back in the fold and Eastern asserting itself in the paint, the win over Lenape may be an early sign of the team’s ceiling as the season continues.