Rutherford found itself pretty much starting from scratch when they came together in November to start the preseason basketball season.

All eight of the varsity players that saw playing time graduated from last season’s 14-13 team, but they did receive some good news during the off season.

It turns out that there is one Bulldog who has varsity experience that is senior center Greffen George (6-feet-3-inches) who transferred from Wallington where he registered a double-double (points-rebounds) for the Panthers last season. He does not have sit out because his family moved from Wallington to Rutherford.

"He’s got an assortment of post moves," said Rutherford head coach Brian Gaccione. "It was a good year to get a transfer."

George led the Bulldogs in the team’s opening loss to Englewood with 18 points.

While it was a 74-60 defeat at the hands of Englewood, the game was encouraging for the young, inexperienced Rutherford team that led by one point heading into the fourth quarter. "We played well, we just ran out of gas in the fourth quarter," said Gaccione who added that he goes about six or seven deep in the rotation on the floor. "Our depth hurt us."

Like in previous years the main goal will be to make the state tournament. "I think the game against Englewood was encouraging and will give us some confidence this week," said Gaccione last week in reference to games against River Dell and Tenafly this week in the BCSL American.

After the 18 points from George, junior shooting guard Radiel Rodriguez (5-11) had 14 points to contribute to the Bulldogs offense. "He shoots well from the outside and can go to the basket," said Gaccione about Rodriguez who will be the prime perimeter threat.

Along with Rodriguez and George in the starting lineup, there are three other juniors who make up the other starters in point guard Dan Corte (5-10), forward Mike Schneider (6-2) and forward Mike Schule (6-2).

The team’s offense in the past has been perimeter offensive oriented but with George and Schule, the 2007-08 offense will be looking in the paint to score.

"We’re looking to get the ball inside to Greffen and Mike Schule instead of the past where we went outside," said Gaccione.

Looking at the BCSL American, Gaccione sees both Queen of Peace and Englewood fighting for the top spot in the American division with the rest of the division fighting out for the third spot. If the Bulldogs can play like they did against Englewood might put Rutherford in that spot. "It’s a very balanced league after the first two teams," said Gaccione. "I think we will make the state tournament, but we need to work hard to do it."

This season the Bulldogs will be part of the Dwight-Englewood Holiday Tournament starting on Dec. 26, but they have a tough opening contest against Elmwood Park, the defending Group 1 North 1 state sectional championship.