UNION, NJ–In addition to the play by play coverage of J.F. Kennedy’s loss to Newark Central in the 8:00 PM round of games from the second night of action at the Kean Spring League, GMC Hoops had a chance to take a look at some of the action from the two other games involving GMC teams. Piscataway and South Plainfield as well as Sayreville also played during the 8:00 PM hour. The Chiefs and Tigers played each other while the Bombers took on Notre Dame. Here are brief capsules on both games.
Notre Dame vs. Sayreville
The Irish tried to rebound after its loss to Scotch Plains with a nightcap game against the Bombers. Â Notre Dame, led by Monroe native, Ryan Germano, jumped out to a 21-11 lead. Â Sayreville made some inroads with a 14-12 run the rest of the first half to only trail by the score of 33-25 at the intermission. Â Cody Van Note sank a three pointer from the right wing to close out the Bombers first half scoring. Â
Sayreville opened the second half with a 10-5 run including an 8-3 spurt to close within three at 38-35 with 14:30 to go. Â Trey Johnson then got a basket while being fouled, but missed the bonus foul shot to tie with 14:10 remaining. Â Sayreville then added five more points for a 42-38 lead before ND got a layin at the 10:47 mark. Â The Bombers scored five more before Germano nailed a three pointer from the left wing for a 47-43 Sayreville lead at the 9:22 mark.
Germano’s three sparked a 16-5 tear over a span of eight minutes and change to take a 56-52 with less than a minute to go. Â After getting a three with 40 seconds to go, the Bombers got the ball back, and had a chance to take the lead, but turned the ball over with 25.2 seconds remaining. Â Sayreville got a stop, and then Corey Taite drew a foul and made both free throws with 9.3 seconds left for a 57-56 lead. Â However, Notre Dame pulled out the win as German made a three as time ran out for the 59-57 victory. Â Â
South Plainfield vs. Piscataway
The Tigers have a lot of promising talent coming up, but they had a tough row to hoe against GMCT runner-up Piscataway. Â The Chiefs got a layup by Donovan Kirkland, and then a jumper by Marcus Freeney to take a 26-10 lead. Â The Chiefs then went on a 6-2 run to take a 30-12 led with 1:04 left in the first half. Â P-Way held on to that lead at the break. Â
After South Plainfield opened the half with a score, Donovan Kirkland made a pair of free throws to get P-Way on the board. Â Kirkland later pounded the glass for a basket and a foul. South Plainfield attempted to rally with a 17-12 run over the next 14 minutes or so to close within 45-31 with 5:21 left, but Jelani Jackson drew a foul, and made one of two from the line for a 15 point lead. Â The Chiefs maintained that lead at 49-34 with 2:11 to go as Vik Singh scored on a layup down low.
Kirkland and Tyjohn Young closed the game with layups to finish out the 53-36 P-way victory.Â
GMC Hoops will be back out at Kean University next Wednesday night.