GMC Hoops Blogosphere

GMC Hoops Slideshow–February 21, 2013–#2 Old Bridge vs. #1 North Brunswick–Freshmen Final

Here is a slideshow from photos taken of the action between second seeded Old Bridge, and top seeded North Brunswick in the Championship Game of the 2013 Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament.

In the championship, Old Bridge trailed by as many as eight in the first half, and was behind by four at 35-31 with less than five minutes to play when the Knights closed the contest with a 12-5 run to win the title over top seeded North Brunswick, 43-40. Steve Strom sparked the rally with a three at the 4:34 mark to pull the Little Knights within one at 35-34. Then, after a North Brunswick basket, Connor Romano drained a triple from the left wing at the 3:24 mark for a 37-37 tie.

The game went back and forth with North Brunswick clinging to a one point lead late, but Zach Attianese gave Old Bridge the lead for good with a steal for a layup at the 1:16 mark. Attianese then sealed the win with two free throws at the 32 second mark. North Brunswick, which was playing in its second consecutive final, had a chance to tie in the waning seconds, but failed to connect on a three point attempt. Basit Khan and Bryon Smith played well in a losing cause for NBTHS.

GMC Hoops Highlights–February 25, 2013–Old Bridge @ North Brunswick–CJ Group IV Playoffs

Here are video highlights from the final 17:30 of the double overtime thriller between Old Bridge and North Brunswick in the opening round of the 2013 Central Jersey Group IV State Tournament. The Raiders trailed by the score of 44-31 just a few seconds into the fourth quarter when they rallied with a 23-10 surge to tie the game, and force overtime. Then, in the extra session, NBTHS trailed by six with 44 seconds to go when they got a conventional three point play by Virgil Boykin with 37.1 seconds left, and a three pointer from the left corner by Jordan Gonzalez with 28.6 seconds left to tie the game at 62-62 and force a second overtime. In the final overtime, North Brunswick outscored Old Bridge by a margin of 10-5 to come away with the hard fought, 72-67 win. The win by the Raiders avenged a loss to the Knights in the GMCT Quarterfinals at Middlesex County College.

GMC Holding Its Own Against Out Of Conference Foes

Conference Teams Combine For Over .500 Record Entering Final Stage Of Season

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ–On Monday, state tournament play began for 25 of the 31 teams in the Greater Middlesex Conference that qualified for the various tourneys categorized by school enrollment. As of the end of play, Wednesday night, the GMC has gone 9-9 against teams outside Middlesex County in state tourney play.

Entering the state tournament season, the 31 teams in the GMC had combined for an 82-76 record during the regular season against teams from other conferences. The conference is now 91-85, and has gone 22-16 since dropping to .500 in the middle of February. It has been an up and down, and streaky season for GMC schools against non-conference foes. The GMC began the year with 8 wins in its first 9 games, and then was clobbered over the holidays.

From that point on, the GMC schools have been on a roller coaster ride against teams outside of Middlesex County. For the most part though, the conference has held its own against many of the conferences in the Central Jersey area. Entering play on Thursday, the GMC is 4-3 against the Colonial Valley Conference, 23-22 versus the Skyland Conference, 10-10 against the Union County Conference, and 16-19 versus the Shore Conference. While the conference has not been dominant against schools from these other conferences, it has been able to hold its own.

A couple conferences that have done fairly well against the GMC this year have been the Burlington County Scholastic League, which has won 5 of 8 games against GMC schools, and the Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association, which has won 6 of 9 against the GMC. Breaking down the 91-85 GMC non-conference record by division: The Gold is 32-19. The Red is 27-21. Blue Division is 20-17 while the White has struggled at 12-28. Teams that have done well against non-conference schools this season are: Perth Amboy Tech (8-1), St. Joseph’s (7-2), South River (7-3), East Brunswick Tech (6-2), Dunellen (4-0), Old Bridge (5-2), East Brunswick (5-2), Middlesex (3-0), Piscataway Tech (4-2), and Spotswood (3-1).

This Year’s GMC Hoops Trophy Race Turning Out To Be Quite A Dandy

Seven Teams Still In The Hunt For The Trophy

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–In the closest race ever for the GMC Hoops Trophy, seven teams are still alive in the quest for the elusive trophy including three time defending champion, St. Joseph’s. Currently, there are eight teams that have records of 4-2 or better with six of them still alive in the state playoffs. Old Bridge and Bishop Ahr were eliminated from contention after losing in the opening round of their respective state tournaments.

With its win over Hunterdon Central in the quarterfinal round of the NJSIAA Central Jersey Group IV State Tournament, East Brunswick is ahead of the back with a 6-1 record in the seven games seen by GMC Hoops this year. The Bears have tallied 11 points in the standings, which is three ahead of its nearest competitors: Dunellen, St. Joseph’s, and North Brunswick. The Destroyers, Falcons, and Raiders all have eight points with GMC Hoops planning to see Dunellen this evening against Ridgefield in the North Jersey Section 2 Group I state tournament at The Faber.

North Brunswick managed to get into a three way tie for second thanks to a double-overtime win over Old Bridge on Monday night. Spotswood got itself within striking distance thanks to a come from behind win over Blue Division rival Carteret in the Central Jersey Group II Quarterfinals on Wednesday night. The Chargers have given themselves another chance to enhance their position in the standings with the win over the Ramblers since GMC Hoops plans to see Spotswood in action on Friday night at Lakewood against the top seeded Piners in the semifinal round. South River also has an outside shot for the trophy, but will need to defeat Bound Brook tonight for starters, and get a lot of help.

The GMC Hoops Trophy has been issued every year since 2003 to the team that performs the best when GMC Hoops is in attendance at its games. Teams win based on a simple points system: Two points for a win, and minus a point for a loss. View the past winners of the trophy.

GMC Hoops Game Notes–Old Bridge @ North Brunswick–Central Jersey Group IV State Playoffs–Opening Round–February 25, 2013

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ–Following the game between Carteret and Weequahic in the opening round of the Central Jersey Group II State Tournament, GMC Hoops traveled down Route 1 South to Route 130, and North Brunswick High School to see the fourth seeded Raiders take on 13th seeded Old Bridge in the opening round of the Central Jersey Group IV State Tournament. In a game of wills, North Brunswick avenged a loss to the Knights in the GMCT Quarterfinals with a come from behind win in double overtime. The Raiders trailed by 12 late in the third, 13 early in the fourth, and by six late in the first overtime, but found a way to win and advance with a 72-67 victory. Below are game notes from the contest.

Third Quarter

1:30–arrive–OB up 40–30.

0:57–NBT–Sidotti misses jumper.

22.4–OB–Tyler Drews drives and dishes to Sultan Aminu for layup, and a 42-30 lead.

4.1–NBT–Iverson Fleming fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 42-31 lead.

0.0–NBT–deflects pass out of bounds.  OB leads 42-31 after three

Fourth Quarter

7:28–OB–Billy Andrews called for foul–NBT ball

7:22–NBT–Fleming pulls up for jumper for a 44-35 lead.

7:00–OB–Drews dishes to Billy Andrews for layup and a 46-35 lead.

6:43–NBT–Jordan Gonzalez hits floater from left baseline for a 46-37 OB lead.

6:28–OB–10 sec violation.

6:17–NBT–Virgil Boykin uses his body to get between Aminu and basket for a three point play, and a 46-40 OB lead.

6:13–OB–turnover.

6:00–NBT–Boykin fouled–makes both FTs for a 46-42 OB lead.

5:05–NBT–steal leads to layin by Sidotti for a 46-44 OB lead.

5:03–OB–timeout.

4:29–OB–Aminu layup from Kola Adeleye for a 48-44 lead.

4:05–NBT–Boykin–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 48-45 OB lead.

3:49–OB–Aminu scores basket from left low block for a 50-45 lead.

3:19–NBT–full timeout.  Follows OB turnover.  Knights still lead 50-45.

2:42–NBT–Fleming steals ball, and goes in for layup and a 50-47 OB lead.

2:29–NBT–Fleming steals it again, and pulls up for three pointer to tie it up at 50-50.

2:16–OB–Drews hits floater for a 52-50 lead.

2:00–OB–Aminu blocks dunk attempt by Ford.

1:46–OB–Drews saves ball from going out of bounds–calls timeout–OB leads 52-50.

1:35–OB–Drews drives to the basket for layup and a 54-50 lead.

1:13–OB–Drews fouled.

1:04–NBT–Fleming swipes another steal for layup and a 54-52 OB lead.

44.4–NBT–calls timeout after OB loses ball out of bounds

30.0–OB–draws foul–after NBT misses two chances to score.  Adeleye–misses front end of one and one.

24.7–NBT–Fleming–fouled–misses front end of one and one.

23.3–NBT–calls timeout after getting loose ball.

20.5–NBT–inbounds to Boykin for layup  underneath, and a 54-54 tie.

0.9–NBT–ties up  Drews for jump ball–NBT ball.

0.0–NBT–Fleming shot from right wing at buzzer is off the mark.

Overtime

3:35–Drews pulls up for jumper and a 56-54 lead.

2:07–OB–Drews fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 59-56 lead.

1:04–OB–Marrero scores on breakaway layup for a 61-56 lead.

1:03–NBT–timeout

44.4–OB–Marrero gets rebound off miss by Gonzalez–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 62-56 lead.

37.1–NBT–Boykin scores on follow, and is fouled fora three point play, and a 62-59 OB lead.

28.6–NBT–Fleming steal leads to three from left corner by Gonzales for a 62-62 tie.

26.5–OB–timeout.

9.9–NBT–Sidotti misses three attempt–Fleming gets offensive rebound.

0.5–NBT–Ford misses jumper–ball goes out of bounds to NBT.

0.0–NBT–Ford gets inbounds from Fleming, puts up jumper from left wing, but it hits iron as the buzzer sounds–tied at 62-62.

Double Overtime

3:46–NBT–Ford hits short jumper from right baseline for 64-62 lead.

3:29–NBT–Ford–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 65-62 lead.

3:13–NBT–Ford–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 66-62 lead.

2:54–OB–Andrews–fouled–makes both FTs for a 66-64 OB lead.

2:39–NBT–Fleming pulls up for jumper from left wing and a 68-64 lead.

2:19–OB–Drews–scores for a 68-66 lead.

1:45–NBT–Boykin–layin for a 70-66 lead.

1:00–OB–Adeleye–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for 70-67 lead.

32.5–NBT–Fleming scores off Raider steal for a 72-67 lead.

17.3–NBT–Ford–fouled–misses both FTs.

0.0–OB–Adeleye misses three pointer.  Iverson Fleming gets the rebound, and runs out the clock for a 72-67 victory.

GMC Hoops Highlights–February 15, 2013–Colonia @ North Brunswick–GMCT Round of 16

Here are video highlights from North Brunswick’s GMCT Round of 16 win over Colonia. In the contest, the third seeded Raiders of North Brunswick put together a solid team effort to overcome a Colonia team that played tough throughout. The result was a 52-43 North Brunswick win to punch a ticket to Middlesex County College for the third time in four years. It wasn’t easy though. The Raiders struggled from the field shooting only 31 percent overall including 19 percent from three point range. Colonia shot 50 percent overall from the floor, and had a solid game from senior forward Bleriot Thompson with 14 points on 6 of 8 shooting from the field. However, North Brunswick limited the Colonia big man to just two points in the second half while getting three players scoring in double figures including Iverson Fleming with a team high 11 points.

GMC Hoops Game Notes–#2 Old Bridge vs. #1 North Brunswick–Championship Game of the 2013 Perth Amboy Freshmen Tournament

PERTH AMBOY, NJ–In the Championship Game of the 2013 Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament, second seeded Old Bridge rallied from a 35-31 deficit midway through the fourth quarter with a 12-5 game closing spurt to knock off top seeded North Brunswick by the score of 43-40. The Little Knights were sparked by a three from Steve Strom at the 4:34 mark to pull within one, and then got another three from Connor Romano a minute later to tie the game at 37-37. Zach Attianese, who had a team high with 14 points, took over from there with the final six points of the game for the win. Romano ended up with 13 while Strom chipped in with 7. Basit Khan led all scorers with a game high 18 points for North Brunswick while Bryon Smith chipped in with 12 in a losing cause. Below are game notes from the contest.

First Quarter

3:26–OB–timeout after layup by Prithvi Rathaur for NBT to make it an 8-5 Little Raiders lead. Bryon Smith also added a layup as NBT jumped out to a 4-0 lead.

0:29–OB–after NBT jumped out to an 11-7 lead on a three from the top of the key by Basit Khan, the Little Knights responded with a 5-2 run including a three by Steve Strom for a 13-12 NBT lead.

0:00–NBT–misses heave from three quarter court at the buzzer.

North Brunswick First Quarter Scoring

Bryon Smith–2 FGs for 4 points
Basit Khan–3 PTR for 3 points
Prithvi Rathaur–FG for 2 points
Tyler Hoagland–FG for 2 points
Jordan Luthus–FG for 2 points

NBT–5 FGs and 3 PTR for 13 points

Old Bridge First Quarter Scoring

Steve Strom–3 PTR and 1 of 2 FTs for 4 points
Zach Attianese–FG and 2 of 2 FTs for 4 points
C.J. Santoro–FG for 2 points
Connor Romano–FG for 2 points

OB–3 FGs, 3 PTR, and 3 of 4 FTs for 12 points

Second Quarter

7:09–NBT–basket for a 15-12 lead.

7:01–OB–Connor Romano–layup for a 15-14 NBT lead.

6:48–NBT–Khan–fouled–makes 1 of 2 fTs for a 16-14 lead.

3:49–OB–calls timeout after Khan makes first FT–NBT on a 7-1 run for a 23-15 lead.

1:57–OB–on a 5-2 run including a three from the left wing by Romano for a 25-20 NBT lead.

0:00–NBT–misses heave at buzzer–OB got another score earlier to pull within three at the half, 25-22.

North Brunswick Second Quarter Scoring

Basit Khan–2 FGs and 4 of 5 FTs for 8 points
Bryon Smith–2 of 2 FTs for 2 points
Kris Hunt–FG for 2 points

NBT–3 FGs and 6 of 7 FTs for 12 points

Old Bridge Second Quarter Scoring

Connor Romano–3 PTR, FG, and 1 of 2 FTs for 6 points
Zach Attianese–2 of 2 FTs for 2 points
Mike Turlovsky–FG for 2 points

OB–2 FGs, 3 PTR, and 3 of 4 FTs for 10 points

North Brunswick First Half Scoring

Basit Khan–2 FGs, a 3 PTR, and 4 of 5 FTs for 11 points
Bryon Smith–2 FGs and 2 of 2 FTs for 6 points
Prithvi Rathaur–FG for 2 points
Tyler Hoagland–FG for 2 points
Jordan Luthus–FG for 2 points
Kris Hunt–FG for 2 points

NBT–8 FGs, 3 PTR, and 6 of 7 FTs for 25 points

Old Bridge First Half Scoring

Connor Romano–2 FGs, 3 PTR, and 1 of 2 FTs for 8 points
Zach Attianese–FG and 4 of 4 FTs for 6 points
Steve Strom–3 PTR and 1 of 2 FTs for 4 points
C.J. Santoro–FG for 2 points
Mike Turlovsky–FG for 2 points

OB–5 FGs, 2 3s, and 6 of 8 FTs for 22 points

Third Quarter

7:41–NBT–technical foul called–OB–Strom–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 25-23 lead.

7:15–OB–called a technical foul–NBT–Khan–makes both FTs for a 27-23 lead.

3:40–NBT–fouled–makes both FTs for a 29-23 lead.

2:51–OB–timeout after layup by NBT for a 31-23 lead.

1:57–OB–30 sec timeout–avoids 5 sec call.

1:18–OB–Zach Attianese–fouled–missed both FTs, but gets his own rebound, and puts it back in for a 31-25 NBT lead.

0:44–OB–Connor Romano–fouled–makes both FTs for a 31-27 NBT lead.

0:23–OB–Strom gets steal.

0:16–OB–Strom dishes to Romano for layup from right low block for a 31-29 NBT lead.

0:00–NBT–Khan dishes to Bryon Smith for layup just as the buzzer sounds for a 33-29 lead heading into fourth.

Fourth Quarter

7:45–OB–Attianese–goes in hard for layup from left side for a 33-31 NBT lead.

7:31–NBT–Gabe Rosado–fouled–misses both FTs.

7:27–NBT–draws charge on Attianese for OB–OB–technical foul–Khan–makes both FTs for a 35-31 lead.

6:20–OB–misses three point attempt, but NBT called for foul on the rebound–OB ball.

4:34–OB–Strom three pointer from right side of the key for a 35-34 NBT lead.

4:15–NBT–Khan dishes to Smith for layup and a 37-34 lead.

3:24–OB–Romano fires in three from left wing for a 37-37 tie.

3:14–NBT–Khan–fouled–makes both FTs for a 39-37 lead.

2:56–OB–offensive foul.

2:21–OB–Attianese–layup for a 39-39 tie.

2:01–NBT–Khan–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs, and Rosado gets offensive rebound. Ball goes out of bounds, but NBT keeps possession.

1:46–NBT–timeout.

1:29–OB–gets steal, but Attianese just misses layup.

1:16–OB–Attianese gets steal, and scores layup from left side for a 41-40 lead.

1:03–NBT–timeout.

0:37–OB–fouled on floor.

0:32–OB–Attianese–fouled–misses FT…Khan called for violation–Attianese–makes both FTs for a 43-40 lead.

0:30–NBT–timeout.

0:11–NBT–turnover.

0:07–OB–Romano–fouled–missed front end of one and one.

0:00–NBT–misses shot at the buzzer. OB wins 43-40.

GMC Hoops Game Analysis–#14 Colonia @ #3 North Brunswick–GMCT Round of 16–February 15, 2013

Raiders Balanced Scoring Attack Overcomes Colonia, 52-43

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ–In the only remaining GMCT Round of 16 contest, the third seeded Raiders of North Brunswick put together a solid team effort to overcome a Colonia team that played tough throughout.  The result was a 52-43 North Brunswick win to  punch a ticket to Middlesex County College for the third time in four years.  It wasn’t easy though.

The Raiders struggled from the field shooting only 31 percent overall including 19 percent from three point range.  Colonia shot 50 percent overall from the floor, and had a solid game from senior forward Bleriot Thompson with 14 points on 6 of 8 shooting from the field.  However, North Brunswick limited the Colonia big man to just two points in the second half while getting three players scoring in double figures including Iverson Fleming with a team high 11 points.   

Eight players got in the game for the Raiders, and seven of them scored.  Colonia just had eight players dress for the contest.  All eight got in the game with only five scoring.  Nick Sidotti chipped in for North Brunswick with 10 points including seven down the stretch including a three pointer and a perfect 4 of 4 from the line.  Virgil Boykin continued to play well in the paint for the Raiders with a double-double of 10 points and  10 rebounds.  Jordan Gonzalez, who only had two three pointers on the year coming into today, hit two in the game en route to his 8 points while Dennis Ford added 7 points including two dunks in the third that helped NBTHS regain momentum.

Colonia had three players score nine points including freshman Chase Barneys, older brother and senior Trent Barneys, and sophomore J.J. Corbett, who sat out the game against Wardlaw on Wednesday night, and came off the bench in this contest.  Chris Siletti rounded out the Patriots scoring with two points.  Both Bleriot Thompson and younger brother Jodrell Thompson fouled out.  For the game, North Brunswick shot only 17 of 54 from the floor including 5 of 26 from three point range.  Colonia shot 17 of 34 overall including 2 of 12 from three.  

A big difference in the game was at the line, the Patriots shot just 7 of 13 while the Raiders shot 13 of 19.  Sidotti and Fleming were a combined 10 of 10 from the charity stripe including 8 of 8 in the fourth quarter.  Colonia did a solid job of stopping Fleming from having a breakout game.  The Hofstra bound senior was only 2 of 11 from the field including 1 of 7 from beyond the arc.  Fleming’s only three came in the first period when North Brunswick jumped out to an 8-2 lead.  Following a smart timeout by Colonia head coach, Chris Chiera, the Patriots rallied with the final six points of the first, and then began the second with a three point play by Corbett for an 11-8 lead.

The visitors from the Red Division led by as many as six points in the second period before the Raiders rallied with the next six points to tie the game at 18-18.  Colonia retook control though by ending the half with a 5-2 burst that included a three point play by Bleriot Thompson, and Chris Siletti’s only points of the game on a driving layup that helped the Pats take a 23-20 lead into the locker room.  Colonia shot 50 percent in the first half while limiting North Brunswick to just 27 percent shooting.  However, the Raiders turned the tables in the second half with a 32-20 showing in the final two periods for the win.

In a moment reminiscent of the Raiders win at South Brunswick in the opening round of the 2012 Brunswick Challenge over the holidays, Dennis Ford opened second half with a one handed rim rocker after getting a steal.  Gonzalez followed with a score before Ford, who had six of his points in the third, scored again for a 26-23 lead.  Then, after Colonia fought back with a 6-3 run to tie the game twice at 26-26 and  29-29 on a three by Trent Barneys, Ford gave the Raiders the lead again at 31-29 with a two handed jam on a follow.  Bleriot Thompson then tied the game at 31-31 to end the third with his only points of the second half.

The fourth period saw North Brunswick continue to take charge with a 21-12 showing for the win.  After Colonia scored four of the first five points of the final stanza including another three by Trent Barneys for a 35-32 lead, the Raiders responded with 13 of the next 15 points including a bank shot by sophomore forward, L.J. Williams, a three by Gonzalez, a basket by Boykin, and a huge three and two free throws by Sidotti for a 45-37 lead.  From there, Sidotti and Fleming sealed the win at the line as the Raiders made 7 of 8  from the line in the final two minutes.

This game gave the Raiders a much needed test.  With losses to sub .500 teams such as Franklin and Piscataway in recent weeks, North Brunswick couldn’t overlook a Colonia team that had been playing better after a rocky start.  North Brunswick continued to have some struggles against big men with a 14 point performance by Colonia’s Bleriot Thompson.  However, the Raiders did lock down in the paint in the second half.  Things won’t get any easier for the trio of Boykin, Ford, and L.J. Williams with Old Bridge’s Sultan Aminu looming in the quarterfinals at MCC on Sunday.  Aminu shot 12 of 14 and scored 25 points in the Knights win over South Brunswick on  Thursday night.

Colonia played a terrific game.  Despite playing with a limited bench, the Patriots hung tough throughout.  The Pats recovered nicely after falling behind  early, and played well for about 28 of the 32 minutes.  North Brunswick did what all good teams do though, and that is find a way to win and advance.

GMC Scorers Among Top In The State–February 4, 2013

Three Players From The Conference Among Top 25 Scoring Averages In NJ

NEWARK, NJ–On Tuesday, the statewide scoring leaders were posted on nj.com and in the Newark Star-Ledger, and three players from the Greater Middlesex Conference were on the list of the Top 25. North Brunswick’s Iverson Fleming had the highest scoring average, followed by Jake Dadika of Spotswood, and Karl Towns of St. Joseph’s. Below is where they ranked in the state as well as the number of games played, total points scored, and averages.

Stats again are courtesy of nj.com. Players must have played a minimum 13 games so far this season.

GMC Hoops Highlights–January 24, 2013–North Brunswick @ Woodbridge–JV Game

Here are some highlights from Woodbridge’s 58-53 win over North Brunswick in GMC White Division JV action on Thursday night. The Junior Barrons had a 40-25 lead in the middle of the third quarter when North Brunswick rallied with a 24-11 surge led by L.J. Williams, Kishan Patel, and Pranay Bhandare to pull within two at 51-49 with under three minutes to play. However, the Junior Raiders were called for a technical foul after an emotional reaction to a traveling call made by the officials moments earlier, and Woodbridge was able to pull away with a 7-4 run by making 7 of 8 from the line down the stretch.