2010 Bound Brook Summer League–Team Stats–Point Differential

2010 Bound Brook Summer League–Team Stats–Total Offense

2010 Bound Brook Summer League–Team Stats–Total Defense

There were nine teams in this league including only one from the Greater Middlesex Conference. Middlesex went 4-5 overall, and earned the sixth seed in the playoffs before falling to third seeded Somerville. The league had several key defections from last year as Piscataway, J.F. Kennedy, Immaculata, and New Brunswick left to play in other leagues. P-Way and Kennedy joined the newly formed Rahway Summer League this summer while New Brunswick went to play in the Monday/Wednesday Division of the Linden Summer League. Union Catholic remained in the league although it had a squad in the Rahway league.

Seven of the nine teams were from the Skyland Conference including three from the Delaware East Division (Bridgewater, Franklin, and Watchung Hills), two from the Valley Division (Bound Brook and Manville), one from the Raritan Division (Somerville), and one from the Delaware West Division (Hunterdon Central). Each team played eight games in this league with Watchung Hills winning the regular season title, and earning the top seed for the playoffs.

As mentioned earlier, Middlesex was 4-5 on the summer at Bound Brook. The site saw the Jays play four times during the season, and each time, the Jays played competitively with victories over Franklin and Bridgewater, and tough losses to Hunterdon Central and Somerville. Middlesex handed Franklin its first loss of the summer while the victory over Bridgewater in the season finale gave the Blue Jays the sixth seed over the Panthers. Then, in the playoffs, Middlesex had a 36-32 lead late in the second half against Somerville before the Pioneers pulled the game out with a 21-4 game closing surge for the 53-40 win. MHS lost its season opener against Hunterdon Central (41-32).

The Jays were led by the play of soon to be senior, John Santoro along with contributions from Chris Winkleman, David Schenck, and Connor Bogus. Santoro averaged 9.5 points per game over the four Middlesex games that GMC Hoops covered this summer. He played key roles in the victory over Bridgewater (10 points), and in defeat against Somerville (11 points). David Schenck has improved steadily during the summer with solid play in the win over Franklin as well as a fine contribution in the loss to Somerville. In the four games covered by the site, MHS averaged only 36.8 points per game, but limited their opponents to just 38.5 points per contest. In three of the contests, the Jays shot 44 of 117 for 38 percent while their opponents were only 41 of 124 for 33 percent. MHS was 2-1 in these three games.

Defense and team play will be key components to success for the Blue Jays this season. Middlesex lost some key players from last year including Avery Barnes, Terrell Mayers, Adam Wells, and Mike Lester. However, the Jays still have five of its top players from last year returning. The team is well coached by Brian Feath, and will still be a very competitive squad. Limiting opponents to low scoring, and playing well together were key aspects to the team’s success in several wins this summer, and will be relied upon to overcome offensive limitations, and height disadvantages. The Blue Jays also competed in the Hillsborough JV league, Kean Ironman Challenge, at the FDU-Florham team camp this summer.

• Bound Brook Summer League–Playoffs
• Colonia JV Summer League–Playoff Brackets
• Kean Ironman Challenge II–AM Session
• Kean Ironman Challenge II–PM Session
• Middlesex County College Summer League–Playoff Brackets
• Rahway Summer League–Playoff Brackets

GMC Hoops thanks coaches Anthony Melesurgo of Bound Brook, Bernie Buniak of Dunellen, Brian O’Lone of Colonia, Chris Tarver of Middlesex County College, and Tom Wagenblast of Kean for getting us these results.

BOUND BROOK, NJ–On Monday evening, GMC Hoops made the journey out to Bound Brook High School for the fourth time this summer as the opening round of playoff games took place in the Bound Brook Summer League. This year, there is only one team from the Greater Middlesex Conference as Middlesex was playing in the 7:00 PM quarterfinal. The Jays were taking on Somerville with the victor to take on the winner of the Franklin-Bridgewater matchup taking place right after at 8:00 PM.

Late Second Half Surge Helps Somerville Advance

The Middlesex Blue Jays almost pulled off the upset. For 34 minutes, MHS played the type of basketball that they’ve played every time GMC Hoops has seen them play this summer. Smart, unselfish team basketball on offense, and tough defense gave them a shot against a much taller Somerville team down low. The result was a 36-32 lead with exactly six minutes to play. However, it wasn’t to be. The third seeded Pioneers finally lived up to their ranking by finishing the game with a 21-4 surge for a 53-40 victory over the sixth seeded Blue Jays in the opening round of the playoffs at the Bound Brook Summer League on Monday night.

John Santoro led the Blue Jays in a losing cause with 11 points on 4 of 8 shooting including one of three from three point range while also making two of four from the foul line. He also had two steals and an assist. David Schenck chipped in with 9 points on 4 of 7 shooting from the floor and one of two from the foul line while also blocking two shots, swiping two steals, handing out two assists, and grabbing a rebound. Chris Winkleman also contributed with 6 points, 2 rebounds, 2 assists, and 2 steals while soon to be sophomore, Connor Bogus made 2 of 4 shots for 4 points along with 6 rebounds.

As a team, MHS was 16 of 40 from the floor for 40 percent including 4 of 14 from three point land while making 4 of 8 from the line. Meanwhile, Somerville connected on 18 of 48 shots for 38 percent from the floor including 6 of 14 from beyond the arc while making 7 of 10 from the charity stripe. In other statistical areas, the Pioneers edged the Jays in the turnover war (11-12), but Middlesex converted more of them with 14 points off Somerville miscues. The Pioneers scored 11 points off MHS mistakes. Somerville outrebounded Middlesex by a margin of 29-19 including a 13-9 showing on the offensive boards. The Pioneers cashed in on their second chances with a 12-6 edge in second chance points.

Somerville had more assists (11-9), steals (9-6), and charges (1-0) while Middlesex had more blocks surprisingly enough (1-0). The Jays started this game like they had against Franklin on July 8th, and Bridgewater on July 22nd. They took the first shot to take control of the game, and set the tone and tempo throughout much of it. On the first possession of the game, Santoro connected for his only three pointer on a shot from the left wing to make the score 3-0. He then added one of two from the line at the 17:16 mark for a 4-0 lead. Somerville, meanwhile, struggled as they couldn’t convert a three on one fast break opportunity at the 15:10 mark. Middlesex continued to start off well with a three pointer from the left wing for a 7-0 lead with 14:45 to go in the half.

Schenck continued the run with a bank shot inside at the 14:10 mark for a 9-0 lead. Winkleman then capped the run with one of two from the foul line for a 10-0 lead with 13 minutes to play in the first half. Everything that the Jays had built up to this point was undone though once the Pioneers finally got going. Somerville didn’t get its first field goal until the 12:15 mark of the first half, but then rallied with a 20-5 surge to take a five point lead into the locker room. The Pioneers made one of two from the foul line after another field goal to close the gap to 10-5 with 11:04 to play in the half. They added another two scores including a short shot with 7:17 to go in the half for a 10-9 Middlesex lead. After Schenck made one of two from the foul line for an 11-9 lead with 6:45 to go in the half, Somerville took the lead at 12-11 with a three pointer from the top of the key at the 6:05 mark.

The Pioneers then added one of two from the line at the five minute mark for a 13-11 lead before making a three pointer from the top of the key at the four minute mark for a 16-11 advantage. Both teams then scored four points each to round out the first half scoring for a 20-15 Somerville lead at the intermission. Middlesex only got two field goals and one of two from the line over the final 12:15 of the half. The two baskets came in the final four minutes after being without a field goal for at least 8:15. Somerville made 8 of 20 shots from the floor including three of seven from long distance while netting two of four from the line. The Blue Jays, meanwhile, were only 5 of 21 from the floor including two of eight from downtown, and made three of six from the foul line. Each team had six turnovers with MHS getting six points off Somerville turnovers.

Middlesex appeared to be in trouble at the beginning of the second half as Somerville converted a traditional three point play at the 19:06 mark for a 23-15 score. However, the Jays showed some resiliency by not only rallying to tie the game, but take the lead, and hold it for a bit. MHS got a three pointer from the top of the key at the 17:44 mark to close the gap to 23-18. Winkleman followed that up with a straight on jumper off a pass from Schenck at the 16:37 mark for a 23-20 Pioneer lead. Somerville got a three pointer for a 26-20 lead before Middlesex scored five unanswered including a three by Winkleman and a layup by Schenck to pull within one before the Pioneers made one of two from the line for a 27-25 lead with 13:25 remaining.

The Jays then scored the next four points including an offensive rebound and follow by Bogus for a 29-27 lead before the Pioneers tied the game up at 29-29 with a bucket at the 9:42 mark. Following a Middlesex timeout, Somerville went ahead with a three pointer off a steal for a 32-29 lead at the 9:07 mark. The Blue Jays stormed back though to take the lead with seven straight points including a drive through the middle for a layup and a foul by Santoro that was converted to a three point play at the 8:17 mark, a Schenck layup at the 6:50 mark, and another layup while being fouled by Santoro for a 36-32 lead with six minutes to go. Over a span of 13:06 Middlesex had put together a 21-9 tear that turned an eight point deficit into a four point lead.

Once again though, Somerville closed out the half with a huge surge. This time, it decided the game. The Pioneers, who outscored Middlesex by a margin of 41-9 over a stretch of 18:15 in this contest, got a score to start the rally at the 4:34 mark, and then after a MHS timeout, tied the game on a tip in with 4:18 to play. The Jays then committed a couple of turnovers that the Pioneers converted into points with a field goal and a three pointer for a 41-36 lead. Somerville, now on an 11-0 run, made two free throws at the 2:33 mark for a 43-36 lead. The Pioneers then closed out the game with 10 of the final 14 points to win by the score of 53-40. With the victory, Somerville improved to 6-3 on the summer, and advanced to the semifinals to face second seeded Franklin. Middlesex ended the summer at BBHS with a 4-5 record.

GMC Hoops thanks Bound Brook head coach, Anthony Melesurgo and his staff for their assistance and hospitality this season.

Bound Brook Summer League–Playoff Results–Championship–July 29, 2010

• #1 Watchung Hills 49–#2 Franklin 46

GMC Hoops thanks Bound Brook head coach, Anthony Melesurgo for his hospitality and cooperation.

Watchung Hills Rolls Past Somerville, 54-30

Watchung Hills continued to roll by winning its last game of the regular season against a formidable Somerville squad. The Warriors jumped out to a 40-21 lead with 13:30 left in the contest, and cruised from there to a 54-30 win over the Pioneers in a renewal of old Mid-State, and current Skyland Conference rivalries. Watchung Hills scored a layup at the 11:45 mark for a 42-21 lead before Somerville fought back with five of the next six points including a three pointer from deep on the right wing for a 43-26 lead.

The Warriors got those points back in a 7-1 run that included a basket and a foul at the 6:57 mark, and then an offensive rebound on the missed bonus foul shot that produced a three pointer at the 6:05 mark for a 50-27 lead. Watchung Hills then scored four of the last seven points to round out the twenty-four point win. With the victory, the Warriors ended the regular season with a 7-1 record while Somerville fell to 3-5. Watchung earned the top seed in the playoffs while Somerville ended up third, and played Middlesex in the opening round.

Middlesex Downs Bridgewater, 33-32

In the nightcap of the GMC Hoops doubleheader at Bound Brook, the site took in the game between Middlesex and Bridgewater during the 8:00 PM hour. This game had been originally scheduled for June 24th, but complications after the graduation at Bound Brook High School forced the game to be rescheduled. Middlesex was actually playing its second game of the day. Earlier, at 6:00 PM, the Blue Jays faced off against Union Catholic, and won. With a victory, Middlesex would lock up the sixth seed and face off against Somerville in the opening round of the playoffs that were scheduled to get underway on Monday.

It was a battle of big against small. Middlesex, a Group II school was facing off against Bridgewater, a Group IV school. The Blue Jays had been through this before though. On opening night, they played another Group IV school in Hunterdon Central. Then, on July 8th, MHS battled another big school in Franklin. The Jays have been competitive in this league despite being one of the smaller schools in it along with Bound Brook and Manville. Head coach Brian Feath has coached his kids well, and the Jays benefited with a hard fought win to finish the regular season at .500 in this league. Middlesex jumped out to a 17-9 lead late in the first half, and led 33-22 with 3:30 left before Bridgewater rallied with a 10-0 run that just came up short as the Jays posted a 33-32 victory.

John Santoro led the way for the Blue Jays with 10 points on two field goals and a three pointer along with 3 of 4 from the foul line. Santoro also handed out five assists while pulling down five boards and swiping a steal. Meanwhile, for Bridgewater, Derek Beck led the way in a losing effort with 10 points on 5 of 11 shooting and pulled down 9 rebounds while handing out 3 assists, blocking 3 shots, and swiping a steal. Andrew Ortelli also chipped in with 5 points, a rebound, and an assist. Middlesex outscored Bridgewater by a margin of 18-13 in the first half, and the Panthers outscored the Jays by a 19-15 margin in the second half. The Blue Jays controlled much of the game as they held the lead for approximately 39 of the 40 minutes. There were only two lead changes throughout.

For the game, Middlesex shot 13 of 40 from the floor for only 33 percent including 2 of 13 from long distance. However, the Jays limited Bridgewater to just 14 of 43 from the field for 33 percent as well. The Panthers also went 2 of 14 from beyond the arc. So the shooting stats pretty much mirrored how the score ended up. Middlesex got the edge at the line by making 5 of 13 while Bridgewater was just 2 of 4. Turnovers were even at 9-9 while Middlesex had the edge in rebounds (23-18) including offensive boards (6-4). Bridgewater had more assists (11-8) and blocks (5-0) while steals were even (2-2). Neither team drew a charge. Bridgewater scored more points off of turnovers (8-7) while both teams had the same amount of second chance points.

In the first half, Middlesex was 6 of 19 from the floor including two of five from three point range while making two of six from the line and committing four turnovers. Meanwhile, Bridgewater connected on 6 of 20 shots, but was 0 of 4 from long distance, and only one of two from the line while making five turnovers. Santoro had eight of his points in the first half on 3 of 6 shooting from the floor including one of two from three point range. He also made one of two from the line while handing out three assists. Two of those assists came in the first 3:21 of the contest as the Jays jumped out to a 4-2 lead. Santoro then connected on his only three of the game at the 14:17 mark for a 7-2 lead. A little over a minute later, Santoro stepped up to the line and netted one of two for an 8-2 lead as he factored in all of the Middlesex scoring to this point.

Bridgewater, which started the game shooting 1 of 12 from the foul line, tried to get back into the contest with one of two from the line at the ten minute mark, and a hook shot at the 8:20 mark to pull within three at 8-5. With momentum turning against them, the Blue Jays were forced to call timeout in order to avoid a five second call on the inbounds with 7:19 to go in the half. Middlesex recovered though, and made two foul shots to go ahead again by five at 10-5 with just under seven minutes to go in the half. Santoro then got going with a drive for a pull-up jumper from the foul line at the 5:42 mark for a 12-7 lead, a drive from the left side for a layup and a 14-7 lead with four minutes left. Santoro, who factored in 15 of the first 17 Middlesex points of the game, and 83 percent of Middlesex’s offense in the first half, kicked out to a teammate for a three pointer from the right wing, and a 17-9 Blue Jay lead at the two minute mark.

Bridgewater would get a score before David Schenck (3 points, 3 rebounds, and an assist) stepped up to the line, and made one of two for an 18-11 lead with 1:10 to go. The Panthers then closed out the half with another score to trail by five going into the intermission. Bridgewater-Raritan would then start off the second half with the first four points including a jumper off the dribble from the right side by Ortelli at the 18:36 mark to close the gap to 18-17. Beck then followed up with a flush off a nice feed for the Panthers only lead of the game at 19-18, but Middlesex took the lead back by ending the Bridgewater 8-0 run with two offensive rebounds and a follow for a 20-19 score with 16:42 left. The Jays then added four more points as Santoro was fouled by Ortelli, and made a pair of charity shots, and then Middlesex went up by a score of 24-19 on a field goal at the 14:29 mark.

The Jays lead went up to seven as Santoro penetrated and dished to Schenck for a jumper from the right baseline, and a 26-19 score. MHS added a free throw for a 9-0 run, and a 27-19 lead before the Panthers got their first three of the game in eleven attempts on a shot from the left side that closed the gap to 27-22 with 10:33 to go. The Blue Jays then scored the next six points including a jumper from the right wing at the 5:38 mark, and a short jumper off an assist by Santoro at the 3:30 mark for a 33-22 lead. Backed into a corner, Bridgewater rallied with a 10-0 tear to close the game. The Panthers scored four points in thirty-four seconds to pull within seven at 33-26 as Middlesex called for time. Bridgewater continued to put the pressure on, and it produced dividends as it made one of two at the line to trim the deficit to six at 33-27 with 1:31 remaining.

Schenck had a chance to give Middlesex a bigger cushion, but misfired on two foul shots with 1:16 to go. Ortelli then connected on a three pointer before the Panthers called for time with 1:07 remaining. Schenck missed the front end of a one and one with 37.4 seconds remaining, and Beck scored on a reverse layup at the other end with 17.1 seconds to go to pull Bridgewater within one. MHS then gave the Panthers more life by missing another front end of a one and one with 9.4 seconds to go, but Bridgewater missed on a last second shot attempt as it grazed the front of the rim as time expired. With the 33-32 victory, Middlesex improved to 4-4 on the summer while Bridgewater dropped to 3-5. The Blue Jays open the playoffs against Somerville while seventh seeded Bridgewater face second seeded Franklin.

GMC Hoops plans to be back out at Bound Brook next week for the playoffs.

• Bound Brook Summer League–Playoffs
• Rahway Summer League–Playoff Brackets

GMC Hoops thanks coaches Anthony Melesurgo of Bound Brook and Bernie Buniak of Dunellen for their assistance in getting these results.

Bound Brook Summer League–Results–Playoffs–Semifinal Round–July 27, 2010

• #1 Watchung Hills 69–#5 Bound Brook 47
• #2 Franklin 49–#3 Somerville 46

GMC Hoops thanks Bound Brook head coach, Anthony Melesurgo for his hospitality and cooperation.

Bound Brook Summer League–Results–Playoffs–Opening Round–July 26, 2010

• #5 Bound Brook 49–#4 Hunterdon Central 48
• #1 Watchung Hills 39–#8 Manville 22
• #3 Somerville 53–#6 Middlesex 40
• #2 Franklin 53–#7 Bridgewater 51

GMC Hoops thanks Bound Brook head coach, Anthony Melesurgo for his hospitality and cooperation.

Bound Brook Summer League–Some Results–Playoffs–Opening Round–July 26, 2010

• Somerville 53–Middlesex 40

GMC Hoops thanks Bound Brook head coach, Anthony Melesurgo for his hospitality and cooperation.