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2009 Raritan Bay Summer League–Analysis–Week One

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–On Thursday night, the first week of action concluded at the 2009 Raritan Bay Summer League. After a full night of three games on opening day, May 26th, the league was only able to get two games each in on Wednesday and Thursday. However, according to league co-directors, Gary Lange and Tom Reilly, more games have been added to the schedule for next week, and there will be some nights with as many as four games on the schedule. This is the sixth year that GMC Hoops has been covering the league, and it has seen many players from it that have gone on to do better things in the Greater Middlesex Conference.

So far, there has been only one high school game on the schedule that has been played. On Thursday night, the Parlin Pride and Sayreville Stars squared off in that division’s first contest of the summer, and while it was a good one, there still remains a dearth of high school activity in the league. One reason for that is the fact that the Spring Sports season hasn’t ended yet, and many of the high school teams in the league want their coaches, which are not allowed to coach yet, to coach the teams. The Sayreville Stars and Parlin Pride have been the exceptions to the rule. While the number of teams that have been confirmed is slightly down from last year, there are still 26 teams competing in the league including 3 in the 3rd and 4th Grade Division, 6 in the 5th and 6th Grade Division, 11 in the 7th and 8th Grade Division, and 6 in the High School Division.

The bulk of the action this week involved teams from the 7th and 8th Grade Division. Of the seven games that were played, four involved squads from this division while two involved teams from the 5th and 6th Grade Division, and one each from the High School and 3rd and 4th Grade Divisions. The majority of the seven games played so far have been competitive with only one game being decided by more than 13 points to date. Of the games played, one has gone to double overtime (South Amboy vs. Metuchen) and another went down to the wire in regulation (Parlin Pride vs. Sayreville Stars). Tom Reilly has worked really hard over the past several years to create schedules with matchups that are competitive.

So far this season, 14 of the 26 teams in the league have played including seven from the 7th and 8th Grade Division. CJEOTO, Metuchen, Monroe, and St. Stan’s of Sayreville are all tied for the lead after one game at 1-0 while East Brunswick, Parlin Pride, and South Amboy are all tied for last at 0-1. St. Ambrose, Sayreville Knights, Old Bridge, and Freehold have yet to play. The Parlin Pride are atop the High School Division at 1-0 while the Sayreville Stars are last at 0-1, and four other teams have yet to play at 0-0. The two teams will rematch each other next Thursday night at 8:30 PM. In the 5th and 6th Grade Division, Monroe and Colts Neck share the lead at 1-0 while the Jersey Shoreshots and South Amboy are 0-1. Both Franklin and Roselle are yet to play.

The league, which started later this year (2008 league started on May 20th) is set to play through June and July, and into early August before calling it a season. GMC Hoops plans to cover a lot of the action down here especially on Monday and Tuesday nights after coming off work if the schedule allows. However, while there are no other leagues going on, the site will be down covering as much of the league as possible.

Raritan Bay Summer League–May 28, 2009

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–On Thursday evening, GMC Hoops endured rush hour traffic on both Route 287 and Route 440 to get over to South Amboy Middle/High School to take in the third night of action from the 2009 Raritan Bay Summer League. This is the sixth straight summer that the web site is covering this league, which has provided great competition as well as a glimpse of future stars in the Greater Middlesex Conference.

On this night, the site was able to take in both of the games on the schedule, and here are still the results from the three games played. There were cries for the world famous Lange Dogs in the Gym, particularly amongst some of the officiating crew. Gary Lange responded to the outcry by stating that he was working on a plan to fire up the hot dog maker next week. GMC Hoops personally requested Pizza, Chicken Wings, and Subs be also added to the menu.

In the opener, and the best game of the evening Parlin defeated Sayreville by three in a regulation thriller. The Parlin Pride overcame a 28-22 deficit with an 18-4 surge over a span of 8:58 to take a 40-32 lead. The Sayreville Stars then responded with an 8-0 spurt to tie things up at 40-40 with 1:31 left. However, the Pride were not to be denied on this night with a 7-3 run in the next 1:15 to take a 47-43 lead with 16.8 seconds to go. Sayreville’s Danny Wojcik, who had five three pointers, and went 2 of 4 at the line for 17 points, grinded his teeth, and let fly a trey from the top of the arc to close the gap to one at 47-46, but it wasn’t enough as Parlin escaped with a 49-46 victory in the latest chapter of this neighborhood rivalry. Then, in the nightcap, CJEOTO started the game with 22-2 blitz over the first 12:19, and cruised from there to a 56-19 win over the Parlin Pride in 7th and 8th Grade action.

Parlin Pride Hangs On For Victory Over Sayreville Stars, 49-46

Here is where the game lived up to the pre-game hype. Sitting at the scorer’s table on Wednesday night watching the finale of that doubleheader between St. Stan’s of Sayreville and the Jersey Shoreshots, GMC Hoops had learned from one of the league’s co-directors, Tom Reilly, that the trash talking had already started between the players from the Parlin Pride and the Sayreville Stars. Besides playing the Sayreville Knights, this had become one of the big rivalry games at the Raritan Bay Summer League for the Sayreville Stars last summer.

Due to the heavy rush hour traffic on Route 287 South and Route 440, GMC Hoops did not arrive to the gym until the second half had already started. The site sat down with 17:55 to go in the game, but was quickly brought up to speed by the scorekeeper and timekeeper, Kyle Krzyzanowski. The first half saw Sayreville come up with a 22-19 lead at the intermission as the Stars made three treys, six field goals, and one of two at the line while Parlin made two threes, five field goals, and 3 of 4 from the line. Sayreville’s Danny Wojcik led the way with 9 points on the only three treys of the game by the Stars. By the time, the site started to take in the action, Parlin had trimmed the deficit slightly to two with a 3-2 run over the first 2:05 to make the score, 24-22. However, Wojcik made one of two from the line at the 16:30 mark to make it 25-22, and then after a Stars timeout with 14:02 to play, Sayreville went up by six on a conventional three point play at the 13:10 mark that made the score, 28-22.

After that score by Sayreville, the Parlin Pride took over the contest with a crucial 18-4 tear over a span of 8:58 to take an eight point, 40-32 lead with 4:12 left. The run was ignited by a layup at the 12:37 mark for a 28-24 Stars lead. Then, the Pride got a steal at halfcourt, and then drove in for a layup from the left side while being fouled, but missed the bonus free throw, and the score stood at 28-26 in favor of Sayreville with 11:39 to go. Nearly two minutes went by before another score, but Parlin managed to then tie the contest with a shot underneath after battling for two offensive rebounds. With the score now tied at 28-28, both teams then exchanged baskets for a 30-30 tie before Parlin had a chance to take the lead. However, with 8:42 left, the Pride misfired on two free throws, and the game remained knotted up.

A little more than a minute later though, Parlin took the lead on a reverse layup from the right side that made the score, 32-30 at the 7:24 mark. The Pride then made it a 13-2 tear with a three pointer from the left side at the 6:02 mark for a 35-30 lead. Sayreville responded with a bucket on a floater that closed the gap to three at 35-32 with 5:25 to go, but Parlin reeled off five more points including a three pointer at the 5:04 mark, and then a scoop shot for a layup, and a 40-32 lead with 4:12 remaining. On the ropes, the Stars fought back with eight unanswered points over a span of 2:41. Wojcik rose to the occasion with a clutch three pointer from the right wing at the 3:19 mark for a 40-35 Parlin Pride lead. Then, less than a half minute later, Sayreville was on the board again with a bank shot that made it 40-37 at the 2:54 mark.

The Stars then pulled within two as they picked up a steal at halfcourt, went in for a layup that was blocked, but drew the foul that resulted in one of two from the line with two minutes to play. Sayreville then tied the game at 40-40 by capping the run with two more foul shots at the 1:31 mark. Seemingly in retreat, Parlin called for a timeout after a turnover at the 1:19 mark. Following the stoppage, the Pride took the lead on a nice entry pass underneath for a layup, and a 42-40 edge with 40.4 seconds to play as Stars coach, Tim Wojcik called for time. Following the timeout, Sayreville tied the contest on its very next possession with a turnaround jumper in the lane that knotted the score at 42-42 with 29.4 seconds left. Then, emotions started to run high as Parlin first made one of two at the line, but on the missed second free throw, got the offensive rebound, and drew another foul that produced two more free throws, and a 45-42 lead with 24.4 seconds to play.

However, during the skirmish for the loose ball on the missed foul shot, a Parlin player said some things to a Sayreville player that resulted in a technical foul call by the officiating crew. Danny Wojcik then stepped to the line, and made one of two free throws to close the gap to 45-43. On the subsequent side out for Sayreville, Wojcik then threw an errant pass into a crowd of players that was intercepted by the Parlin Pride, and with 16.8 seconds remaining, a Parlin player was fouled, which resulted in two charity shots for a 47-43 lead. Attempting to not only atone for his mistake, but also demonstrate that he wasn’t about to quit, Wojcik took a pass at the top of the key, gave a look of determination, and connected on a long three with nine seconds left to pull the Stars to within one at 47-46.

Unfortunately, for the Sayreville fans in attendance, the Stars couldn’t get any closer as the Pride closed the game with two free throws at the 1.5 second mark to round out the final 49-46 score. With the victory, the Parlin Pride stood alone atop the High School standings at 1-0 while the Sayreville Stars fell to 0-1. Both teams will get another crack at each other next week as a number of games have been added to the schedule according to league co-directors Gary Lange and Tom Reilly. Next Thursday night at 8:30, the two neighborhood rivals will square off again.

CJEOTO Breezes Past Parlin Pride In 7th and 8th Grade Division Action, 56-19

After having an exhilarating win in the High School Division over a neighborhood rival, the Parlin Pride basketball program was in high spirits going into its matchup against CJEOTO in a contest from the 7th and 8th Grade Division. However, the celebration would be short lived as the nightcap proved to be quite lopsided. The Panthers from CJEOTO, coached by Ian Turnbull, opened the contest with a 22-2 rampage over the first 12:19, and coasted from there to a 56-19 rout of the Parlin Pride in the nightcap game at the Raritan Bay Summer League on Thursday night. CJEOTO wound up taking a 33-7 halftime lead as the Panthers connected on 10 field goals, three treys, and 4 of 6 from the line while limiting the overmatched Parlin Pride to just two field goals and a three pointer.

The game started quietly as neither team had a field goal until the 16:29 mark of the first half. CJEOTO, which stands for Central Jersey Each One Teach One, made one of two from the line at the 18:55 mark. On the missed second free throw, the Panthers grabbed the offensive rebound, but it was blocked by Parlin so the score remained 1-0. Over a minute and a half later, CJEOTO had another scoring chance when it swiped a steal, and then got an offensive rebound that produced a foul on the putback attempt. Two free throws resulted, and the score was 3-0. Parlin finally got on the board at the 16:29 mark with a layup underneath to close the gap to 3-2, but that would be the closest the team would be for the rest of the game.

Following a CJEOTO timeout at the 16:02 mark, the Panthers began to roll like a juggernaut. First they got a field goal from the left low block at the 15:13 mark for their first bucket of the game, and a 5-2 lead. The Panthers then followed that up with a jumper from the left wing at the 14:15 mark for a 7-2 lead. Twenty-three seconds later, CJEOTO continued the assault with an offensive rebound and putback for a 9-2 lead at the 13:52 mark. Sensing the tidal wave was coming, Parlin called for a 30 second timeout with 13:33 still to play in the first half. However, the stoppage didn’t do any could since the Panthers picked up right where they left off. With 13:01 to go in the first half, CJEOTO scored again on a putback for an 11-2 lead. The Panthers then added one of two free throws from the line at the 12:30 mark for a 12-2 lead.

Forty seconds later, CJEOTO got a steal in the Parlin backcourt that led to a layup with 11:50 to go in the first half for a 14-2 advantage. The Somerset based AAU team then got a three pointer from the right wing for a 17-2 lead at the 11:18 mark. The Panthers then rang up five more points before Parlin had another serious opportunity to score. Unfortunately, the Pride couldn’t cash in as it missed both free throws at the 7:41 mark, and the score remained 22-2. Parlin would finally score though as it got its first points and field goal in a span of 11:28, but CJEOTO was continuing to pour it on with four more points for a 26-4 lead. The Panthers then went up 28-4 before Parlin got its final field goal of the half, a three pointer from the left wing for a 28-7 score at the 3:31 mark. CJEOTO then closed out the half with the final five points including a three pointer that bounced in to make the score, 33-7 at the intermission.

The second half was much more competitive, but still produced the same result with CJEOTO outscoring Parlin by a 23-12 margin in the final twenty minutes. The Panthers opened up the second half much like they had ended the first with seven unanswered points for a 7-0 lead with 15:48 remaining. The Pride didn’t get their first field goal of half number two until the 13:36 mark on a layup for a 40-9 score. CJEOTO ran off eight more points before Parlin got a a layup while being fouled, but missed the bonus free throw for the traditional three point play for a 48-11 Panther lead with 8:37 left. The same Parlin player then drained a three pointer from the left wing after a Panther score to make it 50-14, and then connected on another trey from the right wing after an earlier score inside to help round out the final 56-19 score. With the victory, CJEOTO starts the summer at 1-0 while Parlin falls to 0-1.

GMC Hoops will be back out at the Raritan Bay Summer League next week starting Tuesday night.

2009 Raritan Bay Summer League–More Schedule Changes Ahead

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–After play on Thursday night, GMC Hoops learned from both league co-directors, Gary Lange and Tom Reilly, that the 2009 Raritan Bay Summer League will be adding more 8:30 PM games to the schedule for next week. One of the matchups include a rematch of tonight’s thriller from the High School Division between the Parlin Pride and the Sayreville Stars. On Thursday night, the Parlin Pride overcame a 28-22 early second half deficit with an 18-4 surge to take a 40-32 lead, and then after letting the Sayreville Stars tie the game up at 40-40 with 1:31 left, held on for a 49-46 victory.

2009 Raritan Bay Summer League–Updated Standings

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–Here are the updated standings in the 2009 Raritan Bay Summer League following play on the third evening of action on May 28th. This summer, there are a total of 26 teams playing in four divisions: 3rd and 4th Grade, 5th and 6th Grade, 7th and 8th Grade, and High School. Below are the teams in the league.

3rd and 4th Grade Division

5th and 6th Grade Division

• Monroe (1-0)
• Colts Neck (1-0)
• Roselle (0-0)
• Franklin (0-0)
• Jersey Shoreshots (0-1)
• South Amboy (0-1)

7th and 8th Grade Division

• CJEOTO (1-0)
• Metuchen (1-0)
• Monroe (1-0)
• St. Stan’s (1-0)
• St. Ambrose (0-0)
• Sayreville Knights (0-0)
• Freehold (0-0)
• Old Bridge (0-0)
• East Brunswick (0-1)
• Parlin Pride (0-1)
• South Amboy (0-1)

High School Division

• Parlin Pride (1-0)
• Union Catholic (0-0)
• Monroe (0-0)
• Monsignor Farrell (0-0)
• Metuchen (0-0)
• Sayreville Stars (0-1)

GMC Hoops plans to be out there for more games next week starting Tuesday at South Amboy Middle/High School.

2009 Raritan Bay Summer League–Results–Day Three–May 28th

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–On Thursday evening, GMC Hoops headed back out to South Amboy Middle/High School to take in the third night of contests from the 2009 Raritan Bay Summer League. This is the sixth season that the web site is covering this particular Summer League. Thanks to South Amboy’s Kyle Krzyzanowski for getting us the results from all two games listed below.

Day Three Results–May 28, 2009

• 5:30 PM–High School Division–Parlin Pride 49–Sayreville Stars 46
• 6:30 PM–7th and 8th Grade Division–CJEOTO 56–Parlin Pride 19

GMC Hoops plans to be out for more action next week.

GMC Hoops Pre-Season Number One–Bad Luck?

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–Good afternoon everyone. Well, in a short while, I’ll be heading over to the Raritan Bay Summer League at the always air conditioned South Amboy Middle/High School to take in the third night of action the 2009 edition of the league. But, before I leave, I wanted to put up this post regarding the GMC Hoops Pre-Season #1. Over the past several years, I have put up my pre-season predictions on an upcoming season, or at least a Pre-Season Top Ten. Now, I have had some success with picking the pre-season number ones with Colonia in the 2000-01 season, and South Plainfield in the 2003-04 season as both went on to win the GMCT that season. However, over the past three seasons, the GMC Hoops Pre-Season #1 has ended up faltering in the latter rounds of the GMCT. Take for instance the following table:

Now, in the case of both South Brunswick (2007) and Piscataway (2008), the Vikings and the Chiefs redeemed themselves in the state tournaments by winning their sectional championships, and advancing to the state finals. However, with this recent trend, one has to wonder if GMC Hoops Pre-Season #1 is like getting on the cover of Sports Illustrated, or on the cover of the latest Madden NFL DVD. Will have to see next year. Right now, I see St. Joseph’s as the favorite, but Piscataway and Monroe will have something to say about that.

Centenary College Team Camp–July 17-19, 2009

HACKETTSTOWN, NJ–On Thursday afternoon, GMC Hoops learned that Centenary College will be running a Boys Basketball Team Camp during the weekend of July 17-19, 2009 in the air conditioned Folkner Family Gynasium as well as nearby Hackettstown High School. Some of the features of the camp will be:

• Overnight and Day Camp Options.
• Accommodations in Centenary College’s Residence Halls.
• Includes Varsity and JV Teams.
• Coach’s social (Saturday Night).
• Situation Tournament.
• Meals in our campus dining hall.
• Camp Store – where you can buy.
• Centenary gear, Gatorade and much more.
• Free Centenary Basketball T-Shirt

The camp schedule includes:

• At least six full games (some games will be played at Hackettstown High School – 10
  min. walk from campus)(Each Team must have at least 8 players).
• Officials and Scorers provided.
• Certified Athletic Trainer on duty during entire camp.
• Position Lectures by Centenary Coaches and Players.
• Camp starts Friday evening and ends Sunday afternoon.

Cost for the camp is $185 per camper (overnight) and $145 per commuter. For more information download the Centenary College Team Camp brochure. You can also visit the Centenary College Men’s Basketball web site, or contact, Head Coach Enrico Mastroianni at mastroiannie@centenarycollege.edu.

2009 Raritan Bay Summer League–Week Two Schedule

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–On Thursday afternoon, GMC Hoops received the second week schedule of games for the 2009 Raritan Bay Summer League from the league’s co-director, Tom Reilly. The web site plans to be down at South Amboy Middle/High School for some of the action on Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday nights. Below is the schedule for the second week of the season.

Monday, June 1st–Day Four

• 5:30–St. Ambrose vs. St. Stan’s–7th and 8th Grade
• 6:30–South Amboy vs. Roselle–5th and 6th Grade
• 7:30–Metuchen vs. Freehold–7th and 8th Grade
• 8:30–South Amboy vs. CJEOTO–7th and 8th Grade

Tuesday, June 2nd–Day Five

• 5:30–Sayreville vs. Parlin–7th and 8th Grade
• 6:30–Colts Neck vs. Monroe–5th and 6th Grade
• 7:30–East Brunswick vs. Freehold–7th and 8th Grade

Wednesday, June 3rd–Day Six

• 5:30–St. Stan’s Red (Minnow) vs. St. Stan’s White (Asterita)–3rd and 4th Grade
• 6:30–Monsignor Farrell vs. Sayreville–High School
• 7:30–Roselle vs. Jersey Shoreshots–5th and 6th Grade

Thursday, June 4th–Day Seven

• 5:30–Sayreville vs. St. Ambrose–7th and 8th Grade
• 6:30–St. Stan’s (Asterita) vs. Central Jersey Hawks–3rd and 4th Grade
• 7:30–Monroe vs. CJEOTO–7th and 8th Grade

As more information comes along about this league, GMC Hoops will post it to the blog.

Raritan Bay Summer League–May 27, 2009

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–On Wednesday night, GMC Hoops rambled on over to South Amboy Middle/High School to take in the second night of action from the 2009 Raritan Bay Summer League. This is the sixth straight summer that the web site is covering this league, which has provided great competition as well as a glimpse of future stars in the Greater Middlesex Conference. On this night, the site was able to take in both of the games on the schedule, and here are still the results from the three games played. In the opener, and the best game of the evening Metuchen faced off against South Amboy in a double overtime thriller from the 7th and 8th Grade Division. Then, in the nightcap, St. Stan’s used a 14-0 run to overcome a 9-6 deficit to take a 20-9 first half lead, and eventually went on to win over the Jersey Shoreshots, 43-30.

Metuchen Overcomes Rough Start To Defeat South Amboy In Double Overtime, 42-38

Much to the chagrin of Raritan Bay’s scorekeeper and timekeeper, Little Zammitt, this contest was a downybrook. After Metuchen struggled to get just two field goals, and make 3 of 7 free throws in the first half, and then started the second half by missing its first eight shots, it managed to rally with a 25-20 showing in the final period of regulation to force not only one overtime, but two in a thrilling, come from behind, 42-38 victory over the hometown Guvs of South Amboy. The Governors had led by a score of 16-7 after an 8-0 run that bridged the end of the first half with the start of the second, took advantage of Metuchen’s struggles from the floor. However, Metuchen rallied with a 25-16 over the final 15:45 of regulation to force overtime.

Arriving late to the game, GMC Hoops sat down at the courtside scorer’s table with South Amboy leading 8-6 with 7:30 to go in the first half. Thirteen seconds later, Metuchen made one of two from the foul line to trim the deficit to 8-7 at the 7:17 mark. On the very next possession, the Guvs got a field goal for a 10-7 lead, and then after neither team scored for the next four minutes, South Amboy went up by five on an offensive rebound and putback that made it 12-7 with three minutes to go before the intermission. Neither team would score the rest of the way as Metuchen only made two field goals over the first twenty minutes while South Amboy had six. Steve Herdman showed his playmaking abilities while scoring 6 points for the Guvs while teammate Daquan (don’t have last name yet) added 6 points of his own. Mike Clarke paced Metuchen with 4 points on a field goal and a perfect 2 of 2 from the line.

In the second half, South Amboy started off much like it had ended the first with two more scores over the first 4:15 to take the largest lead of the contest at nine. First a block set up a Herdman layup at the 18:12 mark while Metuchen missed its first five shots. The Guvs then got another field goal before the Bulldogs called for time at the 15:45 mark, and the scoreboard reading 16-7 in favor of South Amboy. Following the timeout, Metuchen started to roll with a three pointer from the right wing to end the 8-0 Guv run, and a scoreless drought of 14:44, and make the score 16-10 with 12:33 left. Once Metuchen got going offensively, the game’s overall tempo picked up. South Amboy would promptly respond to Metuchen’s trey with an offensive rebound and putback at the 11:18 mark for an 18-10 lead. On a subsequent Bulldog possession, the Bulldogs got a field goal to climb back to within six at the 10:45 mark.

Over the next 2:10, Metuchen continued to creep closer with three more points before South Amboy got another offensive rebound and putback made the score 20-15 with 8:35 left in regulation. Eighteen seconds later though, Metuchen came right back down the floor following another South Amboy score, and drained a three pointer to stay within striking distance at 22-18 with 8:17 to go in regulation. Herdman then made a nifty move on the drive for a layup that pushed the Guv lead back to six at the 7:12 mark. However, Metuchen quickly responded again with a bucket that not only closed the gap to four points, but also forced South Amboy to call timeout with 6:56 remaining in the second half. Following the timeout, the Bulldogs continued on their 12-6 run with a layup underneath at the 5:02 mark that trimmed the deficit to two at 24-22.

South Amboy would get a score to give itself more breathing room at 26-22 with 4:30 to go in regulation, but Metuchen responded with four straight points to knot the score at 26-26 with 2:59 remaining. Herdman quickly put the Guvs ahead again with a score at the 2:40 mark that made it 28-26, but the contest continued to go back and forth as Metuchen once again tied things up at 28-28 with 2:30 remaining in regulation. The Guvs promptly wrestled the lead back with a jumper that banked in for a 30-28 advantage at the 2:18 mark of the second half. However, after a South Amboy thirty second timeout at the 2:02 mark, Clarke grabbed an offensive rebound, and was fouled on the follow for two free throws that tied the game up again at 30-30 with 1:43 left in regulation. Right after the second free throw, Metuchen deployed some full court pressure, but South Amboy managed to fight through it despite some sloppiness to produce a layup at the another end for a 32-30 lead with 1:28 left in the second half.

Not to long after that though, the Bulldogs replied with a clutch layin by Clarke at the 1:05 mark for a 32-32 tie. Both teams scrapped down the stretch, and Metuchen used two timeouts at the 41.7 and 21.3 second marks, but misfired on two key free throws at the 13.8 second mark. It was during all this time that GMC Hoops had hinted to Little Zammitt that the game might go into overtime to which the South Amboy youngster, and a top standing member of the Guv Goonies, began to hope with all his might for that not to happen. Extra time on the clock kept him from more pressing duties such as texting on his cell phone. After the second missed free throw, South Amboy got a rebound, and called for time with 11.7 seconds remaining. Following the timeout, the Guvs tried to get into position to score, but couldn’t as Clarke stole the ball, and came back the other way for a last second shot attempt that was blocked. We were going to overtime!

In the first extra session, South Amboy appeared to have Metuchen on the ropes again with a nice rebound and outlet to Herdman, who then made a nice assist on a jumper for a 34-32 lead at the 2:08 mark. Herdman then handed out another assist on a layup at the 1:47 mark for a seemingly commanding 36-32 lead. However, the Bulldogs fought back with one of two from the foul line at the 1:21 mark, and with GMC Hoops hoping there would be a second overtime to detain Little Zammitt further, a three pointer dropped in from the right corner to tie the score at 36-36 with 29.9 seconds left. Metuchen had another chance to win when it called for a timeout with 5.9 to go in the first overtime, but once again Clarke’s shot was off the mark, as it hit off the front of the rim as time expired.

At the start of the second overtime, both teams appeared to be overanxious as Herdman picked up his third foul for South Amboy with 2:55 left, Metuchen was called for traveling with 2:45 left, and then after getting the alternate possession on a jump ball, South Amboy committed a miscue by losing the ball out of bounds with 2:08 to go. Neither team scored for almost the first two minutes of the second extra session. However, Metuchen took the lead for good on one of two from the line at the 1:07 mark. Then, South Amboy had a chance to at least tie, or even take the lead, but misfired on two free throws with 52.6 seconds left. Metuchen gave new life to the Guvs though by committing a turnover, and South Amboy called for time with 44.5 seconds left. Unfortunately for the Guv faithful, the hometown team couldn’t take advantage, and Metuchen would subsequently break South Amboy’s press to get another layup from Clarke for a 39-36 lead as the Guvs called for time again.

The Bulldogs then put the game away on a traditional three point play as they scored a layup while being fouled with nine seconds left for a 42-36 lead. South Amboy then closed things out with a score, and Metuchen prevailed by the final score of 42-38 to start the summer at 1-0 while the Guvs fell to 0-1. Clarke ended up with five field goals, and a perfect 4 of 4 from the line for 14 points, Herdman helped South Amboy with five field goals for 10 points, and Daquan had a team high seven field goals for 14 points in a losing cause.

First Half Surge Propels St. Stan’s Past Jersey Shoreshots, 43-30

In the nightcap, St. Stan’s of Sayreville, and from the 7th and 8th Grade Division, took on the Jersey Shoreshots, an AAU team from Monmouth County that is headquartered at Rebounds, or what is now known as the Hoop Group Headquarters, and from the 5th and 6th Grade Division, in an early season crossover game. For a while, it looked like the younger Shoreshots were going to make a game of it by taking a 9-6 lead at the 11:56 mark of the first half. However, St. Stan’s went on a 14-0 binge that spanned 9:51 to take a 20-9 lead. As a matter of fact, the Shoreshots were held scoreless for 10:43 until they got a three pointer from the right corner that made the score, 20-12 with 1:13 to go before the intermission. From there, St. Stan’s took a 34-18 lead with a 10-4 run in the first six minutes or so of the first half, and even though the Shoreshots scored 9 of the next 12 points over the next nine minutes and change, they couldn’t get any closer than 10 points in a 43-30 loss.

As mentioned earlier, the Shoreshots got off to a fast start with a three pointer from the right side at the 19:11 mark for a 3-0 lead, and then made it 4-0 with 18:30 to go in the first half by making one of two from the line. St. Stan’s didn’t score their first points until the 16:40 mark when they converted an offensive rebound with a putback to make the score, 4-2. Neither team scored for the next 1:28 before the Shoreshots had another opportunity to go up by four. The Monmouth County based AAU squad stepped up to the line for two free throws at the 15:12 mark, and misfired, which kept the score at 4-2. St. Stan’s then scored the next four points for a 6-4 lead before the Shoreshots tied it back up on a field goal that made it 6-6 with 12:46 remaining in the first half. Up to this point in the contest, there were two lead changes and two ties.

Fifty seconds later, the Shoreshots intercepted a pass by St. Stan’s, and went in for a layup while being fouled for a three point play, and a 9-6 lead with 11:56 to go in the opening half. St. Stan’s then made it 9-8 with a jumper from the left wing at the 11:11 mark, and then went ahead for good an inbounds play underneath for a layup that made the score, 10-9 with 8:30 left. There had been four lead changes and two ties up to this stage of the game, but there would be no more from here on out. St. Stan’s would continue on their decisive 14-0 tear with one of two from the foul line, and a layup over the next 1:45 for a 13-9 lead. Then, twenty seconds later, the Sayreville based school connected on a three pointer by a 16-9 lead much to the delight of the partisan crowd.

St. Stan’s had a chance to build the lead up to nine, but missed both free throw attempts with 5:02 remaining in the first half as the Shoreshots called for time. However, after the timeout, St. Stan’s would score the next four points including a steal for a layup to cap the 14-0 run for a 20-9 lead at the 2:05 mark. The Shoreshots finally got on the board again with a three pointer from the right corner to end their scoring drought, and close the gap to 20-12, but St. Stan’s closed out the first half with four of the final six points for a 24-14 lead at the intermission. In the second half, St. Stan’s picked up right where they left off with 10 of the first 14 points that included good passing and teamwork for scores to take a 34-18 lead with 15:55 left. The Shoreshots tried to chip into that lead, and make things interesting again with a 9-3 run over the next 10 minutes or so, but couldn’t get any closer than ten in the 43-30 defeat. With the victory, St. Stan’s opens the year at 1-0 while the Shoreshots fall to 0-1.

GMC Hoops will be back out at the Raritan Bay Summer League on Thursday to see two more games starting at 5:30 PM.

2009 Raritan Bay Summer League–Schedule Change–Thursday, May 28th

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–On Wednesday afternoon, GMC Hoops learned from league co-director, Tom Reilly, that the Raritan Bay Summer League will not have its 7:30 PM game on Thursday night. The High School Division contest between Metuchen and Monsignor Farrell has been postponed. There will however, be a doubleheader of action with games starting at 5:30 PM followed by the nightcap at 6:30 PM. For a complete first week schedule, check out this recent posting to the blog.