GMC Hoops Blogosphere

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Good evening everyone. As you have seen in the past month, I’ve been very busy with football and college basketball as well as wrapping up the fall league coverage. Speaking of fall league, there are a couple articles that I still need to post to the blog, and I plan to get to them this week.

Football season is winding down, and you all know what that means, basketball season is on the way. I’ve made some small updates to the site with the new list of coaches, updated schedules, and links have been added. As things close out this week for football, and scrimmages begin for basketball, I will be looking to put more focus on the basketball again.

College Hoops coverage will continue. I’ve already seen four games this season, and I have three or four more planned for this week. Anyway, the reason why I’m making this post, is to let you all know that I’ve got a new location on the web to make donations for the site. You can support the site by donating through PayPal. The account that I had with the Amazon Honors System was discontinued by Amazon. So, if you like what’s going on with the site, feel free to make a donation by clicking on the button below.

GMC Gridiron–Video Highlights–Monroe @ New Brunswick–GMC White Division Championship–October 30, 2009

Here are the video highlights from the game played between the Monroe Falcons and New Brunswick Zebras for the GMC White Division Championship back on October 30th. The Falcons trailed 14-7 at halftime, and could have trailed by more, but New Brunswick missed a field goal with a couple minutes remaining in the first half. Then, in the third quarter, the Purple Birds got a touchdown pass from Alex Vizcaino to Frank Ruopoli to tie the game, and then Ruopoli pitched to Blake Bascom for a touchdown run up the Monroe sideline to go ahead 21-14. In the fourth quarter, Monroe went up by two touchdowns when Ruopoli scored on a keeper to make it 28-14. Simuel Williams rounded out the scoring with a touchdown off a double pass with 1:01 to play to make the final score 28-21 in favor of Monroe. Enjoy the video.

My Trip To Center City, Philadelphia And Drexel University

PHILADELPHIA, PA–On Sunday afternoon, I made good on a promise to come down to Center City, Philadelphia, and see Metuchen’s Marqus Blakely and his Vermont Catamounts take on the Toledo Rockets in the final day of the Philadelphia Subregional in the 2009 Legends Classic. It was the first time that Drexel University held a regular season tournament, and it was also the first time in over 20 years that GMC Hoops set foot at Drexel.

There was some hesitation on my part to take the trip. It wasn’t that I didn’t want to go. I wanted to see Blakely play, and pay a visit to a school that I spent time at for a couple semesters over two decades ago. However, with all the football and other college games that I’ve been seeing recently, I didn’t get a chance to really prepare for the trip like I wanted to. I didn’t even know if I was going to be able to get a ticket. However, on Sunday morning, I found out that there were tickets still available for the event, which was taking place at Drexel’s Daskalaskis Athletic Center on 33rd and Market Streets in Center City.

So, I decided to go. I didn’t leave the house until after 10:30 AM. My hesitation ended up costing me seeing much of the first half. I didn’t arrive at the game until a few minutes to go in the period. At that point, the game was already well in hand with Drexel leading by double digits. All things considered though, it worked out well. I managed to take Route 18 to Route 27 South, and then take that to Somerset County Road 518. I followed that through Rocky Hill, and then crossed Route 206 into Mercer County. From there, I drove through Pennington and Hopewell before taking the exit on to Interstate 95 South.

From there, I traveled south to Interstate 676 West, and then to 76 East before arriving at Exit 345, or the 30th Street/University City exit. I was able to park, and get into the game before 12:45 PM. It was great to come down not only to see Blakely play at the Division I college level, but also take a look around a place that I hadn’t seen in almost 21 years. I spent two semesters at Drexel University in their Computer Science program. The trip brought back a lot of memories for me. Seeing that familiar Philadelphia skyline was something. After the game, I took a walk back to where my old dorm was (Van Rensselaer Hall), and it was still there.

There were other buildings that I could remember, and some others that I didn’t. There were also some new ones that were built. Generally though, nothing much has changed in the Center City area of Philadelphia near Drexel. Many of the buildings are still the same. Some new ones have been added to the skyline, but it still looks much the same. As for the game, Marqus Blakely was fun to watch. He was poised and relaxed. He was simply very comfortable on the floor. Whether being triple teamed, or trapped in the corner, Blakely was unflappable. The former Metuchen standout, who left the game with 5:56 remaining, and Vermont leading 69-41, played 32 of the 40 minutes, scored 15 points, handed out 7 assists, grabbed 5 rebounds, blocked 2 shots, and swiped two steals in the 82-49 victory. See the article on the game as well as the box score courtesy of Vermont Athletics.

Blakely scored only six points in the second half, but four of those points came off two handed jams while he almost had an alleyoop dunk with 15:47 to play. The Vermont senior, who is also the two time Player of the Year in the America East Conference, was fouled on the play, and netted two free throws. Vermont and Drexel are old rivals from when both teams were not only in the America East Conference, but also the old East Coast Conference, which was in existence when I was at Drexel in 1988-89.

The ECC had not only Drexel and Vermont in the conference at the time, but also had the likes of Delaware, Rider, and Central Connecticut State. The Catamounts and the Dragons played for the 28th time on Friday with Drexel winning 74-61. DU leads the all time series 21-7. Sunday’s game against Toledo was only the second time that the two schools met with the Rockets winning the first ever matchup back in the 1983-84 season. I’m really glad that I went. I was a great trip.

GMC Hoops College Coverage–Results–November 29th

PHILADELPHIA, PA–On Sunday afternoon, GMC Hoops took a trip to Drexel University in Center City, Philadelphia to see the Vermont Catamounts, led by two time America East Player of the Year and former Metuchen standout, Marqus Blakely, take on the Rockets of Toledo from the MAC in the final day of action in the 2009 Legends Classic.

In the game, Blakely, who was named to the All Tournament Team, connected on 6 of 9 shots from the floor, and made 3 of 4 from the line for 15 points while dishing a season high 7 assists, and grabbing five rebounds as the Catamounts jumped out to a 41-23 halftime lead, and led by 35 in the waning moments of the game en route to a 82-49 victory. The win snapped a three game losing streak for Vermont, which improved to 3-4 overall on the season. Vermont was led by Maurice Joseph, who had a team high 21 points, and connected on 10 three pointers over the three days of the Legends Classic at Drexel.

Joseph clicked on 7 of 15 shots overall including 5 of 12 from long distance, and made both of his free throw attempts to reach the game high. Blakely, who had six points in the second half including two dunks, also added two blocked shots and two steals. As a team, Vermont shot 51 percent overall from the floor, and 32 percent from long distance while limiting Toledo to just 37 percent shooting overall including a paltry 13 percent from three point range. After taking a 41-23 lead at the intermission, the Catamounts began the second half with a 17-7 run for a 58-30 lead with 14:15 left. From there, Vermont cruised to the 82-49 blowout. More details will be out later. In the meantime, read the article and box score courtesy of Vermont Athletics. Below are the results from the contest listed below:

GMC College Hoops–Results–November 29th

• Vermont 82–Toledo 49

GMC Hoops plans to travel over to the Physical Education Center on the main campus of Middlesex County College to see the Blue Colts in action against Sussex County Community College on Tuesday.

GMC Gridiron–Video Highlights–Woodbridge @ Colonia–Thanksgiving Saturday

Here are the video highlights of the game played on Saturday afternoon between Woodbridge and Colonia at CHS. In this 43rd edition of the Bragging Rights game, the Barrons built up a 19-0 lead midway through the fourth quarter thanks to two touchdown runs by Johnny Mayi and another by Curtis Davison. J.T. Kotowski hooked up with Corey Jones in the fourth for a 52 yard touchdown that was the only scoring for the Patriots in the game as the Barrons won 19-6. It was the second straight year that Woodbridge won the Bragging Rights game, but Colonia still holds the series lead, 22-17-4. Enjoy.

GMC Gridiron–Team Stats–Through Week Twelve

With all of the results from week twelve compiled and posted, here are the current team stats for football from around the Greater Middlesex Conference. The team stats are broken down by division: Red, White, Blue, and Gold.

GMC Football–Red Division Stats

GMC Football–White Division Stats

GMC Football–Blue Division Stats

GMC Football–Gold Division Stats

GMC Gridiron–Updated Standings–Through Week Twelve

With all of the results from week twelve compiled and posted, here are the current standings for football from around the Greater Middlesex Conference. The standings are broken down by division: Red, White, Blue, and Gold.

GMC Football–Red Division Standings

*–Clinched Division

GMC Football–White Division Standings

*–Clinched Division

GMC Football–Blue Division Standings

*–Clinched Division

GMC Football–Gold Division Standings

*–Clinched Division

GMC Hoops will have team scoring stats posted soon.

GMC Gridiron–Top Ten–November 28, 2009

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–GMC Hoops has put together a Top Ten for football in the Greater Middlesex Conference after the games played in Week Twelve. The Monroe Falcons move to the top of the poll thanks to its win on Thanksgiving Eve over Bishop Ahr, and Old Bridge’s victory over previously top ranked East Brunswick on Thanksgiving Day. The Knights, meanwhile move up to seventh.

1. Monroe (10-1)
2. East Brunswick (7-4)
3. Sayreville (9-2)
4. Woodbridge (6-5)
5. New Brunswick (6-4)
6. Piscataway (5-5)
7. Old Bridge (5-5)
8. Bishop Ahr (6-4)
9. Highland Park (8-3)
10. Metuchen (7-4)

Other teams getting consideration: North Brunswick, South River, Spotswood, J.F. Kennedy, and South Brunswick.

GMC Gridiron Picks–Week Twelve–Thanksgiving Games–How We Did

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–The results are in from the final day of action in Week Twelve of the GMC Football season, and the web site did very well in its tenth time out this season. In the nine games that were played this weekend, GMC Hoops went 7-2 overall. Here is the breakdown:

Week #12 Record: 7-2
Record since Week 3: 100-31

GMC Gridiron–Results–Week Twelve–Thanksgiving Saturday

Just got home about 15 minutes ago from Colonia High School. For another year, the Bragging Rights of Woodbridge Township will stay at Woodbridge High School. The Barrons completed a tremendous turnaround this season with its sixth win in seven games by defeating crosstown rival, Colonia, 19-6. The Barrons scored in the first period, and late in the second while stifling several Patriot drives to take a 13-0 lead at halftime. Woodbridge also did well on special teams by blocking a couple punts including one that set up another score in the third quarter for a 19-0 lead. The Pats got the final points of the game on a 52 yard touchdown pass from J.T. Kotowski to Greg Jones to make the score 19-6. The Barrons finished the season at 6-5 while Colonia completed its year at 2-6.

• Woodbridge 19–Colonia 6

GMC Hoops will have a post on how it did this Thanksgiving Week up shortly.