Kean Ironman Challenge–July 18, 2009

July 24, 2009 on 2:06 pm | In Kean Ironman Challenge |

UNION, NJ–On Saturday night, GMC Hoops traveled up to Kean University after work to take in the final few games from the evening session of the 2009 Kean Ironman Challenge. Two games, in particular, involved teams from the Greater Middlesex Conference including Middlesex, Monroe, and New Brunswick. The Falcons, which played in both the morning and afternoon sessions, were facing off against Scotch Plains in the Gold Bracket Championship while Middlesex and New Brunswick were playing in a consolation. See some of the other results from action in the evening bracket. Earlier in the day, Monroe advanced to the semifinals of the morning bracket, where it faced St. Anthony’s. After taking a 12-7 lead early on, the Purple Birds fell prey to the Friars, which look to be one of the top teams in Jersey again this year.


New Brunswick Defeats Middlesex, 48-31

In a game that seemed to be one out of the Bound Brook Summer League, the Blue Jays of Middlesex took on the Zebras of New Brunswick in somewhat of a GMC crossover game in one of the consolations. By the time GMC Hoops sat down to see some of the action, the game was already well into the second half and New Brunswick leading. With about 8:30 to play, the Zebras were leading 34-23. About a half minute later, New Brunswick got a pair of free throws for a 36-23 lead. Approximately a minute and a half after that, the Zebras swiped a steal and converted it into a layup for a 38-23 lead at the 6:30 mark. Middlesex briefly put a halt to the Zebra attack with a drive through the middle that drew a foul, and produced one of two at the line for a 38-24 New Brunswick lead at about the 5:30 mark. Avery Barnes followed that up with an offensive rebound and follow off a Mike Lester miss for a 38-26 NBHS lead at the 4:00 mark.

Middlesex couldn’t get any closer though as New Brunswick outscored the Jays by a 10-5 margin the rest of the way. Nigel Scott got the final spurt going with a layup at the 2:45 mark for a 40-26 lead. Scott then swiped a steal, and handed out an assist on a layup by Simuel Williams for a 42-26 lead at about the 2:15 mark. Middlesex would get those four points back on a field goal at the 2:00 mark, and a short jumper by Barnes at the 1:25 mark for a 42-30 Zebra lead, but Williams got a layin with 45 seconds left, and then scored again on a layup following a Middlesex turnover for a 46-30 lead. The Zebras then added a bucket before Barnes closed out the scoring with one of two from the line with nine seconds to play for the 48-31 victory. New Brunswick, which has done very well at the Bound Brook Summer League this year, looks to be a much improved team in 2009-10. The Zebras defense is very solid, and their offense is improving. If New Brunswick’s offense can minimize turnovers, and get good shots, they could be a much more formidable team this coming season.


Strong First Half Lifts Monroe Past Scotch Plains For Championship, 40-27

While New Brunswick was defeating Middlesex in a consolation on an adjacent court, the Monroe Falcons were truly playing like Ironmen as they played their way into the Championship Game of the evening Gold Bracket. The Purple Birds faced Scotch Plains, which has reached the Championship Game of the North Jersey Section 2 Group III bracket in each of the last two seasons including a victory over Colonia in the 2008 title game. Just as the game was starting, the site had a chance to talk to Tim Brix Sr., the father of Timmy and Danny Brix, and he said that during the course of the day on Saturday, Monroe played its 50th game of the summer. Despite playing in both sessions, the Falcons didn’t show any sign of fatigue. Monroe stormed out to a 26-14 halftime lead, and after Scotch Plains outscored the Purple Birds by an 8-5 margin over the first 11:48 to close the gap to single digits at 31-22, they held on with a 9-5 showing the rest of the way for a 40-27 victory.

GMC Hoops had just arrived when the game started. Monroe went on top first with a field goal at the 18:21 mark. Scotch Plains answered a little more than a minute and a half later with a three pointer to take a one point lead at the 16:45 mark. Travis Dufner, who has displayed some fine passing skills all summer long, made a nice bounce pass to a cutting teammate for a 4-3 lead with 16:12 to go in the half. The game continued to go back and forth a bit as the Raiders went back out in front on a floater that bounced in for a 5-4 score at the 15:38 mark. Scotch Plains then went up by three when a player drove past Dufner for a layup while being fouled. After missing the bonus free throw, the Raiders led by a 7-4 score with 14:41 left in the first half. Monroe got the next four points to go back in front as Danny Brix connected on a jumper from the left side at the 13:27 mark, and brother Timmy handed out an assist when he lobbed a pass over the defense to a cutting Dufner for a layup, and an 8-7 lead with 12:43 to go in the half.

Scotch Plains wrestled the lead back though as the Raiders drove and dished for a layup that made the score, 9-8 with 12:16 to play in the half. Twenty-seconds later, the game would have its only tie as Dufner made one of two from the line to knot the score at 9-9. After having six lead changes and one tie in the first 8:04, the game would fall under Monroe’s control. Dufner’s free throw sparked a 15-0 tear by the Purple Birds over a span of 10:05 for a 23-9 advantage. The Falcons run was highlighted by a three on two fast break that was finished off with a Kenny Pace pass to Ahmid Williams for a layup at the 10:36 mark, a jumper by Timmy Brix off a pass from brother Danny at the 9:33 mark, a three pointer by Zach Batchelor from the left side at the 8:22 mark, a Victor Sorrento jumper from the left baseline at the 7:46 mark, an offensive rebound by Timmy Brix off a Dufner miss with 7:17 to go in the half, two free throws by Mike Mahmoud at the 6:37 mark, and one of two free throws by Sorrento at about the two minute mark. Scotch Plains tried to battle back with five straight points including a two on one fast break for a layup, and then a three pointer to draw within nine, but Monroe closed the half with the final score when Williams drove and kicked out to his right to Ryan Genevive for a three pointer from the right corner to take a 26-14 lead into the brief intermission.

In the second half, Scotch Plains continued trying to battle back with 8 of the first 13 points over the first 12 minutes or so to draw within single digits. The Raiders even had a chance to get closer when it grabbed a rebound with 7:11 remaining, but Batchelor came up with a huge steal that led to a Mahmoud layin while being fouled for a three point play, and a 34-22 lead. Scotch Plains made one of two at the line with just under six minutes to go for a 34-23 Monroe lead, but after a Raider timeout at the four minute mark, the Purple Birds began to wind down the clock, and Danny Brix sealed the win with a jumper that made the score, 36-23 with 2:16 to go. Both teams scored four points each down the stretch for the 40-27 Monroe win.

Team 1 2 Total
Monroe 26 14 40
Scotch Plains 14 13 27

GMC Hoops thanks Tom Wagenblast, and the folks at Kean for their fine hospitality all summer long at both their summer league and this event.

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