Panthers Go Overtime To Defeat Chiefs, 59-53
PERTH AMBOY, NJ–On Friday, GMC Hoops opened its tenth season of coverage with a Freshmen, JV, and Varsity tripleheader between Piscataway and Perth Amboy in Amboy. What a way to start off the season. Sixth ranked P-Way and a Perth Amboy team that did get some consideration for being in the pre-season top ten, went at it for four quarters, and then went to overtime to decide it. Led by senior Wayne Newsome (9 of 13 FGs and 5 of 8 FTs for 23 points along with 13 rebounds for a double-double, 4 assists, a steal, and a block), the Chiefs led for almost three full quarters.
Leading 26-23 at halftime, Piscataway jumped out to its biggest lead of the game with a 5-0 run over the first 54 seconds of the third to take a 31-23 advantage as Perth Amboy called for time. Following the timeout, the Panthers outscored the Chiefs by an 11-2 margin over the final 7:06 to take a 34-33 lead into the fourth. Victor Verdecia (5 of 13 FGs and 6 of 6 FTs for 16 points, 7 rebounds, 3 assists, and 2 steals), scored 6 of his points in the period including a layin at the 4:33 mark, a layup at the 1:26 mark, and a jumper from the right wing.
From that point on, the game was fought tooth and nail as both teams combined for seven lead changes and a tie over the final eight plus minutes of regulation. The Chiefs began the fourth period with an offensive rebound and putback at the 7:18 mark, and a three point play at the 6:25 mark by Newsome to take a 38-34 lead. Over the next 1:22, the Panthers charged back with five straight points including one of two free throws, and an offensive rebound and putback.to go back out in front, 39-38.
Newsome wrestled the lead back for the Chiefs with a layup at about the 4:30 mark that made the score, 40-39. A little over a minute later, Amboy went back out in front as junior Yoelbin Sanchez got his first field goal of the game for a 41-40 lead with 3:27 to go in regulation. Following a P-Way timeout at the 3:05 mark, Julius Nadarajah sank a three pointer from the right side off an assist by Rahman Ruff for a 43-41 lead with 2:50 left in regulation. Then, Perth Amboy appeared to take control of the contest with another 5-0 run that included one of two from the line by Sanchez at the 2:29 mark, followed by another two free throws, and a layup for a 46-43 lead with 1:40 to go in regulation.
On its next possession, Piscataway got the ball to Newsome, who drew a foul, and sank two free throws for a 46-45 Amboy lead with 1:28 to go in the fourth. After the Panthers called for time with 1:21 left, Sanchez swiped a steal that gave the Panthers a chance to seal the victory, but he missed two free throws at the 36 second mark. Nadarajah laater drove baseline and dished to sophomore Tyjohn Young, who drew the foul, and after missing the first foul shot, sank the second to tie it at 46-46 with 21 seconds to go in regulation. P-Way then had a chance to win the game when they trapped Verdecia near midcourt, and forced a traveling call with 18 seconds left.
However, the Chiefs were unable to get the victory as Newsome’s last second baseline jumper actually got stuck on the backiron as time ran out. Then, in the extra session, after the Chiefs took a 48-46 lead on a offensive rebound and follow by Ruff off a Nadarjah miss, Kearny Canela (13 points, 4 rebounds, and 2 steals) sank his only three pointer of the game for a 49-48 Amboy lead. The Panthers would never relinquish that lead thanks to free throws by Verdecia at the 55 second and 36 second marks for a 57-51 advantage. Perth Amboy went on to win, 59-53.
Prior to the varsity game, GMC Hoops took in both the freshmen and JV games as well. In the GMC Hoops Freshmen Game of the Week, Perth Amboy jumped out to a 17-7 first quarter lead, and forced 23 Piscataway turnovers to go on to win, 54-41. Then, in the GMC Hoops JV Game of the Week, junior Brandon Williamson led a balanced Junior Chief attack with 11 points, 3 steals, 2 assists, a rebound, and a charge in a 58-40 victory. Piscataway jumped out to a 17-9 first quarter lead, and led by as much as 27-11 before Amboy made things a bit more interesting with a 6-0 run to close out the first half. However, the Junior Panthers were unable to get any closer as the Junior Chiefs led by as many as 17 in the second half.