Chargers Defense and Rebounding Helps Stymie Raiders, 57-37
SPOTSWOOD, NJ–Despite a less than spectacular shooting performance by the Spotswood Chargers (17 of 46 for 37 percent), they were able to win easily over Piscataway Tech by the score of 57-37 in a key Blue Division Showdown that will help determine this year’s winner. Spotswood has never won a division title since the inception of the GMC back in the 1985-86 season. The Chargers will have their shot on Monday night when they travel to Carteret. The Ramblers won the last meeting in Spotswood (76-74).
Spotswood jumped out to a 14-6 lead as they took advantage of six first quarter turnovers by the Raiders, who were unable to get into a rhythm throughout the contest. The Chargers got 12 of their 14 first quarter points via the three pointer as Dalonte Grant, Jake Dadika, and Cory Weeks all hit threes while Dadika was fouled on a three point attempt by Jordan Lackey, and he swished all three foul shots. Spotswood ended up going 7 of 20 from beyond the arc and outscored P-Way Tech by a 21-9 margin from three. Another key was rebounding with the Chargers enjoying a 25-18 edge on the boards.
The Chargers also outperformed the Raiders at the foul line by going a perfect 16 of 16 while P-Way Tech was only 8 of 12. Dadika, who ended up with a game high 17 points on the night, led the way with a 10 of 10 showing from the charity stripe. Dalonte Grant added 16 for the winners. Turell McClendon led Piscataway Tech with 13 while Aziz Austin chipped in with 10 and Jordan Lackey added 9 before fouling out about midway through the final period. The Raiders were battling foul trouble throughout much of the first half as Austin and Lackey went to the bench with three fouls while Khari Cain picked up two.
Piscataway Tech, which came into the game riding a 10 game winning streak, had moved up to the Blue after winning two consecutive Gold Division titles, and was tied with Carteret at 12-1 entering the contest. Spotswood was only a half game behind at 11-1 in division play. The Chargers continued to roll in the second quarter as they went ahead by as many as 16 points late in the period before going into the half up 30-16. Then, after McClendon opened the second half scoring with a basket for P-Way Tech, Spotswood scored the next five points including a three by Grant for a 35-18 lead.
Over the next seven minutes or so, Spotswood outscored the visitors by a margin of 12-8 to take its biggest lead of the game at 47-26. Jamal Lewis and Corey Brown each had four points during the run while Marlon Hart and Dadika each added scores as well. From there, Piscataway Tech could get no closer than 18 points the rest of the way while the Chargers equaled their biggest lead on two more occasions in the fourth.