SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ—Following the trip to Koinonia Academy for the scrimmage between the Seraphs and the Tigers of EB Tech, GMC Hoops headed over to South Plainfield to watch another Tigers team, those from SPHS as they took on Rahway in a pre-season scrimmage.
South Plainfield, which competed in the Rahway Summer League and Hoop Group Elite Team Camp in Reading, Pennsylvania over the summer, has a good group back including: Lamont Williams, Jason Lee, Will McLaughlin, Isaiah Norman, Jake Alba, Nate Mensah, and Nick Polizzano.
There was still just under 6 minutes to go in the final period of the varsity scrimmage between these two teams. Rahway, now coached by former South Plainfield and Plainfield head coach, Jeff Lubreski got the edge in the final frame, 14-11. However, SP reserves led by Nate Mensah, Jake Alba (committed to Stony Brook for baseball), and Nick Polizzano played well. Below are game notes from the final quarter of action:
Fourth Quarter
5:52—RAH—jumps out to an 8-3 lead.
5:43—SP—Nate Mensah fouled—makes 1 of 2 free throws for an 8-4 Rahway lead.
5:11—RAH—basket for a 10-4 lead.
4:46—SP—Jake Alba drains a three from the right corner for a 10-7 Rahway lead.
2:38—SP—now on an 8-2 run after a tap in for a putback by Nick Polizzano and a transition layup by Mensah for an 11-10 lead. All points scored by SP reserves (Alba-3 points, Mensah-3 points, and Polizzano-2 points).
1:30—RAH—layup from the left side for a 12-11 lead.
0:45—RAH—basket for a 14-11 lead.
0:00—SP—has a couple of chances to score down the stretch, but are unable to. Rahway wins period 14-11.