NORTH EDISON, NJ–On a night when there was a tremendous traffic jam on Inman Avenue in Edison that prevented GMC Hoops from getting out to Carteret to watch the sixth seeded Ramblers take on 22nd seeded Monroe, the site managed to get over to Bishop Ahr to see what should have been the second game of a doubleheader between the 7th seeded Trojans and 10th seeded J.F. Kennedy.
After a competitive first period, and opening four minutes of the second, the Mustangs, which lost to Bishop Ahr by a margin of 60-34 on January 21st, gradually began to pull away to an upset victory. Kennedy started the game by scoring the first six points including a free throw by Tamaj Coleman and a three pointer by Bendji Pierre.
Bishop Ahr would rally though with the next 9 points including a three pointer by Alex Santiago and a pair of free throws by Deontae Crawford for a three point lead late in the first. J.F. Kennedy would retake the lead going into the second as Pierre was fouled on a three pointer for a rare four point play, and 10-9 edge.
The Trojans opened the second with the first four points for a 13-10 lead before Kennedy rallied with the next five points including a score by football standout, Kyle Heaney for a 15-13 lead. From that point on, Kennedy never trailed as the Mustangs ended the half with 11 of the last 19 points including a three and a jumper by David Morales and a jumper by Rohan Chakke for a 26-21 halftime lead.
Kennedy then opened the third quarter with 11 of the first 16 points including Pete Obertan’s first points of the game, a coast to coast layup by Tamaj Coleman, and a score by Kobie Wells for a 37-27 lead with 2:27 remaining in the third. The Mustangs then scored 8 of the last 13 points including a jumper by Obertan after he blocked a shot at the other end for a 45-32 lead heading into the fourth.
Ahr had a chance to get back into the game when JFK was assessed a technical foul with 5:47 remaining. Having the potential to get perhaps a six or seven point play to get back into the contest, the Trojans made one of two technical free throws, one of two foul shots for the accompanying personal foul, and another one of two from the charity stripe after drawing another foul for a 47-37 Mustangs lead with 5:26 left.
The Trojans would get no closer after that as the Mustangs put the game away with an 11-3 run that included a score by Wells at the 3:29 mark, a putback by Carlton Sears at the 2:14 mark, and several free throws for a 58-40 lead with a minute and a half remaining. Ahr finished the game with a 9-5 run that included a couple scores by Kieran Hodder and a three from Alex Guketlov, but JFK won the game, 63-49.
Wells finished with a game high 18 points on five field goals and eight made free throws. Pierre chipped in with 13 including 7 in the first quarter. Obertan finished with 8 points all coming in the final 14:34 of the contest. Sean Kudelka was a bright spot in defeat for Bishop Ahr with a team high 14 points along with 10 rebounds for a double-double, 4 assists, and 4 steals.
Crawford was limited to single digits in scoring, but his effort on the boards was very noteworthy with 20 rebounds for the Trojans. Hodder and Santiago also scored 9 in a losing cause for Ahr. Kennedy advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since 2011, and will face second seeded South Brunswick on Sunday at 2:00 PM at New Brunswick High School. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
5:30 left in 1st quarter and Ahr calls time trailing 4-0 after a three from the left wing by Bendji Pierre off a kickout by Kobie Wells.
1:38–Bishop Ahr takes a 7-6 lead on a three pointer from the left corner by Alex Santiago.
1:00–Bishop Ahr now leads 9-6 after two FTs by Deontae Crawford.
0:00–End of first quarter and Kennedy leads Ahr, 10-9 on this 4 pt play by Bendji Pierre. Ends a 9-0 BGA run.
Second Quarter
6:30–Ahr scores the first four points of the second period including a three by Matt Panganiban for a 13-10 lead.
5:06 left in 2nd and Ahr calls time after this Kyle Heaney layup from the left side off a dish from Kobie Wells caps a 5-0 JFK run for a 15-13 lead.
4:03 left in 2nd and JFK leads Ahr 18-14 on a David Morales three from the left wing.
0:00–End of first half and 10th seeded JFK leads 7th seeded BGA, 26-21 after a foul line jumper by David Morales, and a jumper from the right wing by Rohan Chakke. JFK’s first half scoring: Bendji Pierre leads the Mustangs with 7 points all in first quarter. Bishop Ahr’s first half scoring: Matt Panganiban leads Trojans with 5 points. Ahr being able to get into bonus late in 1st and double bonus late in 2nd keeping them in game. JFK giving Ahr trouble. Trojans have struggled. Pierre picking up 2 fouls was key for Ahr also.
Third Quarter
6:34 left in 3rd and JFK leads 29-23 after Pete Obertan gets his first points of the game with a short hook off a spin move to his left in the paint.
4:16 left in 3rd and Ahr calls time after JFK’s Tamaj Coleman flips in a transition layup for a 33-27 lead.
2:27 left in 3rd and JFK leads 37-27 thanks to a Kobie Wells drive for layup from the right side.
0:00–End of 3rd and JFK’s Pete Obertan doing it at both ends with a blocked shot followed by a foul line jumper as Mustangs take commanding 45-32 lead.
Fourth Quarter
5:26 left in 4th and JFK calls time with a 47-37 lead. Ahr just went 3 of 6 at the line after a Tech and 2 personal fouls.
3:29 left and JFK leads Ahr 51-39 after Kobie Wells slashes in from the right wing for a scoop shot layup.
2:14 left in 4th and JFK now leads 55-39 after a Carlton Sears putback.
1:06 left in 4th and Ahr calls time after a Kieran Hodder tip in off a missed FT closes the gap to 58-42. Ends 11-3 tear by JFK.
0:00–Game just ended and despite a late trey by Alex Guketlov, 7th seeded Bishop Ahr falls to 10th seeded JFK, 63-49. Kobie Wells led the Mustangs with a game high 18 points while Bendji Pierre chipped in with 13. Sean Kudelka led Bishop Ahr in defeat with a double-double of 14 points and 10 rebounds while Deontae Crawford pulled down 20 boards in addition to his 9 points for the Trojans.