JERSEY CITY, NJ–In the nightcap of the GMC Hoops Doubleheader at the 2016 Hamilton Park Summer League Playoffs. Sayreville, the 19th seed, and fresh off an opening round victory over 14th seeded Colts Neck, was looking to register another upset when it took on 11th seeded Randolph of Morris County and the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference.
In a back and forth affair, Randolph got a three in the closing seconds of the first half for a 30-27 lead, but then Sayreville put together a 24-12 surge over the next two periods to take a 51-42 lead with under three minutes to play. Randolph did what it could to slow the Bombers down, but Sayreville thanks to solid free throw shooting by Ryan O’Leary, Elijah Clark, and Ope Olaloko, were able to pull out the 62-58 win. Below are game notes from the action:
First Half
The game went to the half with Randolph leading Sayreville 30-27 on a three pointer with five seconds to go in the half. The contest was back and forth in the second period with neither team leading by more than three or four points. Elijah Clark hit a three pointer from the left side while Henny Mautes added a score for Sayreville as well. Sayreville led 25-22 before Randolph reeled off five straight points including a two handed dunk for a 27-25 lead. Ope Olaloko then netted a pair of free throws for a 27-27 tie with about 30 seconds to go in the half.
Third Quarter
6:00–RAN–opens the half on a 7-1 run for a 37-28 lead.
4:01–SAY–trails 37-35 after three pointers from Clark and Mautes closed the gap to two.
1:05–SAY–O’Leary knocks down a three pointer for a 40-39 lead. SAY on a 12-2 tear.
29.7–RAN–fouled and made one of two from the line for a 40-40 tie.
3.0–SAY–O’Leary dishes to Olaloko for a layup from the left side and a 42-40 lead.
0:00–SAY leads 42-40. SAY ends third on a 14-3 spurt.
Fourth Quarter
6:48–SAY–opens fourth on a 5-2 run including a layup off a steal by O’Leary, and then Jahsim Floyd sank a three from the right wing for a 47-42 lead.
4:26–SAY–now leads 51-42 after Derek Astarita scratched and clawed his way for an offensive rebound and score, and then Clark followed that with a jumper from the right side. Bombers now on a 23-5 surge over last 9:34.
3:06–SAY–timeout–followed two free throws by Randolph for a 51-48 SAY lead. Randolph had two layups earlier including one off a steal. Randolph
1:49–RAN–basket for a 51-50 lead. Rams on an 8-0 run.
1:38–SAY–O’Leary dribbled and dished to Olaloko for a layup and a 53-50 lead.
1:26–RAN–fouled and made two FTs for a 53-52 lead.
1:15–SAY–Clark fouled and made both FTs for a 55-52 lead.
1:08–RAN–fouled and made both FTs for a 55-54 SAY lead.
1:01–SAY–Astarita fouled and made both FTs for a 57-54.
40.0–SAY–Floyd with a huge block.
29.4–SAY–leads 57-54
10.3–SAY–Olaloko–fouled and made both FTs for a 59-54 lead.
1.2–RAN–timeout after making a three pointer from the left corner for a 59-57 SAY lead.
0.9–SAY–O’Leary fouled and makes both FTs for a 62-58 lead.
0.0–SAY wins 62-58.