WOODBRIDGE, NJ–On Friday night, GMC Hoops traveled over to Woodbridge High School to take in the White Division showdown between the second ranked Sayreville Bombers, and the fourth ranked Woodbridge Barrons. Sayreville had won the previous match-up between these two schools back on January 12th at the Bomb Shelter (68-57).
This game would be much closer. In a nip and tuck battle that went back and forth throughout, neither team had a lead bigger than six points as Woodbridge, playing with Quassim Glover back in the lineup, gave the Bombers all they could handle. Sayreville played much of the game shorthanded as big man, Jahsim Floyd was injured on a dunk in the first half.
Xavier Townes stepped up in Floyd’s absence with a huge game. The senior, who transferred in from St. Joseph’s during the off-season, scored 14 points in the first half, and 10 points in the second for a game high 24 points on 7 field goals and 10 of 12 from the foul line while teammate and football standout, Jayson DeMild chipped in with 12 including a huge three early in the fourth to guide the Bombers to a 75-72 win.
Ryan O’Leary added 10 points including a clutch three late in the third for a 49-47 lead. Ope Olaloko stepped up on both ends of the floor to finish with 8 points while Elijah Clark also had 8 including a huge three for a 71-68 lead with 38.8 seconds left. Henny Mautes also contributed with 7 points. Harry Rutkowski led Woodbridge in a losing cause with 17 points including a trey to tie the game at 30-30 going into halftime, and a layup with 7.1 seconds left to pull the Barrons within one at 73-72.
Hura Blaine chipped in with 15 points for the Barrons including a three and a layup during a 7-0 Woodbridge run for a 10-6 lead with 2:42 left in the first quarter, and then a three from the right side of the key at the 4:59 mark of the fourth to close the gap to 62-60. Glover finished with 11 points on four field goals and three from the line while Keshaun Henry added 9 and both Kemari Persol and Quran Robinson each chipped in with 8.
The win gave Sayreville the season sweep over Woodbridge, and puts the Bombers in a first place tie with the Barrons at 9-2 with the Bombers holding the tie breaker thanks to the two head to head wins. A victory over New Brunswick on Tuesday will essentially clinch the division title and a likely two seed at the upcoming GMCT seeding meeting next week. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
7:47–Sayreville jumps out to a 2-0 lead on a baseline jumper from the left side by Jahsim Floyd.
6:34–Hura Blaine fouled on a layup attempt and makes one of two FTs for a 2-1 Sayreville lead.
6:11–Quassim Glover flips in a putback for a 3-2 Woodbridge lead.
6:04–Sayreville goes back out in front 4-3 on a layup from the right lane by Jahsim Floyd off an entry pass by Ryan O’Leary.
4:26 left in 1st qtr and Sayreville leads Woodbridge 6-3 after a reverse layup on a follow by Henny Mautes. Bombers on a 4-0 run.
2:42 left in 1st and Woodbridge has taken a 10-6 lead after a 7-0 run that included a three and a layup by Hura Blaine.
0:00–End of the first quarter and Sayreville closes to within two at 10-8 as the Bombers end Woodbridge’s 7-0 run with two FTs from Xavier Townes following a huge rejection by Jahsim Floyd.
Second Quarter
7:30–Sayreville ties the score at 10-10 on a drive for a layup by Xavier Townes.
7:09–Sayreville takes a 12-10 lead after a scramble for a loose ball leads to a dunk by Jahsim Floyd, who landed awkwardly and fell hard. Landed on his left shoulder and his head. Floyd was on the floor for several minutes, but he was talking and able to move his arms and legs. According to a Sayreville assistant coach, Floyd appeared to have suffered a minor concussion.
6:12–Woodbridge ties the game at 12-12 on a layup by Harry Rutkowski.
5:43–Sayreville takes a 14-12 lead on a putback by Xavier Townes.
5:32–Woodbridge ties the game at 14-14 on a floater that banks in by Quassim Glover.
4:24 left in the 1st half and Sayreville takes a 19-17 lead on an Ope Olaloko putback. Sayreville on a 5-3 run.
3:51 left in the first half and Woodbridge calls time after a Xavier Townes spin move for a score gives Sayreville a 21-17 lead. Bombers now on a 7-0.
2:21 left in the first half and Sayreville calls time after this Hura Blaine putback ties game at 23-23.
52.2 seconds left in the first half, and Harry Rutkowski draws a foul, and makes both FTs for a 27-26 Woodbridge lead.
40.0–Sayreville goes back in front 28-27 as Xavier Townes draws a foul from the right low block, and makes both FTs.
23.0–Sayreville takes a 30-27 lead as Xavier Townes is fouled on the rebound and makes both ends of the bonus.
0:00–Game has gone to the half and we’re tied at 30-30 after a three from the right wing by Woodbridge’s Harry Rutkowski. Sayreville’s first half scoring: Xavier Townes leads the Bombers with 14 points on 3 field goals and a perfect 8 of 8 from the foul line. Woodbridge’s first half scoring: Harry Rutkowski leads the Barrons with 11 points.
Third Quarter
6:16 left in 3rd and Woodbridge now leads 36-33 after an and one by Quassim Glover. Barrons on a 9-3 run since the end of the second period.
3:39 left in 3rd and Sayreville goes up 41-40 as Henny Mautes gets between two defenders, and flips up a score from the left lane.
2:46–Sayreville takes a 44-42 lead on a bank shot from the right side by Xavier Townes.
2:35 left in 3rd and Woodbridge ties it up at 44-44 on a Curtis Nesbit foul line jumper off a kickout by Keshaun Henry.
1:13–Sayreville goes up by four at 51-47 on a coast to coast layup from the right side by Ryan O’Leary. Sayreville on a 7-3 run.
0:00–End of the third and Sayreville leads Woodbridge 53-51 in a barnburner.
Fourth Quarter
7:25–Sayreville goes up by four at 56-52 on a huge three from the top of the key by Jayson DeMild.
6:52 left in 4th & Sayreville calls 30 sec timeout after Elijah Clarke banks in a three from the top of the key for a 59-54 lead.
4:59 left in 4th and Sayreville calls time after a Hura Blaine trey from the right side of the key pulls Woodbridge within two at 62-60. Barrons on a 6-3 run.
3:27 left and Woodbridge ties game at 64-64 on an and one by Kemari Persol.
1:53 left in 4th & Woodbridge calls time with a 68-66 lead on a Harry Rutkowski putback.
38.8 sec left in 4th and Woodbridge calls time after an Elijah Clarke three from the right corner gives Sayreville a 71-68 lead.
7.1 seconds left in 4th and Woodbridge calls timeout after pulling within one at 73-72 on a Harry Rutkowski layup from the left low block.
0:00–Game just ended with Sayreville hanging on for the 75-72 victory. Woodbridge missed a last second shot attempt from about 35 feet as time ran out. Sayreville’s scoring for the game: Xavier Townes led the Bombers with 24 points on 7 field goals and a 10 of 12 effort from the foul line while Jayson DeMild chipped in with 12. Ryan O’Leary chipped in with 10 while both Ope Olaloko and Elijah Clark each added 8 and Henny Mautes contributed with 7. Woodbridge scoring for the game: Harry Rutkowski led the Barrons with 17 while Hura Blaine had 15. Quassim Glover chipped in with 11 while Keshaun Henry added 9 and both Kemari Persol and Quran Robinson each contributed with 8.