SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–In the opening game of the GMC Hoops Preliminary Round doubleheader in the 2017 Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament, 20th seeded Middlesex, a winner over No. 29 Wardlaw in the Play-In Round, took on 13th seeded South Plainfield, a winner of 7 games out of its last 10, in an afternoon clash.
Middlesex scored the first four points of the game all courtesy of Nick Montajes as he made one of two from the line to open the scoring, and then connected on a three pointer from the right wing for a 4-0 lead. South Plainfield responded with the next six points including a steal for a breakaway one handed dunk by Deshai Smith for a 6-4 lead at the 4:39 mark of the first.
Over the next 8 minutes or so, the Blue Jays, which lost to the Tigers twice during the regular season, took control with a 19-3 tear including a three pointer by Tyler Ha at the 5:09 mark of the second and a three by John Dickey for a 23-9 lead. Middlesex led by as much as 15 at 26-11 after a traditional three point play by Dickey a short time later. South Plainfield would battle back though.
The Tigers began a 32-13 surge that started in the last half of the second and persisted through the third, and until the 5:33 mark of the fourth, by scoring 7 of the last 10 points of the first half including a alleyoop from Gio Dudley to Smith for a one handed dunk to close the gap to 29-18 at the intermission. The Tigers then outscored the Jays by a 20-13 margin in the third as Will McLaughlin took over with 11 points in the frame and Jalil Palms added a three and a score in the paint to help pull the home team within one at 39-38 going into the fourth.
South Plainfield then opened the fourth quarter with the first five points including a trey by McLaughlin after a couple offensive rebounds by the Tigers for a 41-39 edge at the 7:14 mark, and then a steal for a layup by Smith to cap the surge for a 43-39 lead at the 5:33 mark. Middlesex would battle back though by scoring 8 of the next 10 points including a three by Kareem Aref and a trey by Chris Hendricks from the top of the key at the 3:29 mark for a 47-45 lead.
The game went back and forth for the next two and a half minutes as McLaughlin answered with a three from the left wing for a 48-47 advantage only to have Dickey reply with a trifecta from the top of the key, and Rudawski adding a jumper from the left wing for a 53-51 Middlesex lead with 1:38 remaining. South Plainfield would not be denied though as Dondre Tate scored as he was fouled for a three point play and a 54-53 lead with 29.36 seconds remaining.
Middlesex had a chance to retake the lead, but Tate forced a Blue Jay turnover with 12.98 seconds to play, and then drew a foul that resulted in two free throws with 4.40 seconds left for a 56-53 lead. Following a timeout, Middlesex had a chance to tie the game, but an errant pass was picked off by Smith, who got the ball to Dylan O’Connor to run out the clock for a 56-53 South Plainfield win.
McLaughlin finished with a team high 15 points for the Tigers while Smith chipped in with a double-double of 13 points and 16 boards. Palms also scored in double figures with 11 points along with 5 assists and 2 steals while Tate and O’Connor contributed with 9 and 8 points respectively. Dickey led all scorers with a game high 18 points for the Blue Jays while Tyler Ha chipped in with 12 and Jake Robel added 8.
Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
6:30–Middlesex jumps out to a 4-0 lead as Nick Montajes makes 1 of 2 FTs to open the scoring, and then connected on a three pointer from the right wing.
4:39 left in 1st qtr and SP’s Deshai Smith caps a 6-0 run with a one handed slam dunk off a steal and assist by Dylan O’Connor for a 6-4 lead.
3:31 left in 1st qtr and SP calls time trailing 7-6 after an earlier three by Middlesex.
0:00–End of first qtr and Middlesex leads South Plainfield, 15-9 on a John Dickey three from the left corner. Middlesex outscored SP 11-3 over last 4:39 of the first period.
Second Quarter
5:09 left in first half and Middlesex leads 20-9 after a Tyler Ha three from the right side. Blue Jays open second on a 5-0 run, and are currently on a 16-3 tear.
4:00–Middlesex adds another three for a 23-9 lead. The Blue Jays had a 19-3 tear over an 8 minute span that turned a 6-4 deficit into a 23-9 lead.
3:15–Dickey converts a traditional three point play after an earlier South Plainfield score for a 26-11 Middlesex lead.
0:00–Despite an alleyoop one handed dunk by Deshai Smith off a lob from Gio Dudley, South Plainfield trails Middlesex 29-18 at the half. Tigers end the half on a 7-3 run.
Third Quarter
6:19 left in 3rd and SP closes within 31-23 as Will McLaughlin banks in a runner from the left side. McLaughlin also connected on an earlier three. South Plainfield scores 5 of the first 7 points of the second half, and is currently on a 12-5 run.
2:24 left in 3rd and SP closes within 39-35 on a Jalil Palms trey from the left wing.
1:08 left in 3rd and Middlesex calls time after a drive into the paint for a layin by Jalil Palms score pulls SP within 2 at 39-37. SP on a 19-10 surge.
0:00–End of 3rd and SP pulls within one at 39-38 on 1 of 2 FTs by Deshai Smith with 6.33 seconds left.
Fourth Quarter
7:14–South Plainfield cashes in on a couple offensive rebounds as McLaughlin sinks a three from the right side of the key for the Tigers first lead since the 4:39 mark of the first period at 41-39. Tigers on a 30-13 surge.
5:33–South Plainfield now leads 43-39 after a steal for a layup by Smith. Tigers now on a 32-13 surge.
3:29 left in 4th and SP calls time after a Chris Hendricks three from the top of the key gives Middlesex a 47-45 lead. Kareem Aref struck for an earlier three to start an 8-2 Jays rally and pulled them within one at 43-42.
3:00–South Plainfield goes back in front 48-47 on a three from the left wing by Will McLaughlin.
1:38 left in 4th and Middlesex takes a 53-51 lead on this Pat Rudawski jumper. John Dickey had a three earlier for the Jays while Dondre Tate had a three point play for the Tigers. Middlesex scored 6 of the last 9 points.
29.36 seconds left in 4th and SP calls time with a 54-53 lead after a traditional three point play by Dondre Tate.
12.98 seconds left and there is a timeout after SP’s Dondre Tate forces a Middlesex turnover
4.40 seconds left and Middlesex calls time after SP’s Dondre Tate makes two FTs for a 56-53 Tigers lead.
0:00–Game just ended with South Plainfield hanging on for a 56-53 win. Smith steals the inbounds pass by Middlesex, and gets the ball to Dylan O’Connor, who holds on to the ball as time runs out. Will McLaughlin leads the Tigers with 15 while Deshai Smith chipped in with 13 points and 16 rebounds. John Dickey led all scorers with a game high 18 points for Middlesex while Tyler Ha chipped in with 12.