GMC Hoops Game Notes–#25 Piscataway Tech @ #24 Spotswood–GMCT Play-In Round–February 11, 2017

SPOTSWOOD, NJ–Following South River’s GMCT Play-In Round win over South Amboy, GMC Hoops hopped in the car, and traveled over Route 18 and onto Summerhill Road into Spotswood to take in the second game of its Play-In Round tripleheader between the 24th seeded Chargers and the 25th seeded Piscataway Tech Raiders.

This was the second game in 24 hours that GMC Hoops covered involving Spotswood, which lost on Friday night to Edison (72-61). Meanwhile, the P-Way Tech Raiders have been playing well. Since starting the season at 3-8, which included a 90-58 loss to the Chargers in the opening round of the 2016 Bound Brook Crusader Classic over the holidays, the Raiders won 6 of 9 coming into today.

Things looked good early on as well for the Raiders, which took an 8-0 lead behind the play of Taquan Smith (20 points) while Spotswood missed its first 8 shots of the game, and 11 of 13 from the flooor before getting its offense going. Not only did the Chargers eventually catch-up, but took the lead.

After Justin Dekovics fired in a three pointer at the 3:49 mark to get Spotswood on the board, the Chargers ended the first period on a 13-7 run to pull within two at 15-13. Then, in the second period, Spotswood scored 6 of the first 8 points including an Abdul Nieskens trey for its first lead of the game at 19-17 with 5:58 to play in the first half.

Over the next 3:19, the Chargers scored 10 of the next 14 points including a layup by Andrew Fuzesi at the 3:26 mark, and a three point play by Fuzesi at the 2:39 mark for a 29-21 lead. However, Piscataway Tech charged back with a 16-8 tear to end the first half including a Daniel Peacock score at the 1:11 mark, and a putback by Branden Barnes in the closing seconds of the second period for a 37-37 tie at the intermission.

Spotswood started the second half strong with a 14-4 run that included a three pointer by Andrew Fuzesi at the 5:44 mark of the third for a 51-41 lead before Chris Zambonino got the Raiders within single digits with a three at the 3:04 mark for a 51-44 Chargers advantage. Piscataway Tech wouldn’t get no closer than that the rest of the way though.

The Raiders would get within 9 points on several occasions in the fourth quarter, but Spotswood would lead by as many as 14 (64-50), and went on to win by a dozen, 81-69. Matt Vento led the way for the Chargers with a game high 23 points while Nieskens chipped in with 17, and Fuzesi added 16. Peacock led the Raiders with 22 points while Smith finished with 21. Below are game notes from the action:

First Quarter

4:24 left in first qtr and Spotswood calls time after this Sergio Rodriguez score gives PWay Tech a 6-0 lead. Taquan Smith scored the first four points of the game for P-Way Tech.

3:49 left in the first quarter and Spotswood gets on the board with a Justin Dekovics trey from the left wing. Chargers missed their first eight shot attempts before Dekovics sank his three.

0:00–End of first qtr and PWay Tech leads Spotswood 15-13 thanks to a floater underneath by Taquan Smith off a feed by Chris Zambonino. Spotswood opened the game missing 11 of its first 13 shots and trailed 8-0. Chargers ended the period on a 13-7 run.


Second Quarter

5:58 left in the first half and Spotswood takes its first lead at 19-17 on an Abdul Nieskens trey from the top of the key. Chargers open the 2nd period on a 6-2 run.

3:26 left in the first half and PWay Tech calls time trailing 23-19 after an Andrew Fuzesi layup from the left side off a dish by Abdul Nieskens for SHS.

2:39 left in 1st half and Spotswood now leads 29-21 after a three point play by Andre Fuzesi. Spotswood on a 29-13 surge since trailing 8-0 early on.

1:11 left in 1st half and Spotswood calls time after Daniel Peacock goes coast to coast for a layup from the left side to pull PWay Tech with three at 35-32.

0:00–Game has gone to the half and Spotswood and PWay Tech are tied at 37-37 thanks in part to a Branden Barnes follow in the closing seconds. Piscataway Tech ends the first half on a 16-8 run. Spotswood’s first half scoring: Both Andrew Fuzesi and Abdul Nieskens lead the Chargers with 10. Piscataway Tech’s first half scoring. Taquan Smith leads the Raiders with 15 while Dan Peacock has 8.


Third Quarter

5:47 left in the 3rd and Spotswood takes a 44-40 lead on a three from the right side by Andrew Fuzesi. Chargers scored 7 of the first 10 points of the second half.

3:04 left in 3rd and PWay Tech calls timeout after a Chris Zambonino jumper from the right wing off a kickout by Sergio Rodriguez closes gap to 51-44.

1:15 left in 3rd and Spotswood calls time leading 60-50 despite a layup from the left side Josh Lugo off a dish by Daniel Peacock for PWay Tech.

0:00–End of 3rd and after a wild sequence of players hustling and diving for loose balls, Vinnie Guardiola scored on a layup from the right side off a feed by Andrew Fuzesi for a 64-50 Spotswood lead.


Fourth Quarter

6:56 remaining in the 4th and Pway Tech calls time trailing 66-54 after a layup from the left side by Taquan Smith off a steal and assist by Sergio Rodriguez. Raiders score 4 of the first 6 points.

3:21 left in 4th and Spotswood leads 72-63 after a three point play by PVT’s Branden Barnes.

1:49 left in 4th and Spotswood leads PWay Tech 76-67 after a Branden Barnes putback

0:00–Game just ended with Spotswood defeating PWay Tech, 81-69. Justin Dekovics helped the Chargers wrap up the win with a breakaway layup in the closing minutes. Chargers score 5 of the last 7 points to wrap up the win. Spotswood scoring for game: Matt Vento had 23. Abdul Nieskens had 17. Andrew Fuzesi had 16. PWay Tech scoring for the game: Dan Peacock had 22. Taquan Smith had 21. Branden Barnes had 14. Spotswood had 21 field goals, 8 threes, and made 15 of 20 from the line. Piscataway Tech had 27 field goals, 2 threes, and made 9 of 18 from the line. The Chargers outscored the Raiders by a margin of 24-6 from long distance.