NORTH EDISON, NJ–On Thursday night, GMC Hoops was out at J.P. Stevens High School in North Edison to see the Hawks in action against fifth ranked Old Bridge, and the Hawks executed their plan to perfection to gain an upset in overtime.
Stevens jumped out to an early 5-0 lead on a layup and then a three point play from Javon Scott (9 points). However, Old Bridge took over with a 12-0 run that included threes from Will Osvald (11 points) and Rich Calandrino (8 points) as well as layups by Osvald, Kyle Parris (6 points), and Julius Belton for a seven point lead.
Osvald and J.P. Stevens’ Elisha Smith exchanged treys for a 15-8 Old Bridge lead late in the first half before the Hawks turned the game around with a 16-9 showing the rest of the way including threes by Tyrese Conover (11 points) and Rohan Rao to tie the game and force overtime.
In the extra session, the Hawks took the lead for good on a floater by Conover with 3:15 to play, and then Conover made a pair of free throws while Scott added one of two from the line for a 29-24 lead. From there, Old Bridge couldn’t get closer than three points as the Hawks hung on for the hard fought, 32-29 victory. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
5:28 left in 1st qtr and J.P. Stevens takes a 5-0 lead on this Javon Scott three point play. Scott also scored the first points of the game on a putback.
3:31 left in the first qtr and Old Bridge ties the game at 5-5 on a Will Osvald three from the right corner. Kyle Parris got the Knights on the board earlier with a layup underneath.
2:09 left in 1st qtr and Old Bridge now on 10-0 run after this Julius Belton coast to coast layup off a blocked shot for 10-5 lead. Rich Calandrino drained a three from the right corner earlier to put the Knights in front for the first time.
0:00–End of 1st qtr and @JP_HawksNation trails @ob_kosb 12-8 after an Elisha Smith three from the right wing ends a 12-0 Old Bridge tear.
Second Quarter
4:16 left in the first half and Old Bridge takes a 15-8 lead on a Will Osvald trey that rattles in from the top of the key.
0:00–Game has gone to the half with Old Bridge leading J.P. Stevens 15-10 after a layup by Rishav Ghosh off a feed from Javon Scott. Old Bridge’s first half scoring. Will Osvald leads all scorers with 8 points for the Knights. J.P. Stevens first half scoring: Javon Scott leads the Hawks with 5 points.
Third Quarter
4:20 left in 3rd and Old Bridge calls time after this and one by Javon Scott pulls J.P. Stevens within four at 18-14.
2:07 left in 3rd and J.P. Stevens calls time trailing 21-15 after this Will Osvald trey from the left wing for Old Bridge.
0:00–End of 3rd and J.P. Stevens hanging around at 21-17 after a Tyrese Conover jumper from the right side.
Fourth Quarter
6:53 left in 4th and J.P. Stevens pulls within three at 24-21 on a Tyrese Conover three from the left side.
6:13 left in 4th and there is a timeout with Old Bridge clinging to a 24-21 lead.
2:45 left in 4th and J.P. Stevens ties it at 24-24 on an Rohan Rao trey from the left side of the key. Old Bridge timeout.
1:43 left in 4th and J.P. Stevens calls time with the score still tied at 24-24.
1:18 left in 4th and Old Bridge calls time after Kyle Parris gets this loose ball with score still tied at 24-24.
21.9 seconds left in 4th and Old Bridge calls a full timeout with ball and score still tied at 24-24.
17.7 seconds left in 4th and J.P. Stevens calls time after getting this loose ball with score still tied
0:00–Going to OT with J.P. Stevens and Old Bridge tied at 24-24. The Hawks had a chance to win the game, but missed a couple shots in the closing seconds.
Overtime
3:15–J.P. Stevens takes its first lead since 5-0 at 26-24 on a floater in the paint by Tyrese Conover.
43.8 seconds left in 1st OT and Stevens takes a 29-26 lead thanks two FTs by Conover and one of two FTs by Javon Scott. Kyle Parris had two FTs for the Knights.
8.7 seconds left in OT and Stevens leads 31-26 after two more FTs by Conover.
0:00–Game just ended with J.P. Stevens upsetting Old Bridge in OT, 32-29. J.P. Stevens scoring for the game: Tyrese Conover led the Hawks with 11 points while Javon Scott had 9. The Hawks had 7 field goals, 3 treys, and made 9 of 16 from the foul line. Old Bridge’s scoring for the game: Will Osvald led the Knights with 11 points while Rich Calandrino had 8. The Knights had 6 different players score, and tallied its 29 points one 5 field goals, 5 threes, and 4 of 9 FTs. Old Bridge had 14 team fouls while Stevens had only 10.