EDISON, NJ–On Tuesday night, GMC Hoops traveled over to Edison High School to take in the GMC White Division Clash between the Eagles and Colonia. After starting the season with 11 losses in their first 13 games, the Edison Eagles have turned things around.
The Eagles defeated Colonia, 57-48 for its 6th win in its last 8 games. Led by the shooting of senior guard, Joe Cudakiewicz, who sank two threes to open the game, and scored 8 of Edison’s first 10 points, the interior play of sophomore Christian Wantong, who scored 11 of his game high 24 points in the second period alone, and the scoring of senior Justin Turner, the Eagles jumped out to a 30-19 halftime lead.
Edison then opened the third quarter with seven unanswered points including a three from the top of the key by Turner, and a basket by Wantong as he was fouled for a 37-19 lead with 6:38 to play in the period. Colonia would battle its way back into the contest though.
The Patriots would put together a 27-14 surge over the next 13:08 to pull within five points on a couple of occasions including 51-46 with 1:30 remaining. Connor Bevilacqua netted a couple threes while sophomore Luke Valeriano swished several treys during the run.
Edison would hang on for the win though as Cudakiewicz skied for a layin while Wantong scored on a putback to preserve the nine point victory. Wantong finished with 24 points for the Eagles while Cudakiewicz added 15 and Turner chipped in with 11. Bevilacqua and Kristian Chapman led Colonia with a team high 12 points while Valeriano chipped in with 11. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
7:40–Edison jumps out to a 3-0 lead on a three pointer from way out on the right side of the key by Joe Cudakiewicz.
7:00–Edison goes up 6-0 on another three by Cudakiewicz from just about the same spot as his first three to open the game.
6:00–Colonia closes within 8-5 on a three point play by Kristian Chapman.
5:39 left in first qtr and Edison jumps out to a 10-5 lead on this fadeaway by Justin Turner.
5:20 left in first quarter and Colonia calls time after making a three pointer to close the gap to 10-8. Joe Cudakiewicz has 8 points including two threes for Edison.
1:02 left in 1st and Colonia on a 7-4 run after a coast to coast drive by Frank Lehman for a scoop shot layup and a 14-12 Edison lead.
0:00–End of the first qtr and Edison leads Colonia 14-12.
Second Quarter
6:21 left in the 2nd and Edison leads Colonia 16-12 on a pull-up jumper from the left low block by Joe Cudakiewicz. Ends Colonia’s 10-6 run.
4:28 left in the first half and Edison now leads 23-14 after a three point play by Christian Wantong.
3:20 left in the first half and Edison calls time with a 23-16 lead after two FTs by Colonia’s Oliver French.
1:59 left in the first half and Edison takes a 27-16 lead on a Christian Wantong score from the left baseline off a pass from Joe Cudakiewicz.
0:00–Led by senior Joe Cudakiewicz who opened the game with this three, Edison leads Colonia 30-19. Eagles end the half on a 14-7 spurt over the last 6:21. Edison’s first half scoring: Christian Wantong leads the Eagles with 11 while Joe Cudakiewicz has 10. Colonia’s first half scoring: Kristian Chapman leads the Patriots with 7 and Connor Bevilacqua has 6.
Third Quarter
6:49 left in 3rd and Justin Turner hits a three from the top of the key for a 35-19 Edison lead.
6:38–Edison goes up 37-19 after a score by Christian Wantong as he is fouled. Missed bonus FT. Edison opens the second half on a 7-0 run.
5:04 left in 3rd and Edison calls time after a Connor Bevilacqua trey from the right wing closes the gap to 37-24.
1:53 left in 3rd and Colonia pulls within a dozen at 42-30 on a Connor Bevilacqua jumper from the right wing.
0:00–End of 3rd and Edison leads Colonia 44-32.
Fourth Quarter
5:45 left in 4th and Colonia closes within single digits at 44-35 on this Luke Valeriano trey.
4:38 left in 4th and Colonia calls time after a Luke Valeriano three from the left wing off an inbounds pass by Frank Lehman pulls Pats within six at 45-39.
2:00 left in 4th and Edison leads 50-44 after Colonia’s Luke Valeriano hits a trey from the left wing.
1:30 left in 4th and Colonia calls time after forcing a turnover with Edison leading 51-46. Eagles led 37-19 with 6:38 left in the third. Colonia on a 27-14 surge since.
1:00 left in 4th and Edison leads 53-48 as Joe Cudakiewicz skies for a layin.
0:00–Game just ended here in Edison, and thanks in part to this Christian Wantong putback, the Eagles defeat Colonia, 57-48. Edison scoring for the game: Christian Wantong led all scorers with 24 for the Eagles while Joe Cudakiewicz had 15, and Justin Turner chipped in with 11. Colonia scoring for the game: Connor Bevilacqua and Kristian Chapman led the Patriots with 12 while Luke Valeriano chipped in 11.