WALL TOWNSHIP, NJ–After being at the Linden Summer League earlier in the day to see St. Joseph’s play, GMC Hoops traveled through the rush hour traffic and heavy rain to Wall Township High School just in time for the start of the first game of a doubleheader at the 2016 Jersey Shore Basketball League.
The first game of the doubleheader was between the NJ Tarheels and T & T Coast, and the contest featured four former players from the Greater Middlesex Conference. T & T Coast jumped out to a 12-4 lead behind the big man combo of Justin Leith and Chris Hendershot. However, the Tarheels rallied behind the likes of Nile Godfrey, Tshyrad Oates, and former St. Joe’s standout, Jimbo Long for a 48-44 lead at the half.
The NJ Tarheels expanded their lead to ten at 80-70 after three periods thanks to the efforts of former St. John Vianney of Holmdel standout, Zach Howarth, who scored several times including a jumper at the buzzer for the ten point lead. However, Leith and Hendershot took over in the fourth to spearhead a 40-17 surge for the 110-97 victory. Another former St. Joseph’s standout, Michael Brunson netted a three from the right wing during the surge for T & T Coast. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
5:23–NJT–three point play to end a 12-2 run by T & T Coast for a 12-7 T & T Coast lead. Justin Leith led T & T Coast during the 12-2 run with 6 points and an assist while Old Bridge’s Sultan Aminu had the only two points during the stretch for NJ Tarheels.
2:42–NJT–now on a 16-5 spurt after scoring 13 of the last 18 points including a couple threes, one by Jimbo Long from the right wing for a 20-17 lead.
2:30–NJT–Aminu layup for a 22-17 lead.
0:00–NJT–leads 24-21 after T & T Coast scores 4 of the last 6 points of the period to close the gap to three.
Second Quarter
6:37–TT–on a 9-4 run including a three pointer from the right wing by Brandon Frederici for a 30-28 lead.
4:54–TT–Justin Leith left handed jump hook in the paint caps a 6-4 run by T & T Coast for a 36-32 lead.
3:36–TT–timeout–after a 6-2 run by the NJ Tarheels including four points by Daniel Knight to knot the game at 38-38.
0:00–NJT–leads 48-44 at the half after a three pointer from the left wing by Jimbo Long. Former Vianney standout, Zach Howarth connected on a couple jumpers including a three while Connor Klementowicz added a score also to account for the 10-6 Tarheels run. Michael Brunson scored a bucket for T & T Coast.
Third Quarter
6:10–NJT–lead 58-53 after a score by Jimbo Long and a putback by Sultan Aminu capped a 10-4 run.
4:45–NJT–still leads 61-58 after a score by Sultan Aminu and one of two from the line by Jimbo Long.
4:04–T & T Coast–timeout–after two scores by NJ Tarheels for a 65-58 lead.
2:00–TT–scores 5 of the last 8 points to close the gap to 68-63.
0:00–NJT–lead 80-70–finish the third on a 12-7 run including a three and two field goals by Howarth.
Fourth Quarter
6:50–TT–storms back with a 14-2 tear for an 84-82 lead. Justin Leith had a three and a dunk while NIck Davison added a block and then a layup at the other end. Frederici netted a three as well.
3:05–TT–timeout–leading 97-91. Outscored NJ Tarheels 27-11 despite a free throw by Aminu. Chris Hendershot and Justin Leith too much. Leith had a long three and Mike Brunson hit a three from the right wing as well.
2:04–TT–leads 100-92 after a Frederici three pointer. Tyshrad Oates made one of two from the line for the NJ Tarheels.
1:46–NJT–timeout–after Aminu got his hands on a loose ball. Chris Hendershot drew a foul and made one of two free throws earlier for the NJ Tarheels to take a 101-92 T & T Coast lead.
0:00–TT–wins 110-97–finish the game on a 9-5 run including scores by Davison and Sean Gallagher while Aminu finished the game with an alleyoop dunk off a feed by Oates for the NJ Tarheels.