GMC Hoops Highlights–October 29, 2003–St. Joseph’s vs. South Plainfield–Hawks Fall-Ball Classic

Here are highlights from the action in second seeded South Plainfield’s win over 14th seeded St. Joseph’s in the semifinals of the 2003 HawksBasketball Fall-Ball Classic playoffs at Woodbridge High School on October 29, 2003.

Led by the likes of future Los Angeles Laker, Andrew Bynum and former FDU standout, Sean Baptiste, the 14th seeded Falcons of St. Joe’s took a 19-11 lead early on, but the second seeded Tigers, led by the likes of Rhode Island bound Marquis Jones and UPenn bound Darren Smith rallied with a 47-35 surge the rest of the way for a 58-54 victory.

The Tigers, which went on to go 27-1 during the regular season, win the GMC White for the second straight year, win the first ever conference/county crown in school history, and appeared in the North Jersey Section 2 Group 3 championship, went on to defeat fourth seeded Plainfield (82-69) in the HawksBasketball Fall-Ball Classic Championship.

St. Joseph’s would go on to win the GMC Red for the second straight year, and reach the semifinals of the 2004 GMCT before losing to South Plainfield in a rematch at South Brunswick High School. The Falcons and Tigers would meet again in the 2005 GMCT Championship where the Tigers would come away victorious again on a last second shot by Jones.