PERTH AMBOY, NJ–In the consolation game of the 2012 Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament, third seeded Monroe got a fierce challenge from 20th seeded St. Joseph’s-White, but the Purple Birds were able to hold them off for the 39-31 victory to earn third place in the tourney.
Monroe led the entire time over the final three periods although St. Joe’s-White got within two points toward the end of the first half, and trailed by four a little more than midway through the fourth, but couldn’t get closer. MTHS led by as many as 10 late before winning by single digits.
Matt Cocorikis and Tyler Salzer each scored 11 points for the winners while Cameron Coleman added 6. Mike Horn led St. Joe’s-White with 9 points while P.J. Strahm and Carl Mac Ewen each chipped in with 6 points. Below is the play-by-play from the final three periods of the contest.
First Quarter
MON leads 9-6 after one period.
Second Quarter
7:30–MON–turnover.
6:35–STJW–Branden Wash gets on the floor for loose ball, and steal.
6:20–STJW–P.J. Strahm hits backiron on jumper.
5:43–MON–Cameron Coleman banks in foul line jumper for an 11-6 lead.
4:17–STJW–Wash fouled on layup attempt from left low block…makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 11-7 MON lead.
3:42–MON–calls 30 sec timeout.
3:35–MON–Matt Cocorikis fouled–makes both FTs for a 13-7 lead.
3:15–MON–Coleman blocks shot.
3:10–MON–Adam Darwish misses layup.
3:05–MON–misses layup off inbounds.
2:15–STJ–Nick Guddemi scores on layup for a 13-9 MON lead.
2:07–STJ–Mike Horn swipes steal, and goes in for layup, and a 13-11 MON lead.
0:20–MON–Darwish scores on layup for a 15-11 lead.
0:07–MON–Coleman steals pass, but steps out of bounds.
0:02–STJ–Wash goes out of bounds.
0:00–STJ–Wash ties up MON player as time runs out.
First Half scoring
Monroe
Cocorikis–FG + 3-3 FTs for 5 points
Coleman–FG–2 points
Salzer–2FG–4 points
Matel-Okoh–FG–2 points
Darwish–FG–2 points
St. Joseph’s
Mac Ewen–FG–2 points
Guddemi–FG–2 points
Horn–2 FG–4 points
Wash–1-2 FTs–1 point
Gamboa–FG–2 points
Third Quarter
7:09–STJW–Carl Mac Ewen–fouled–makes 1 Â of 2 FTs for a 15-12 MON lead.
6:54–MON–Cocorikis short on jumper–ball goes out of bounds–turnover.
4:30–STJW–Wash–blocks shot.
4:00–MON–Coleman–blocks shot.
3:35–MON–Brandon Talalai–layup for a 17-12 lead.
3:27–STJW–traveling.
3:19–MON–Mike Ferrero layup off dish from Talalai for a  19-12 lead.
3:13–STJW–timeout–follows three pointer by P.J. Strahm for a 19-15 Mon lead.
2:30–MON–Cocorikis drives through middle for layup, and a 21-15 lead.
2:15–STJW–turnover.
1:51–STJW–MacEwen–fouled by Coleman–makes both FTs for a 21-17 MON lead.
1:31–STJW–calls timeout to avoid turnover after Coleman misses layup at the other end for MON.
0:48–MON–Cocorikis and Tyler Salzer team up on give and go for Salzer layup, and a 23-17 lead.
0:20–STJW–Wash puts back miss by Strahm for a 23-19 MON lead.
0:00–MON–Salzer swishes three from left wing for a 26-19 lead after three.
Fourth Quarter
7:46–STJW–Daniel Gamboa gets kind bounce on shot from right low block for a 26-21 MON lead.
7:07–STJW–Horn gets kind bounce on floater for a 26-23 MON lead.
6:48–MON–Coleman scores on layup from right low block for a 28-23 lead.
6:32–STJW–traveling.
6:15–MON–Coleman–layup for a 30-23 lead.
5:43–MON–Coleman–fouled–missed both FTs.
5:40–MON–David Matel-Okoh gets hands on offensive rebound–forces jump ball
5:26–MON–Cocorikis drives through for layup, and a 32-23 lead.
4:45–STJW–Horn fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 32-24 MON lead.
4:18–MON–traveling.
4:03–STJW–Strahm swishes three from top of the key for a 32-27 MON lead.
3:41–STJW–MacEwen pokes away steal, goes in for layup, and draws foul–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 32-28 MON lead.
3:15–MON–Talalai–scores on layup, and is fouled for a three point play, and a 35-28 lead.
2:49–MON–Salzer–fouled–misses both FTs.
2:24–STJW–backcourt violation.
2:21–MON–Salzer scores underneath for a 37-28 lead.
2:06–STJW–Wash–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 37-29 MON lead.
1:44–MON–turnover.
1:25–STJW–Wash–fouled–misses both FTs.
1:10–MON–Cocorikis drives in for another layup, and a 39-29 lead.
0:22–STW–Horn–fouled–makes both FTs for a 39-31 MON lead.
0:10–MON–forces turnover.
0:04–MON–fouled on floor.
0:00–MON–runs out clock for the 39-31 victory.