LAKEWOOD, NJ–On Wednesday night, New Brunswick traveled down to Ocean County to take on top seeded Lakewood in the quarterfinal round of the Central Jersey Group III State Tournament. For the second straight round the Zebras went to overtime, but this time there was a different result unfortunately. Trailing 39-28 with 7:15 to go in the third quarter, New Brunswick went on a 33-17 surge over a span of 15 minutes to take a 61-56 lead late in the fourth.
However, the Piners scored the last five points of regulation to tie the score and force overtime. In the extra session, Lakewood jumped out to a four point lead only to have New Brunswick respond with four points on two free throws by Samaad Thomas and a drive for a layup by Za’Kry Shivers to tie the score at 65-65 with 2:02 left. Lakewood would prevail though with five points over the last minute to pull out the 70-65 win to advance to the semifinal round on Friday night. Below is the play-by-play from the contest.
Third Quarter
4:25–LAKE–fulltimeout–Piners led 39-28 with 7:15 to go in the third period, but New Brunswick has gone on a 7-4 run including two layups by Samaad Thomas, and one of two FTs by Milton Pittman to close the gap to 43-35.
3:08–LAKE–after scores by Thomas at the 4:01 mark, and a fastbreak layup off a steal by Chad Mordecai to pull the Zebras within four, the Piners get a basket and a foul, but missed the bonus FT for a 45-39 lead.
2:42–LAKE–called for traveling after Samaad Thomas missed jumper from right wing
2:38–LAKE–scores uncontested layup off steal for a 47-39 lead.
2:04–LAKE–fouled by Thomas (3rd personal)–missed both FTs.
1:07–LAKE–gets kind roll on layup attempt for a 49-39 lead.
43.84–LAKE–deflects ball out of bounds.
29.9–NB–Paul McKenzie feeds Thomas with dump off pass for reverse layup, and a 49-41 LAKE lead.
0.0–LAKE–unable to score as time runs out in period.
Fourth Quarter
7:46–NB–Pittman fouled on putback attempt off miss jumper from right wing by Mordecai–makes both FTs for a 49-43 LAKE lead.
7:31–LAKE–fouled–misses both FTs.
7:18–NB–30 sec timeout.
7:02–NB–Shivers connects on  three pointer from right side for a 49-46 LAKE lead.
6:46–LAKE–1 of 2 FTs for a 50-46 lead.
6:38–NB–Shivers layup for a 50-48 LAKE lead.
6:08–30 sec timeout.
6:05–LAKE–traveling.
5:48–NB–Pittman–fouled–makes both FTs for a 50-50 tie.
5:27–NB–Mordecai swipes steal, and goes in for easy layup and a 52-50 lead.
5:00–LAKE–ties it at 52-52 on score.
4:24–NB–Shivers three pointer from right wing for a 55-52 lead.
4:00–LAKE–layup for a 55-54 NB lead.
3:45–NB–Shivers fouled–makes both FTs a 57-54 NB lead.
3:22–NB–Thomas fouled–makes both FTs for a 59-54 lead.
3:00–LAKE–scores on putback for a 59-56 NB lead.
2:44–NB–timeout.
2:10–NB–Shivers layup for a 61-56 lead.
2:01–LAKE–30 sec timeout.
1:21–NB–draws charge.
1:14–NB–Thomas fouled–misses both FTs.
53.62–LAKE–gets three pointer to bank in for a 61-59 NB lead.
50.0–NB–turnover.
34.3–NB–Ilo Idioka–fouled–misses both FTs.
15.0–LAKE–scores on follow for a 61-61 tie.
14.0–NB–timeout.
1.93–LAKE–calls timeout after getting steal.
0.0–LAKE–misses fadeaway shot as time expires.
Overtime
3:39–LAKE–basket for a 63-61 lead.
2:25–LAKE–basket for a 65-61 lead.
2:16–NB–Thomas fouled–makes both FTs for a 65-63 LAKE lead.
2:02–NB–Shivers drives in for layup and a 65-65 tie.
1:51–LAKE–turnover.
1:38–NB–unable to score.
1:02–LAKE–score fora 67-65 lead.
17.45–LAKE–gets fouled–misses front end of one and one–gets offensive board.
15.40–LAKE–gets fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 68-65 lead.
11.68–NB–Mordecai gets ball to midcourt, and calls for time–30 sec timeout originally–now a full timeout.
3.67–NB–Shivers misses three attempt–LAKE fouled–makes both FTs for a 70-65 lead.
0.0–NB–able to get shot off–LAKE wins 70-65. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â