NEPTUNE, NJ–After taking a week off, GMC Hoops returned to action on Monday night to see the fourth week of action at the 2010 Hoop Group Headquarters Spring League. Once again the site was only able to see the South River Rams in action. Monroe is playing all of its games at 7:00 PM, and the site is unable to get on the road until after work at 7:30 PM.
On this night, the Rams were in action against G-Force Black, an AAU team from Union County. Things started out much better for South River, which lost in each of its first two games of the spring including a 53-36 defeat to the Sabertooths on April 12th. However, in the end, the Rams ended up losing.
Second Half Surge Sparks G-Force Black Past South River, 48-41
GMC Hoops arrived on the scene for this game with 7:17 left in the first half, and the Rams were already winning 16-11. A short time later, Larry Smith connected on a three pointer for a 19-11 lead at about the seven minute mark. Tyler Harris then got a basket while being fouled, and despite missing the bonus free throw, he gave the Rams a 21-11 lead with 6:16 to go in the first half. South River had a chance to go up even further, but Harris missed another two foul shots with 5:15 to play in the half. G-Force Black made one of two from the line at the 4:30 mark for a 21-12 Rams lead.
Xavier Foster resumed the Rams first half onslaught with a drive and dish to Kyle Majewski for a layup from the left side for a 23-12 advantage with 3:38 to play in the first half. Smith got going again with a layup from the left side at the 2:54 mark, and then an offensive rebound and follow at the 47.1 second mark for a 27-12 lead. G-Force Black got a score to cut the deficit nearly in half at 27-14, but Foster connected on a three pointer off a kickout by Majewski at the eight second mark, and then following a steal, Foster struck again with a three pointer from well beyond the top of the key for a 33-14 lead at the intermission.
However, everything that was gold in the first half for the Rams, turned to lead in the second half as G-Force Black regrouped and surged back into the contest. Over the first 12:21 of the second half, the Stallions erupted for 22 of the first 23 points to not only tie the game, but take the lead. The Union County team went on a 10-1 run over the first 3:44 to pull within ten at 34-24. G-Force Black continued to rally with another field goal at the 14:03 mark for a 34-26 South River lead. G-Force then added a one of two free throws from the line to pull within seven, and grabbed the offensive rebound on the missed second shot at the 12:23 mark. The Rams had a chance to break the slide, but after Foster made a nice steal along the sideline, he led his teammate too long on the fast break for a turnover at the 11:41 mark.
A little more than a minute later, G-Force Black swiped a steal that it converted into a layup to pull within five at 34-29 with 10:36 left. A little less than a half minute later, G-Force got another score with a nice pass to a cutting teammate for a layin, and a 34-31 South River lead at the 10:07 mark. Following a Rams timeout with 9:56 left, they seemed to put together a nice offensive possession with fine ball movement, but it was squandered as Gavin Campbell dribbled a bit too much, and G-Force Black took advantage by picking up a steal and converting it into a layup while being fouled for a three point play, and a 34-34 tie with 9:25 to go. For nearly two minutes, neither team scored until G-Force grabbed a rebound off a miss by Foster, and went in for the layup, and its first lead since the first half, 36-34.
Immediately, the Rams responded with a three pointer at the 7:27 mark for a 37-36 edge, but G-Force Black replied in kind with a three of its own for a 39-37 lead at the 7:13 mark. A minute later, South River tied the game at 39-39 with a jumper by Foster from Campbell at the 6:12 mark. Smith preserved the tie temporarily by making a block at the 6:05 mark, but he missed both of his foul shots with 5:18 to go. G-Force then took the lead again with a free throw, and then an offensive rebound and putback at the 4:27 mark. South River almost compounded their troubles by committing a turnover at the 2:44 mark. However, Majewski picked his teammates up with a steal, drive, great fake to his left, and a layin to pull the Rams within one at 42-41 with 2:18 left.
Unfortunately, the Rams would not get any closer as they didn’t score for the rest of the game. G-Force Black got two free throws at the 1:46 mark, and then swiped a steal, and drove in for a layup attempt that drew a foul, and produced two free throws for a 46-41 lead. South River had a chance to pull within one possession when Smith swiped a steal along the sideline, and drove in for a layup attempt that drew a foul, but again, he came up empty with 34.1 seconds to go. The Rams did themselves in moments later as Majewski lost the handle on the ball and got disgusted with himself for the miscue while G-Force Black went in for the dunk, and a 48-41 win.
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| G-Force Black | 14 | 34 | 48 |
| South River | 33 | 8 | 41 |
GMC Hoops plans to be back out at the Hoop Group Headquarters on Monday night to see Southern Regional at 9:00 PM.