Ravens Avenge Last Year’s Title Game Loss
MONROE, NJ–In a rematch of last year’s Championship Game of the Monroe Township Holiday Tournament, Perth Amboy squared off against Robbinsville of the Colonial Valley Conference.
Both teams duplicated feats they did last year in the opening round as Amboy defeated Brick Township again to get to this year’s final while Robbinsville edged Monroe to earn the rematch with the Panthers. However, this time, there would be a much different result.
Robbinsville scored the first seven points of the game, and never relinquished the lead while actually increasing it to as much as 13 in the fourth quarter before winning, 55-47. Leading the Ravens in victory was Lucas Olshevski, who dominated both ends of the court with a double-double of 33 points and 12 rebounds.
Although six different players would score for Robbinsville, no one else scored in double figures as Olshevski accounted for 60 percent of the Ravens scoring in the contest. Sophomore guard, Chris Carrera led Perth Amboy with 15 points while Fres Cabrera chipped in with 10.
Luis Bonilla added 9 for the Panthers, which combined with Robbinsville for 10 three pointers in the game with each team having five. The Ravens had a 30-20 edge in points scored from within the arc as Olshevski collected 10 field goals. Robbinsville also had a 35-29 advantage on the boards.
The Ravens also had a 15-8 edge in assists and a 4-0 advantage in blocks while Amboy had more steals (14-7). Robbinsville outscored Perth Amboy in each of the first three periods en route to amassing a 48-35 lead early in the fourth quarter. The Ravens actually scored the first 7 points of the game, and led 11-3 late in the first.
Amboy’s only points during that stretch was a three pointer from the right wing by Bonilla at the 4:29 mark of the first period. Amboy made a game of it again by scoring the last 7 points of the first including a trey from the left corner by Carrera for an 11-10 Robbinsville lead heading into the second.
The Ravens opened up the second period by scoring the first six points including a drive from the right corner into the paint for a left handed scoop shot and a 17-10 lead with 3:21 remaining in the first half. The Panthers would score 7 of the next 11 points to pull within a couple of possessions late in the second, but Robbinsville came up with a three from the right corner in the closing seconds to take a 24-17 lead at the intermission.
Robbinsville began the second half right where they left off at the end of the second with a 8-6 run for a 32-23 lead before Amboy scored four straight points to pull within five. The Ravens then got a layup from the left side by Olshevski at the 3:55 mark of the third for a 34-27 lead.
The Ravens layup sparked a 10-2 run for a 13 point lead before Perth Amboy got to the line and made a pair of free throws for a 42-31 lead with 23 seconds to play in the third. Robbinsville continued to lead by double digits thanks to a 12-10 showing over the next 5:23 including a three at the 3:00 mark for a 54-41 lead.
Amboy made a little 6-1 run to finish out the game, but it was too little, too late as Robbinsville was able to avenged last year’s Championship Game loss with a 55-47 victory. The Ravens, which have now won three straight, improved to 3-2 overall on the season. Meanwhile, the loss snapped Amboy’s two game winning streak, and dropped the Panthers to 2-3 overall on the young season.