Rutgers Team Camp I–June 25, 2011

PISCATAWAY, NJ–On Saturday night, GMC Hoops wrapped up its coverage of the first Rutgers Team Camp this summer with a trip to the RAC after work to take in the final couple hours of games. Piscataway Tech was scheduled to be in action at 8:15 against Hackettstown at the Livingston Campus Recreation Center, but there were changes in the schedule, and the site didn’t get a chance to see the Raiders play. However, the site did manage to see an entertaining JV game between Piscataway and Immaculata during the 9:15 PM round of games. The Junior Spartans jumped out to a double digit first half lead, and led by a dozen early in the second half before having to hang on for a 41-38 victory.

Junior Spartans Hang On To Edge Junior Chiefs, 41-38

Back when I was in High School, my JV coach often said that JV games or won and lost by which team wanted it more. Junior Varisty teams don’t always have the talent since it is all up at the varsity level. However, JV teams won with scrappy play and desire. For the first 16:28, it seemed that Immaculata wanted it more. The Junior Spartans jumped out to a 25-11 lead as it hit four three pointers in the opening half while Piscataway had none.

The Junior Chiefs, which had only two points and no field goals for over a stretch of ten minutes, had only three field goals in the first 20 minutes. P-Way fell prey to a 15-2 Immaculata tear over a span of 8:54 that turned a narrow 10-9 deficit into a seemingly comfortable, 25-11 lead. However, Piscataway, which went 12 of 15 from the line in the first half, hung tough by first ending the opening period with the final seven points to cut the deficit in half at 25-18 going into the intermission.

Then, after the Junior Spartans opened the second half with a 5-0 spurt over the first two minutes for a 30-18, the Junior Chiefs showed some resiliency and guts by gradually chipping into the lead with a combination of tough defense, and transition baskets to close the gap to 36-32 with 9:50 to play. Immaculata would score the next three points to take a 39-32 advantage at the 7:47 mark, but once again Piscataway fought back with six straight points over the next 3:14 to pull within one at 39-38 at the 4:43 mark.

The Junior Chiefs, which outscored the Junior Spartans by a margin of 27-14 over a span of 18:49 to close within a point, was unable to score over the final 4:43. Meanwhile, Immaculata, which only scored 16 points in the second half, and had only two points over the final 7:47, managed to get some much needed breathing room with a pair of free throws at the 3:10 mark for what would be the final score of 41-38. P-Way had nine field goals and made two free throws in the second half, ended up with 12 field goals for the game along with a 14 of 17 effort from the charity stripe.

Immaculata was shut down from beyond the arc with no threes in the second half while making five field goals along with 6 of 7 from the line in the final 20 minutes. The Junior Spartans connected on eight field goals including their four treys and made 5 of 8 from the line in the first half. For the game, IHS connected on 13 field goals including four threes, and was 11 of 15 from the line.

The Somerset County team led the game throughout, but the Junior Chiefs hung tough, and didn’t give up. However, the 12-0 edge from beyond the arc proved to be a big difference. The Junior Spartans also got some solid post play. Both teams had plenty of size down low, and it was quite a battle in the paint with the Junior Chiefs battling on the boards to get offensive rebounds, draw fouls on putback attempts, and make free throws. Immaculata did a great job feeding their big man for buckets.

Both Immaculata and Piscataway continue to have solid foundations at the lower levels, and that will continue to bring success to these programs in years to come.

GMC Hoops thanks the folks at Rutgers for their hospitality.