South Brunswick @ Piscataway–December 20, 2007

Chiefs Outlast Vikings In Triple Overtime Thriller, 80-70

PISCATAWAY, NJ–If not the Game of the Year for 2007-08, this latest edition in the ongoing rivalry between South Brunswick and Piscataway will certainly be a GMC Hoops Game of the Week for the first full week of the season. The game was unbelievable three overtimes! In the end though, the top ranked Piscataway Chiefs took it with a final score of 80-70. The tightly played contest saw many lead changes from both sides. It was also a very phsyical game, and that is why Piscataway is so good because of the size and athleticism they bring to the table. Arman Wilson had a game high 30 points on of 11 for 22 shooting including a very clutch three point field goal. With the Vikings trailing 65-61 at the 14.8 second mark in the second overtime, Wilson hit a three to make it a one point game.

Piscataway started things off by taking an 11-6 lead after the first period. The second quarter was very fast paced, and it appeared that Piscataway was about to break open the game, when the Chiefs took a 23-15 lead with four minutes to play in the first half. However, South Brunswick came back with a few foul shots from Jordan Teicher, and some tough drives from Wilson to knot the game at the intermission, 25-25. The third quarter was also impressive. The Vikings went up 31-29 on a follow from Teicher when Wilson made a fearless take to the basket for a layup and the foul. The senior then hit the bonus free throw to put South Brunswick up by five at 34-29 at the 5:15 mark, but the visitors didn’t score for the rest of the third period as the Chiefs embarked on a 10-0 run to close the quarter. In the fourth quarter though, South Brunswick staged a strong comback as Sean Lease scored 7 of his 11 points in the period. Each team would match each other basket for basket, before South Brunswick was presented with an opportunity to win with a tie score, and 8.9 seconds to play in regulation. A tie-up gave the ball back over to P-Way, and that set up a James White shot at the buzzer, which fell of the rim as the two teams headed to overtime.

In all three of the overtime periods Tristian Benjamin, who had 25 points, and J.D. Griggs with 19, really were a big part, with offensive rebounds numerous times, for second chance points. The end of the first overtime Wilson’s shot just missed falling in for a banking 15 footer, so it was on to the second overtime. All you need to know was it was a 63-61 game with 20 tics, and Griggs had a tip in to make it 65-61, and then Wilson hit a quick three, so it was 65-64. A quick foul from SBHS put Benjamin and the line where he missed both. Wilson then dribbled down the court and got fouled with five seconds. He calmly hit the first, and the second went in and out. Bryan Waluk who had eight points, had a wide open straight away three at the buzzer that hit off the front of the rim, and we headed to a third OT! By then, Troy Confessore who had 12 points had fouled out, and so did Sean Lease. Jordan Teicher tried helping as much as possible in the third extra period, by hitting a three and later making two foul shots, which he had 11 points and 9 boards but then he fouled out. So it was too much for Wilson to handle by himself, and SB dropped the game to P-Way 80-70. With the victory, Piscataway remains undefeated both overall, and in GMC Red play at 3-0 while South Brunswick falls to 1-2 in both those areas.

Team 1 2 3 4 OT 2OT 3OT Total
Piscataway (3-0) 11 14 19 5 7 7 17 80
South Brunswick (1-2) 6 19 9 15 7 7 7 70