For the sixth straight year, GMC Hoops is getting a jump on the regular season with coverage of some of the teams in the Greater Middlesex Conference in pre-season scrimmage action. To see what scrimmages we'll be covering, view the 2007-08 schedule.

GMC Hoops Summaries--December 3, 2007
Scrimmages--Week Two

Metuchen Shows Resiliency In Scrimmage At Rutgers Prep

By Greg Machos
December 3, 2007

SOMERSET, NJ--For the first time ever, GMC Hoops traveled up to Rutgers Prep in Somerset to see some basketball action. Like last season, the game featuring the home team Argonauts involved Metuchen. The Bulldogs are looking to be in the thick of things in the GMC Blue during the course of the 2007-08 season. Last year, Metuchen went 15-12 overall including a third place finish in the division at 8-6. Then in the 2007 Central Jersey Group I State Tournament, the Bulldogs got in as a nine seed, and defeated eighth seeded Henry Hudson and top seeded Dunellen on the road before losing in the semifinals to eventual state finalist, Create Charter of Jersey City.

During the course of the off-season, there had been speculation about the status of talented senior forward, Dejuan Miller, who has garnered interest from a number of Division I colleges for football. Well, that was put to rest on Monday as Miller was with his teammates on the bench. Unfortunately though, Miller was unable to play due to a ligament injury in his hand in a Consolation football game played late in the season. According to head coach, Rich Stoner, he should be healed in time for the season opener at Spotswood on December 14th. Besides Miller, the Bulldogs have Phil Lewis returning in addition to a promising group of newcomers led by junior Codey Preston, the younger brother of graduate, Corey Preston, and sophomore Evan Carberry. The Bulldogs had a good off-season, where the younger players got a chance to become more familiar with one another. In the summer at TBSA, MHS finished at 3-5 overall, and drew the 10th seed in the post-season tournament, where it knocked off seventh seeded Edison, and gave second seeded St. Joseph's problems before losing.

In the fall, the Bulldogs started slowly at the 2007 HawksBasketball Fall-Ball Classic, but then finished strong with a 4-6 record including victories over Group IV schools, Hunterdon Central and Hillsborough. In addition, Metuchen played tough against a Plainfield team that reached the finals of the post-season tournament before losing to Columbia. The Bulldogs also only lost by eight to an athletic Roselle team from Union County that looks to be improved this coming season. Coming into Monday's action, MHS had already logged a scrimmage under its belt against Mater Dei on Saturday. According to Coach Stoner, the team played alright considering that they didn't shoot the ball well. However, Rutgers Prep with the likes of former West Windsor-Plainsboro South standout, Jordan Robinson, and former St. Joseph's player, David McDaniel, would present a formidable challenge.

Robinson, who is the younger brother of former St. Joseph's player, Nijel Robinson, who now is playing along with South Brunswick's Devon White at Felician, led the Pirates to the 2007 Central Jersey Group IV State Tournament, where they lost to North Brunswick in the first round. Meanwhile, McDaniel played with St. Joseph's at the 2006 Rebounds Fall League, and played Junior Varsity all last season. Starting in the season opener against South Brunswick last year, McDaniel had a team high 7 points along 6 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, and a steal in a 53-37 loss. The game started off as if the Argonauts were going to run the Bulldogs out of the gym. Over the first four minutes of the opening quarter, Rutgers Prep forced four turnovers and connected on all four of its three point attempts to jump out to a 16-4 lead. Robinson was the catalyst with two threes and a field goal for eight of the team's first 10 points of the scrimmage. However, following a Bulldog timeout, MHS showed some resolve, and battled back. Only making two turnovers over the final half of the first period, the Bulldogs closed out the first quarter with a 10-0 spurt for a 16-14 Rutgers Prep edge in the frame, and then began the second by scoring the first four points for a 14-0 tear over a span of 7:03. The second quarter ended in an 8-8 tie, but the third quarter was all Bulldogs in a 19-6 showing before the Argonauts got the edge in the final stanza, 23-19. Overall though, Metuchen won 60-53 despite losing two of the four periods.

For the game, Metuchen made 22 of 61 for 36.1 percent including a 4 of 14 effort from beyond the arc for 28.6 percent. Meanwhile, Rutgers Prep, which shot 6 of 7 overall from the floor, ended up going just 18 of 63 for 28.6 percent including 6 of 16 for 37.5 percent. At the line, the Bulldogs also fared slightly better going 11 of 17 for 64.7 percent while the Argonauts went 11 of 18 for 61.1 percent. In other statistical areas, Metuchen held edges in rebounding (41-28), assists (11-9), blocks (3-2), and charges (1-0). Rutgers Prep had more steals (19-15), and fewer turnovers (32-40). Leading the charge for the Bulldogs in the scrimmage was sophomore forward, Evan Carberry, who went 6 of 11 from the floor overall including one of two from three point land for 13 points to go along with 11 rebounds for a double-double. In addition, Carberry handed out four assists and a steal. Chipping in was junior forward, Codey Preston, who started slowly but ended up with a 5 of 14 shooting day including 1 of 3 from downtown, and 1 of 3 from the line for 12 points along with 5 steals and 3 rebounds. Coming off the bench to give a spark was Elijah Sellers, who contributed quite a bit during the fall at the Fall-Ball Classic. Sellers came in after Rutgers Prep got off to its fast start, and the youngster made some big defensive plays while going 4 of 8 overall from the floor including 1 of 3 from beyond the arc, and making 2 of 3 from the line for 11 points as well as 4 rebounds, 3 steals, and an assist.

Junior Phil Lewis only went 1 of 5 from the floor including a trey, but he made both of his free throws, and made big plays on defense including two huge blocks. Lewis wound up with 5 points, 3 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 blocks, 2 steals, and a charge. Nick Callas, another youngster looking to help out this season, added 4 points on 2 of 3 shooting, and 4 rebounds. Akheeme Greene also collected 4 points including a field goal and 2 of 3 from the foul line while picking up 3 rebounds. Mark Switzer and Vinny Sardone rounded out the other notable Metuchen players as Switzer got a field goal in four shot attempts for two points along with two rebounds and an assist while Sardone made one of two at the line for a point. George Doukas (four rebounds) also played, but didn't score. Other players for Metuchen got in and combined for 2 of 7 field goals and 3 of 4 at the line for 7 points along with 7 rebounds, and two steals. In the first quarter, the visitors from Middlesex County shot 5 of 15 from the floor including 2 of 3 from three point land while the home team from Somerset County made 6 of 7 including a perfect 4 of 4 from three. Both teams also combined for 12 turnovers including nine by the Bulldogs although MHS did better in this department with two over the final half of the period while forcing numerous miscues by the Argonauts.

Right away, Rutgers Prep went to work. Off the opening tip, Robinson got the ball, dribbled toward the top of the key, and put up a three pointer at the 7:45 mark for the early lead. The Argonauts added to their lead with a field goal to make it 5-0 at about the 7:00 mark before Metuchen finally got on the board thanks to a Carberry offensive rebound and putback with 6:38 left in the period. The Bulldogs could have drawn closer, but Callas was called for a traveling violation at about the 6:30 mark, and then nearly a minute later, Robinson was back at it again with a drive for a layup that made the score, 7-2 at the 5:38 mark. The junior guard transfer then sank another three for a 10-2 advantage before the Bulldogs scored again on a drive by Preston off an inbounds pass by Carberry for a 10-4 Argonaut lead before MHS called for time at the 4:58 mark. Already it seemed like the Bulldogs were in dire straits, and for a short while longer, it got worse as Rutgers Prep netted another three pointer from the left wing for a 13-4 advantage, and then another three from the right side for a 16-4 lead. With the Rutgers Prep faithful in attendance going wild, Metuchen began to go to work, and fight back. Carberry started the comeback with a three pointer from the right corner that made it 16-7, and then Lewis followed up by giving a fake, and dribbling to his left for a three pointer that made it 16-10 at the 3:10 mark.

Nearly two minutes later, MHS crept closer as it forced two turnovers including a steal for a layup by Sellers that made it a four point game at 16-12 with 1:19 to play in the first as Rutgers Prep called for time. Sellers then closed out the quarter scoring with two from the foul line for a 16-14 Argonaut lead with exactly a minute left. Preston came up with two deflections that forced Rutgers Prep to call another timeout, and then Metuchen forced a five second violation on a subsequent inbounds at the 31.32 second mark, but the home team came away with the two point quarter edge. In the second period, there was a lot less scoring although the quarter was extended two extra minutes for a ten minute timeframe. In the second, Rutgers Prep actually shot 2 of 16 from the floor for 12.5 percent including 2 of 7 from three point land for 28.6 percent while making both foul shots for their eight points. On the other side of the ledger, Metuchen went 4 of 15 from the floor for 26.7 percent. The Bulldogs began the period with the first four points to continue a 14-0 tear that spanned a little more than seven minutes. Carberry accounted for all four points with a drive to his left for a layup at the 8:49 mark that made the score, 2-0, and then an offensive rebound and putback off a Switzer miss at the 6:57 mark. Meanwhile, the Bulldog defense continued to cause problems by forcing another five second call at the 7:48 mark, which compelled Argonaut coach, Tony Mento to call for another timeout.

Rutgers Prep would finally get on the board at the 6:04 mark with a pair of free throws that cut the deficit in half at 4-2. Nearly forty seconds later, Robinson was back in the game, and by that time, the Argonauts had taken the period lead at 5-4 on a three pointer from the left corner that banked in off the backboard. Callas gave the Bulldogs the lead again on a score at the 5:06 mark, but Robinson got another three pointer as he fell to the ground near the top of the key as Rutgers Prep went back on top, 8-6 with about 4:30 to go in the half. Following a timeout at the 3:52 mark, Callas ended the period scoring with an offensive rebound and putback off of a missed shot by Greene for the 8-8 tie. Rutgers Prep had a chance in the end to take the quarter, but another a nice penetration and dish by Robinson, the Argonauts couldn't convert the layup, and the quarter ended in a tie. The third quarter was dominated by MHS as the Bulldogs went 8 of 17 from the floor including a three pointer, and 2 of 3 free throws for a 19-6 edge. Meanwhile, Rutgers Prep made only 2 of 20 from the floor, and a couple free throws in the frame.

Sellers got the Bulldogs off and running with a one handed shot in the key off the drive for a 2-0 lead at the 8:55 mark. A little bit more than a minute passed when Rutgers Prep called for a timeout with the score still reading 2-0 in favor of Metuchen. Following the stoppage, Preston scored on an offensive rebound and putback by Preston, and then Sellers registered a three point play on a layup as he was fouled at the 6:29 mark for a 7-0 Bulldog lead. On the next Argonaut possession, Rutgers Prep made one of two at the foul line to get on the board, and close the gap to 7-1 at the 6:12 mark. Neither team would score for nearly 1:15 before MHS called for time at the 4:58 mark. After the timeout, Preston made a bankk shot off the drive for a 9-1 lead. Robinson finally gave Rutgers Prep its first field goal of the period on a layup as he was fouled for a three point play that narrowed the Metuchen lead to 9-4 with 4:16 remaining in the frame. His teammates then followed up with an offensive rebound and putback to trim the deficit to three, and a short time later, the Bulldogs were forced to call a timeout in order to avoid a turnover at the 3:20 mark. However, the Argonauts couldn't get any closer after that as Metuchen scored the last ten points of the stanza for a 19-6 period win.

The Bulldogs started their quarter ending run when Carberry passed to Preston for a layup while being fouled, but missed the bonus free throw for an 11-6 at the 3:13 mark. Carberry and Preston teamed up again a little more than thirty seconds later as the sophomore made a nice skip pass to the junior for a three pointer from the left wing for a 14-6 advantage with 2:41 left in the third. Preston, who scored 10 points in the frame, then got on the board again with a steal for a layup attempt that drew a foul, and resulted in one of two at the line for a 15-6 edge at the 2:30 mark. Following a Rutgers Prep timeout at the 2:17 mark, the Bulldogs scored the final four points of the period as Carberry collected a steal for a layup, and then Switzer canned a short jumper for the 19-6 quarter victory. In the fourth quarter, both teams combined for the most points in any of the periods played in the scrimmage. Unfortunately for Metuchen, Rutgers Prep got the lion's share of this 42 points in a 23-19 showing to notch two quarter victories under its belt. The final frame saw Metuchen go 5 of 14 from the floor including a three pointer for 35.7 percent, and make 8 of 11 at the foul line for 72.7 percent. Meanwhile, Rutgers Prep went 8 of 20 from the floor for 40 percent, and 7 of 12 at the foul line for 58.3 percent.

Vinnie Sardone helped the visitors draw first blood in this frame with a free throw at the 9:44 mark, but then Rutgers Prep too the lead on a layup while being fouled, but missed the bonus free throw for a 2-1 lead at the 9:13 mark. Metuchen then scored on a layup for a 3-2 edge, but Robinson then added another layup while being fouled. However, he, too, missed the bonus foul shot for a 4-3 Argonaut advantage at the 8:49 mark. Rutgers Prep then scored four more points including a steal and assist by Robinson on a layup for a 6-0 run, and an 8-3 lead with 7:06 left in the period. Lewis got the Bulldogs to within three by making a pair of foul shots at the 7:02 mark for an 8-5 score, and then Greene made a pair of his own at the 6:21 mark for an 8-7 Rutgers Prep lead. The home team then got a point back by making one of two at the line themselves for a 9-7 lead at the 5:37 mark. The Argonauts tried to go ahead by more, but Lewis made a great defensive play by blocking Robinson's shot, grabbing the rebound, and outletting the pass to Sellers, who dished to Carberry for the layup to tie things up at 9-9 with 5:10 remaining in the fourth. Rutgers Prep would take the lead back though on a couple of free throws at the 5:05 mark to make the score, 11-9.

Following an Argonaut timeout at the 4:55 mark, Sellers gave the Bulldogs a 12-11 lead on a three pointer that got a bit of a kind bounce. Robinson would help Rutgers Prep take the lead back though with a pair of free throws at the 4:29 mark to make the score, 13-12. When the quarter was finally finished there would be a total of six lead changes and one tie in the stanza. McDaniel then padded the home team's lead with one of two at the foul line for a 14-12 edge at the 4:11 mark. Following a Metuchen timeout at the 4:02 mark, Rutgers Prep scored four of the next six points as McDaniel put together another scoring opportunity when he drew a foul on an offensive rebound and putback attempt. McDaniel went on to make one of two again at the charity stripe for a 18-14 Argonaut lead at the 2:36 mark. Rutgers Prep then went up by six, 20-14 before Greene got the Bulldogs to within two possessions again when he scored a layup as he was fouled, but didn't get the bonus foul shot to fall while MHS was called for a lane violation. Leading now by a 20-16 margin, Rutgers Prep came back down the floor, and scored another basket while being fouled, but once more, couldn't convert the traditional three point play for a 22-16 lead at the 1:21 mark. By this time the reserves for both squads were in, and despite Metuchen scoring three of the last four points, the Argonauts won the period, 23-19. More analysis on this scrimmage is now available in the GMC Hoops Blogosphere.

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