2022 GMCT Semifinals–#2 St. Joseph’s vs. #3 Colonia

St. Joseph's vs.

On Tuesday afternoon, the 2022 Greater Middlesex Conference Boys Basketball Tournament Semifinals will commence with its first game of the day between 2nd seeded St. Joseph’s and 3rd seeded Colonia. The two teams have met 7 times since 2014 including a meeting in last year’s Karl Anthony Towns-Jay Williams Pod Semifinals. Let’s take a closer look at the two teams.

No. 2 St. Joseph’s (19-5)–Coaching Staff

Jan CocozzielloSt. Joseph’s Head Coach
Joe NortonSt. Joseph’s Varsity Assistant/JV Head Coach
Coach PrimSt. Joseph’s Freshmen Coach

No. 2 St. Joseph’s (19-5)–Team Roster

Player Name Jersey No. PositionHeight/WeightYearHigh SchoolCollegeHometown
Kwame Herod
0
Guard5'10/170Senior
Dante DuPiche
1
Guard5'11"/165Sophomore
Darren Tuck
2
Guard/Forward6'3/180Senior
Amari Campbell
3
Guard6'2/175Senior
Daniel Bellavia
4
Forward6'2/200Junior
Owen Griffin
5
Guard/Forward6'4/175Sophomore
Khalid Brown
10
Forward6'3/180Junior
Tim Sullivan
11
Guard5'11"/165Junior
Dante Regan
12
Guard6'0/160Freshman
Anthony Williams
13
Guard6'0/170Junior
Davey Caruso
14
Guard5'10/150Sophomore
Ryan Yarnell
15
Guard5'11"/165Junior
Ethan Simmon
20
Guard/Forward6'3/180Senior
Alijah Hall
23
Forward6'3/175Junior
Josh Ingram
24
Guard6'0/170Junior
Christian Magliacano
25
Forward6'2/200Sophomore
Scott Schmitt
35
Center6'10"/220Junior

No. 2 St. Joseph’s (19-5)–Season Schedule

OpponentDateTime/ScoreLocationMedia
Monroe Fri, 17 Dec Season Opener
W 60-49		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
St. Thomas Aquinas Sat, 18 Dec Friends of South Amboy Charity Basketball Games
L 57-64		 South Amboy MS-HS Gym
(South Amboy, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
Perth Amboy Tue, 21 Dec GMC Red
W 87-66		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)		 St. Joe
Piscataway Thr, 23 Dec GMC Red
PPD		 Piscataway HS Gym
(Piscataway, NJ)		 Piscataway Boys Basketball
Ewing Mon, 27 Dec Holiday Tournament
PPD		 Neptune HS Gym
(Neptune City, NJ)
Ramapo Sun, 2 Jan Non-Conference
W 74-61		 Bergen Catholic HS
(Oradell, NJ)		 D1 Media Pro
New Brunswick Tue, 4 Jan GMC Red
PPD		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)		 St. Joes Media
Manasquan Sat, 8 Jan Boardwalk Showcase
L 47-56		 Robert J. Collins Arena @ Brookdale College
(Lincroft, NJ)
Old Bridge Tue, 11 Jan GMC Red
W 91-52		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)		 St. Joes Media
East Brunswick Thr, 13 Jan GMC Red
W 72-45		 East Brunswick HS Gym
(East Brunswick, NJ)		 East Brunswick Public Schools
South Brunswick Sat, 15 Jan GMC Red
W 66-49		 South Brunswick HS Gym
(Monmouth Junction, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
J.P. Stevens Tue, 18 Jan GMC Red
W 86-55		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)		 St. Joes Media
Monroe Thr, 20 Jan GMC Red
L 49-52		 Monroe Township HS Gym
(Monroe, NJ)		 MTHS Athletics
Perth Amboy Sat, 22 Jan GMC Red
W 69-49		 Perth Amboy HS Gym
(Perth Amboy, NJ)		 Perth Amboy High School
Piscataway Mon, 24 Jan GMC Red
W 72-60		 Piscataway HS Gym
(Piscataway, NJ)		 Piscataway Athletics
Piscataway Tue, 25 Jan GMC Red
W 90-77		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
New Brunswick Thr, 27 Jan GMC Red
W 72-47		 New Brunswick HS Gym
(New Brunswick, NJ)		 NFHS
Linden Sun, 30 Jan Investors Games
W 69-51		 A.L. Johnson HS Gym
(Clark, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
St. Benedict's Mon, 31 Jan Non-Conference
L 54-88		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
South Brunswick Thr, 3 Feb GMC Red
W 74-56		 South Brunswick HS Gym
(Monmouth Junction, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
Old Bridge Sat, 5 Feb GMC Red
W 65-46		 Old Bridge HS Gym
(Old Bridge, NJ)		 Old Bridge Athletics
New Brunswick Mon, 7 Feb GMC Red
W 75-42		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)		 St. Joe
East Brunswick Tue, 8 Feb GMC Red
W 88-55		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
J.P. Stevens Thr, 10 Feb GMC Red
W 76-54		 J.P. Stevens HS Gym
(Edison, NJ)		 J.P. Stevens Athletics
Hudson Catholic Sat, 12 Feb Hearts 2 Hands
L 67-80		 Roselle Catholic HS Gym
(Roselle, NJ)		 Central Jersey Sports Radio
Spotswood Thr, 17 Feb GMCT Round of 16
W 104-49		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)		 St. Joes Media
South Plainfield Sun, 20 Feb GMCT Quarterfinals
W 73-54		 Middlesex County College Physical Education Center
(Edison, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
Colonia Wed, 23 Feb GMCT Semifinals
L 58-70		 Monroe Township HS Gym
(Monroe, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
Seton Hall Prep Sat, 26 Feb Non-Conference
PPD		 Seton Hall Prep HS Gym
(West Orange, NJ)

No. 3 Colonia Patriots (20-3)–Coaching Staff

Jose RodriguezColonia Head Coach
Edwin SantanaColonia Varsity Assistant/JV Head Coach
Brian O’LoneColonia Freshmen Coach
Danny BrixColonia Varsity Assistant
Eric LemberakisColonia JV and Varsity Assistant

No. 3 Colonia Patriots (20-3)–Team Roster

Player Name Jersey No. PositionHeight/WeightYearHigh SchoolCollegeHometown
Saivon Pressley
2
Guard5'11/165Senior
Demond Nelson
3
Guard/Forward6'0/180Senior
Jaeden Jones
4
Guard5'11/165Sophomore
Anthony Gooden
5
Guard6'1/170Junior
Jeffrey White
10
Guard5'8/145Sophomore
Tymihr Van Kline
12
Guard6'0/170Senior
Matt Scherb
13
Guard5'10/165Senior
Noah Taylor
15
Forward6'5/190Junior
Meet Desai
20
Forward6'2/175Senior
Billy Anderson
21
Forward6'7/200Senior
Charles Hommel
23
Guard6'2/170Sophomore
Justin Gordon
24
Guard/Forward6'1/170Senior
Dylan Conklin
30
Forward6'3/175Junior
Michael Howell
32
Forward6'5/190Senior
Matthew McSorley
35
Guard/Forward6'2/170Sophomore

No. 3 Colonia Patriots (20-3)–Season Schedule

OpponentDateTime/ScoreLocationMedia
Carteret Fri, 17 Dec Season Opener
PPD		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
Edison Tue, 21 Dec GMC White
W 59-57		 Frank Cangelosi Gym @ Edison HS
(Edison, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
Sayreville Thr, 23 Dec GMC White
W 88-40		 Sayreville HS Gym
(Parlin, NJ)		 Sayreville Boys Basketball
Neptune Mon, 27 Dec Neptune Holiday Jubilee
PPD		 Neptune HS Gym
(Neptune City, NJ)		 NFHS
North Brunswick Tue, 4 Jan GMC White
W 73-50		 North Brunswick HS Gym
(North Brunswick, NJ)		 NFHS
Woodbridge Thr, 6 Jan GMC White
W 77-31		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
Lenape Sat, 8 Jan Coaches vs. Cancer Shootout
L 64-80		 Montgomery HS Gym
(Skillman, NJ)
St. Thomas Aquinas Tue, 11 Jan GMC White
L 52-64		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
J.F. Kennedy Thr, 13 Jan GMC White
W 74-28		 J.F. Kennedy HS Gym
(Iselin, NJ)		 Woodbridge TV-35
River Dell Sat, 15 Jan Non-Conference
W 50-35		 River Dell HS Gym
(Oradell, NJ)
Carteret Tue, 18 Jan GMC White
W 64-22		 Carteret HS Gym
(Carteret, NJ)		 Ramblers SC
Edison Thr, 20 Jan GMC White
W 56-48		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
Linden Fri, 21 Jan Investors Games
W 33-30		 A.L. Johnson HS Gym
(Clark, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
Sayreville Tue, 25 Jan GMC White
W 79-50		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
North Brunswick Thr, 27 Jan GMC White
W 65-48		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
Elizabeth Sun, 30 Jan Investors Games
W 55-51		 A.L. Johnson HS Gym
(Clark, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
Woodbridge Tue, 1 Feb GMC White
W 64-38		 Woodbridge HS Gym
(Woodbridge, NJ)		 NFHS
St. Thomas Aquinas Thr, 3 Feb GMC White
L 54-68		 St. Thomas Aquinas HS Gym
(Edison, NJ)		 NFHS
Paterson Arts and Sciences Charter Sat, 5 Feb Non-Conference
PPD		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
Carteret Sat, 5 Feb GMC White
W 81-45		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
J.F. Kennedy Tue, 8 Feb GMC White
W 73-32		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
Piscataway Fri, 11 Feb GMC Crossover
W 71-48		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS Network
Robbinsville Sat, 12 Feb Non-Conference
W 61-43		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
Plainfield Mon, 14 Feb Non-Conference
W 65-42		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
Sayreville Thr, 17 Feb GMCT Round of 16
W 86-53		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)		 NFHS
Edison Sun, 20 Feb GMCT Quarterfinals
W 50-38		 Middlesex County College Physical Education Center
(Edison, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
St. Joseph's Wed, 23 Feb GMCT Semifinals
W 70-58		 Monroe Township HS Gym
(Monroe, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
St. Thomas Aquinas Fri, 25 Feb GMCT Championship
L 53-69		 Monroe Township HS Gym
(Monroe, NJ)		 GMC Hoops
Ramapo Thr, 10 Mar Group 3 State Semifinal
L 39-49		 Phillipsburg HS Gym
(Phillipsburg, NJ)		 GMC Hoops

No. 2 St. Joseph’s (19-5) vs. No. 3 Colonia (20-3)–Common Opponents

2021-12-18
MatchupTime/ScoreLocation
Timothy Christian J.P. Stevens GMC Crossover
45-61		 Timothy Christian School Gym
(Piscataway, NJ)
South Amboy Spotswood Friends of South Amboy Charity Basketball Games
PPD		 South Amboy MS-HS Gym
(South Amboy, NJ)
St. Thomas Aquinas St. Joseph's Friends of South Amboy Charity Basketball Games
64-57		 South Amboy MS-HS Gym
(South Amboy, NJ)
2022-01-24
MatchupTime/ScoreLocation
Piscataway St. Joseph's GMC Red
60-72		 Piscataway HS Gym
(Piscataway, NJ)
2022-01-25
MatchupTime/ScoreLocation
Old Bridge Monroe GMC Red
50-56		 Old Bridge HS Gym
(Old Bridge, NJ)
East Brunswick J.P. Stevens GMC Red
54-52		 J.P. Stevens HS Gym
(Edison, NJ)
South Brunswick Perth Amboy GMC Red
77-49		 South Brunswick HS Gym
(Monmouth Junction, NJ)
St. Joseph's Piscataway GMC Red
90-77		 Vincent Maglio Gymnasium @ St. Joseph’s HS
(Metuchen, NJ)
2022-01-11
MatchupTime/ScoreLocation
North Brunswick Carteret GMC White
64-27		 North Brunswick HS Gym
(North Brunswick, NJ)
Woodbridge J.F. Kennedy GMC White
62-48		 Woodbridge HS Gym
(Woodbridge, NJ)
Colonia St. Thomas Aquinas GMC White
52-64		 Colonia HS Gym
(Colonia, NJ)
Sayreville Edison GMC White
51-74		 Sayreville HS Gym
(Parlin, NJ)
2022-02-03
MatchupTime/ScoreLocation
New Brunswick Old Bridge GMC Red
37-62		 New Brunswick HS Gym
(New Brunswick, NJ)
Piscataway East Brunswick GMC Red
77-71		 East Brunswick HS Gym
(East Brunswick, NJ)
Perth Amboy J.P. Stevens GMC Red
37-65		 Perth Amboy HS Gym
(Perth Amboy, NJ)
St. Joseph's South Brunswick GMC Red
74-56		 South Brunswick HS Gym
(Monmouth Junction, NJ)

No games found.

Key Players

St. Joseph’s

  • Ethan Simmon: 6’3″ Sr. G with 721 career points, and averaging 15.3 ppg this season.
  • Josh Ingram: 6’0″ Jr. G with 444 career points, and averaging 15.4 ppg this season.
  • Darren Tuck: 6’3″ Sr. G with 557 career points, and averaging 9.9 ppg this season.
  • Amari Campbell: 6’2″ Sr. G with 503 career points, and averaging 9.5 ppg this season.
  • Anthony Williams: 6’3″ Sr. G with 252 career points, and averaging 7.2 ppg this season.

Colonia

  • Saivon Pressley: 5’10” Sr. G with 1,295 career points, and averaging 19.0 ppg this season.
  • Billy Anderson: 6’7″ Sr. F with 313 career points, and averaging 13.2 ppg this season.
  • Noah Taylor: 6’5″ Jr. F
  • Jaeden Jones: 5’10” So. G
  • Demond Nelson: 6’3″ Sr. G
  • Mike Howell: 6’6″ Sr. F
  • Matt Scherb: 5’11” Sr. G

ST. JOSEPH’S vs. COLONIA—RECENT HISTORY

Since the 2013-14 season, Colonia’s last season in the GMC Red, the Patriots and Falcons have met each other 7 times coming into tonight’s GMCT Semifinal contest.  Five of those last seven meetings have been in GMC post-season play including four times in the GMCT.  All four meetings have either been in the GMCT Semifinal (2014 2019) or the GMCT Championship (2015 and 2018).  Last year, the two teams met in the Karl Anthony Towns-Jay Williams Pod Semifinals.  St. Joseph’s has won 5 of the 7 meetings including three in the 2013-14 season.

  • March 3, 2021—#2 Colonia 75—St. Joseph’s 64—Karl Anthony Towns-Jay Williams Pod Semifinals
  • February 20, 2019—#3 St. Joseph’s 59—#2 Colonia 56—GMCT Semifinals
  • February 22, 2018—#1 St. Joseph’s 46—#7 Colonia 43—GMCT Championship
  • February 26, 2015—#2 Colonia 54—#1 St. Joseph’s 38—GMCT Championship
  • February 25, 2014—#1 St. Joseph’s 3—#5 Colonia 49—GMCT Semifinals
  • February 11, 2014—St. Joseph’s 78—Colonia 56—Regular Season Game at Maglio Gymnasium
  • January 16, 2014—St. Joseph’s 63—Colonia 38—Regular Season Game at Colonia

ST. JOSEPH’S vs. COLONIA DID YOU KNOW?

Colonia senior guard, Demond Nelson previously played at St. Joseph’s.  Nelson is averaging 4.0 points, 2.5 rebounds, and just under a steal per game in 14 games played for the Patriots.  His season high so far this season is 11 points in a 79-50 victory over Sayreville on January 25, 2022 in Colonia.  He had a season high 6 rebounds in his debut at Carteret on January 18th.

Last year, Maurice Johnson played for Colonia High School after playing at St. Joseph’s his first three years, and helped guide the Patriots to the de-facto Greater Middlesex Conference Boys Basketball title when they defeated both the Falcons and the top seeded St. Thomas Aquinas Trojans to win the Karl Anthony Towns-Jay Williams Pod.  Johnson averaged 3.8 points, 5.9 rebounds, 1.5 assists, and just under a steal per game for the Patriots last season.

A famous player from years past that played at both schools is current Woodbridge High School girls basketball coach, Bobby Timinski.  After playing his first two seasons under the late Bill Kuchar at St. Joseph’s, Timinski transferred to Colonia for his junior year in 1988-89, and on opening night, he immediately made an impact with 44 points in a GMC Blue victory over Carteret.  He would eventually lead the Pats to the 1990 GMCT Elite Eight and Central Jersey Group 2 final en route to finishing with 1,112 points to current rank 7th on Colonia’s all time scoring list.

Prediction:

Both teams have played Linden, St. Thomas Aquinas, and Piscataway.  St. Joseph’s won by a bigger margin versus Linden (69-51) than Colonia did (33-30).  Colonia defeated Piscataway (71-48) by a larger margin, and held the Chiefs to fewer points.  The Patriots also only lost to Aquinas by 12 and 14 in the two meetings with the second game in North Edison against a Trojans team at full strength.  

Aquinas and Joes played on opening weekend of the season in the Friends of South Amboy showcase on December 18th when both teams were not at full strength due to either injury, COVID, or players having to wait 30 days due to transfer rules.  The Trojans won the contest, 63-56, but the Falcons actually led at one point in the third quarter before the Trojans took control thanks to Adam Silas.

Colonia doesn’t have as much depth or size, but they still have plenty of height with both Anderson, Noah Taylor, and Mike Howell.  St. Joseph’s is a bit smaller, and is smaller than a year ago with the graduation of Miles Whye (Phelps School), but the Falcons are very athletic and long with the likes of Tuck, Simmon, Campbell, Ingram, and Williams.

The key will be which team will be able to establish their tempo and dictate the pace of the game, and also which team will be able to execute in the halfcourt.  The team that executes best in the half court, and can consistently knock down the perimeter shot, will win.

Final Score: Colonia 65—St. Joseph’s 64