On Monday night, the fifth week of action took place at the 2008 Rebounds Spring League in Neptune with GMC Hoops taking in action from two of the contests including one involving the lone GMC representation. The East Brunswick Bears, which were looking to win their first game since the opening night against St. John Vianney, were taking on the undefeated Lakewood Piners in Division A action. In other action going on simultaneously on an adjacent court, Mater Dei was taking on Brick in a battle of two teams from Division B. Mater Dei was looking to run its undefeated record to 5-0 while Brick was looking to get its first win of the Spring.
Mater Dei Hotshots Remain Undefeated While Brick Stays Winless, 61-47
While East Brunswick was doing battle with undefeated Lakewood in a matchup from Division A, Mater Dei was taking on Brick Township in a contest between the haves and the have-nots from Division B. Entering the game, Mater Dei was undefeated at 4-0 while Brick was still looking for its first win at 0-4. The first half of action saw the Hotshots of Mater Dei jump out to as much as a 14 point lead at 32-18 with less than a minute to go in the first half, and take a 32-20 halftime advantage.
Then, in the second half, Brick Township opened up the scoring with a three pointer that made the score, 34-23 with 18:30 to go in the game. On the very next possession though, Mater Dei increased its margin back to 13 with a field goal at the 18:17 mark that made the score, 36-23. Over the next 7:11 though, Brick Township outscored Mater Dei by a 12-11 margin to close the gap to 47-35. However, the Ocean County team could not get any closer as the Hotshots improved to 5-0 on the season with a 61-47 victory. Next week, there are no games due to the Memorial Day holiday, but the following week, June 2nd action returns with a full slate of games including Mater Dei taking on Toms River East in a showdown of two undefeated teams on the Celtics court at 7:00 PM while Brick will try again to get its first victory went it plays 2nd Baptist Church on the Sixers court at 9:00 PM.
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mater Dei Hotshots (5-0) | 32 | 29 | 61 |
| Brick Township (0-5) | 20 | 27 | 47 |
Lakewood Edges Scrappy East Brunswick To Remain Unbeaten, 58-56
Coming into Monday night’s action, Lakewood was one of only two undefeated teams in the division along with Neptune. Two weeks ago, EB took on the Scarlet Fliers from Neptune, and despite a valiant effort, fell too far behind, and could not overcome the deficit in a 68-55 loss. Meanwhile, Lakewood has gone undefeated, but barely with all of its victories by close margins. As of right now, Neptune appears to be the more formidable squad of the two although, Lakewood, which is based on Ocean County, and competes in one of the Southern Divisions of the Shore Conference, still poses a formidable challenge to the Bears.
Overall, the Bears have played quite well during the course of the spring here at Rebounds. They’ve competed in every game, and have lost their first three games by a combined total of 23 points. Although they are somewhat undersized, and tend to want to run against the likes of Neptune and Lakewood, which may be to their detriment, the Bears have hung in there with scrappy play, hustle, and by making shots, especially from the perimeter. Last week against the Mid-Jersey Heat was perhaps the only time this spring that East Brunswick had a difficult night shooting the ball from the outside. Only Mauro Tucci was able to sink a long distance jumper in the contest that the Bears lost by nine points, 54-45. Leaving late to the game in order to complete the article from action at the Rebounds league two weeks ago, GMC Hoops didn’t arrive at the Rebounds facility until a little bit after 8:00 PM, and by that time, surprisingly, there was only 4:15 to go in the first half with Lakewood leading by a slim, 24-21 margin. The Piners then added a free throw for a four point, 25-21 lead.
On a subsequent Bears possession, East Brunswick got back on the board on a nice rebound and outlet upcourt to Nick Navara, who then was fouled on a layup attempt, and promptly made both free throws for a 25-23 Lakewood lead with 3:36 to go in the half. Unfortunately for EBHS, a bugaboo from the loss to Neptune came up and bit it as Lakewood took advantage of two offensive boards with a score that increased its lead to four at 27-23 with 2:30 to go in the first half. EB fought back though on its very next possession as Dustin Schuld grabbed a rebound and handed out an assist on a three pointer from the left wing by another EB player (Kevin) for a 27-26 Lakewood lead. Neither team would score for a little more than a minute and a half before Lakewood got a bucket on a nice penetration through the middle, and dish for a layup that made the score, 29-26 with 37 seconds left before the brief break. After stopping the Bears on its next possession, the Piners got another two points for a five point advantage as Lakewood reaped the benefits of a nice athletic and acrobatic move for a layup, and a 31-26 score with under ten seconds to go in the half.
On the ensuing inbounds, East Brunswick did a fine job moving the ball quickly up the right sideline for a three point attempt at the buzzer, but the player’s (Kevin’s) shot from the right wing went in and out, and the score remained, 31-26 at the half. In the second half, EB battled, and won the period with a 30-27 edge, but ultimately, it wouldn’t be enough. Lakewood began the scoring in the final period of play with a pair of free throws at the 19:21 mark for a 33-26 edge. The Piners then padded their lead to nine with a tip in for the follow, and a 35-26 advantage. Once again, like they had done against both Neptune and Mid-Jersey Heat in each of the past two weeks, the Bears battled back with their weapon of choice, the three pointer, as they got a trey from the left side that made the score, 35-29 with 16:34 to go in the contest, and then moments later, junior guard, Alec Mayo swiped a steal, which led to a short jumper from the left side by another EB player (Kevin) for a 35-31 Lakewood lead at the 16:21 mark. The Bears got another break thanks to a turnover just seconds after that when the Piners were called for a travel at the 16:13 mark.
Taking advantage of the Lakewood miscue, East Brunswick got a basket off an acrobatic move by a player for a scoop shot that made it a 6-0 run, and closed the gap to two at 35-33 with 15:27 left. Reeling on the ropes, Lakewood promptly turned the ball over again at the 15:18 mark. The Bears then reaped the benefits of the situation once more, and got a score to knot the game up for the first time since GMC Hoops arrival late in the first half at 35-35 with 15:00 left. When Lakewood tried to take the lead, Mayo, a diminutive guard, blocked a shot by a Piner forward down low, and despite grabbing the offensive board, Lakewood lost possession again thanks to a three second violation at the 14:25 mark. However, East Brunswick was unable to take advantage of the situation, and with 13:47 left in the game, the Piners went ahead once again on a putback for a 37-35 lead. EB actually took the lead though on the next possession as Mayo found Tucci in the left corner for a three pointer that made the score, 38-37 with 13:27 left. Lakewood managed to take the lead back again at 39-38 despite losing the handle on another possession when a breakaway layup opportunity was fumbled away as the Piner player heard some footsteps.
Following the Lakewood missed opportunity, East Brunswick took the lead back as Schuld passed to Navara on the right baseline about 12 feet from the basket for a baseline jumper that was true for a 40-39 score with 12:24 to go. The Piners then scored the next four points on a basket while being fouled, and then after missing the bonus foul shot, grabbing the offensive board, and capitalizing on the second chance moments later with a short jumper in the left low block for a 43-40 advantage with 11:35 left. The Bears closed the gap to one again as Tucci flicked in a layup from the left side while stumbling, and that made the score, 42-41 with 10:35 left. Lakewood then made one of two at the line on its next possession for a 44-42 lead as EB called timeout with 9:52 left in the contest. Neither team would score for the next 1:48 before the Piners took a four point lead on a two handed jam that occurred on the follow at the 8:04 mark for a four point, 46-42 lead. Undeterred, the Bears came right back with a score on its very next possession as Navara was fouled on a three point try from the left wing that resulted in three free throws for a 46-45 Lakewood lead at the 7:40 mark.
There would be no scoring for nearly two full minutes before Navara struck again with a jumper from the right side for a 47-46 EB lead at the 5:44 mark. Unfortunately for Bears fans, the lead wouldn’t last long because Lakewood rallied back with the next four points on a layup at the 5:32 mark, and a field goal at the 5:10 mark for a three point Piner lead at 50-47. The GMC squad would pull within one again as they got a basket while being fouled, but misfired on the bonus foul shot for a 50-49 Lakewood lead with 3:20 left. The Piners pushed the margin back up to three with another pair of free throws that made the score, 52-49 at the 1:53 mark, but the Bears replied with a three from Navara on the very next possession to square the game at 52-52 with 1:45 left. Once more though, Lakewood would retake the lead with a layup on its next possession for a 54-52 lead at the 1:33 mark. The game continued to be a tug of war as East Brunswick took its last lead on a three pointer by (Kevin) a player from the right wing that made the score, 55-54 with 1:22 to go. Lakewood then took the lead for good with a three point play some eight seconds later for a 57-55 score. EB would get its final points of the game at the 56.2 mark on a one of two showing at the foul line, but despite several chances down the stretch, the Bears were unable to either tie or win the game as Lakewood remained undefeated. Over the final 14:25 of the contest, there were a total of 12 lead changes and 3 ties. Lakewood improved to 5-0 on the spring while East Brunswick fell to 1-4.
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Lakewood (5-0) | 31 | 27 | 58 |
| East Brunswick (1-4) | 26 | 30 | 56 |