NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–On Tuesday night, the second full week of basketball continued at the 2008 Star-Ledger Summer League over at the College Avenue Barn on the main campus of Rutgers University. Once again there was a full slate of two games with one starting at approximately 6:30 PM followed by the nightcap at about 8:15 PM. GMC Hoops did not attend these games since he was covering action in the Bound Brook Summer League. However, Jay Gomes of NJ Hoops provided the results from the night’s play.
In the first contest, the Scarlet Fever knocked Bignell Planning from the ranks of the unbeaten with an 86-82 victory. Former St. Joseph’s of Metuchen standout, Sean Baptiste of FDU, came up with a team high 25 points, 8 rebounds, and 7 assists for the Scarlet Fever while former St. Benedict’s star, and current NJIT player, Jheryl Wilson netted a game high 26 along with 9 rebounds and 6 assists in the loss for Bignell. Former Raritan standout, Qu’rran Calhoun (15 points), who played a big role in the Comets win over South Plainfield in the North Jersey Section 2 Group III Championship back in 2004, and now plays for Houston teamed up with former Sayreville star and Rutgers walk-on, Kofi Genfi with 9 rebounds each for the Scarlet Fever. Newark native, Charles Funchess, who plays for Paris Junior College in Texas had the game high in boards with 11. Former Westfield High School standout, Mike Venezia chipped in for the losing cause with 23 points and 8 rebounds.
In the second game, D’Annunzio & Sons moved into first place by a half a game with a 101-91 victory over Nelligan Sports Marketing. Corey Chandler, a former Newark Eastside standout, and now of Rutgers, joined Pat Jackson of Rutgers and Justin Garris of NJIT, former Linden star Daryl Lampley of St. Peter’s and former McCarrick standout Mike Burwell of South Kent with a game high of 17 points. In the rebounding department, 6’11” big man, Hamady N’Diaye (D’ANN) of Rutgers matched Nelligan’s Chris Gaston (15 points) of Fordham with 9 rebounds for the game high. Chandler, who also had 8 rebounds, dished out a team high 8 assists while Woodbridge native, and former St. Pat’s star, Mike Nardi, who now plays at Villanova, handed out a game high 9 assists. N’Diaye, who collected 16 points for the winners also added 8 blocked shots. Tony Murphy had a stat stuffer’s delight performance in a losing cause for Nelligan with 11 points, 6 rebounds, and 4 assists.
Action will resume again at the Star-Ledger College Summer League on Wednesday night rather than Thursday to account for the holiday weekend.