NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–On Sunday June 22, 2008, the 3rd Annual Star-Ledger Summer League began with its opening night doubleheader, and for the first time in league history, both opening night contests went to overtime. GMC Hoops managed to catch the last game of the night between D’Annunzio & Sons and Bignell Planning, but thanks to the efforts of Jay Gomes of NJ Hoops, the site was able to obtain info on the first game as well.
In the first contest, AXA Advisors, which has the likes of former South Brunswick standout, Devon Young, who now plays at Felician, and Woodbridge’s Richie Jean Jacques, who plays now at Rutgers-Camden, had to go the extra session before knocking off VP Builders, 115-103. Mike Rosario, who just finished a standout career at national powerhouse, St. Anthony’s of Jersey City, and is headed to Rutgers, led all scorers with a game high 39 points for AXA. Meanwhile, former St. Augustine’s Prep star, and current player at Rutgers, Anthony Farmer, registered 27 points along with 4 assists.
In the rebounding department, Earl Pettis of Rutgers, who also collected 31 points and dished out 6 assists grabbed 12 boards for AXA while Blair Academy’s Austin Johnson pulled down 9 for VP Builders. Jonathan Mitchell of Rutgers had 19 points and 9 rebounds for AXA while Jaron Griffin of Rutgers had 21 points, 8 rebounds and 4 steals for VP. Terrence Grier of FDU, who played high school ball at Cranford, and had been at Rhode Island, had 11 points, 8 rebounds and 6 assists. A half-court three pointer at the buzzer by Rashod Calloway (VP) of Tampa sent the game into the extra session.
In the second contest, D’Annunzio & Sons held a seemingly commanding lead at one point, 65-47 after an 18-4 run early on in the second half, but Bignell Planning chipped away to pull within 13 at about the midway point of the second half, and then went on a 18-2 surge to actually go ahead by three, 85-82 late in regulation. However, D’Annunzio & Sons rallied back to force the extra session with the score tied at 90-90. Then, in the overtime period, Dana John of New Jersey City University, who scored a game high 34 points, went off with three clutch threes to break the game open, and guide Bignell to a 107-101 win. Former Newark Eastside standout, Corey Chandler of Rutgers paced D’Annunzio & Sons with a team high 31 points.
Charles Funchess, a Newark native, who now plays at Paris Junior College in Texas, came up with a double-double of 14 points and 12 rebounds including two clutch free throws late that helped Bignell tie the game and force overtime. Former Life Center product, and California Prep school star, Hamady N’Diaye of Rutgers collected a double-double of his own with 11 points and 11 rebounds along with 4 blocked shots. N’Diaye scored 7 of those points in the final two minutes of the first half. Former St. Anthony’s star, Ahmad Mosby of Ramapo and Corey Chandler each had 4 assists to share game high in that category while James Ulrich of Wagner had 14 points and 8 rebounds for Bignell, and former Piscataway native, and Oak Hill Academy player, Deshawn Mitchell of UNLV had 10 points and 6 rebounds.
GMC Hoops arrived at the gym with the score reading 27-22 in favor of D’Annunzio & Sons with 7:50 to go in the first half. Over the next 1:35, D’Annunzio & Sons, which for the second year in a row, is coached by former Piscataway standout, Hillside head coach, and current Middlesex County College head coach, Corey Lowery, scored 7 of the next 10 points to increase its advantage to 34-25. Bignell Planning then tried to get back into the game with a 7-4 run over the next 2:43 to cut into the deficit for a 38-32 D & S lead with 3:32 remaining before the intermission. N’Diaye then got into the act with a three point play at about the two minute mark that expanded the D & S lead to 41-32. Bignell rallied again though with a 7-2 spurt over the next 1:30 or so to pull within four at 43-39 before N’Diaye struck again with a two handed jam that made it 45-39 with 29 seconds left. N’Diaye then closed out the first half with a short fade away jumper from the right low block for the 47-39 D’Annunzio & Sons lead at the half.
The second half began with Bignell going on a 4-0 run over the first 1:35 or so to trim the deficit in half to 47-43 with 18:25 to go. However, D’Annunzio & Sons responded with seven straight points over the next 1:10 to go up by double digits at 54-43 as Bignell called for time with 17:15 to go in the game. Following the timeout, D & S continued its run with 11 of the next 15 points over the next three minutes or so to seemingly break open the game at 65-47 with 14:30 to go. Bignell refused to give in, and continued to battle. By about the nine minute mark, Bignell Planning had already begun to chip into the deficit with a 20-15 showing to close to within, 80-67. Then, for the next seven minutes, Bignell surged with an 18-2 run that catapulted it into the lead for the first time since GMC Hoops arrival at 85-82 with about two minutes to play in regulation.
But, D’Annunzio & Sons would fight back as well. Finishing regulation with an 8-5 run, D & S forced an extra session. Highlighting the run was N’Diaye, who came up with a three point play at the 30 second mark to put D & S ahead by two, 89-87. Charles Funchess then helped force the extra period with two free throws in the waning seconds. With the score tied at 90-90 in overtime, Dana John of New Jersey City University sparked Bignell with three huge treys that helped set the pace and the tone in the extra period. D & S got to within four at 103-99, but couldn’t get any closer as Bignell came away with a character building, come from behind win, 107-101.
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bignell Planning (1-0) | 47 | 43 | 17 | 107 |
| D’Annunzio & Sons (0-1) | 39 | 51 | 11 | 101 |