NEPTUNE, NJ–On Monday night, GMC Hoops headed back down to Rebounds after work to take in the fifth week of action with another 9:00 PM game between Spotswood and Ocean Township. Both teams entered play at 2-2 after the Chargers had lost two games in a row including an overtime defeat to South Brunswick last week. The Spartans, which compete in the Class B North Division of the Shore Conference, were coming off a defeat to Southern Regional of Manahawkin in Ocean County. GMC Hoops got there late after having some dinner on the road.
Spotswood Hangs On For Victory After Having Huge Early Second Half Lead, 50-42
Arriving with 11:17 to go the web site sat down amongst some Ocean Township fans and parents with the Chargers on top by a 9-6 score. Over the next 9:12, Spotswood embarked on a 19-4 surge including a 13-0 tear over a span of 6:13 for a 28-10 lead, and eventually a 29-12 halftime lead. The closest Ocean was in the first half was about a minute and fifteen seconds after the site’s arrival when the Spartans got a steal for a layup to pull within one at 9-8 with 10:02 to go in the first half. Cody Pace then sparked the pivotal first half run with a steal and pass upcourt to Gerhart, who slashed his way in for a layup while being fouled for a traditional three point play, and 12-18 lead at the 8:37 mark.
Thirty-one seconds later, Ocean called for a timeout, but the stoppage wasn’t a remedy. Following the timeout, Pace was fouled on a drive that resulted in a pair of free throws for a 14-8 advantage at the 7:41 mark. Over a minute later, James Pareti found Tyler Osofsky on the right wing for a three pointer, and a 17-8 lead. It would be the first of four threes by Osofsky in the final 6:30 of the half. Forty-eight seconds later, Gerhart drove and then dished to a Spotswood forward for a layup, and a 19-8 lead at the 5:42 mark. Nearly a minute and a half later, James Pareti found Osofsky again for another trey that capped a 13-0 run for a 22-8 lead with 4:14 to go before the intermission. Ocean finally ended a 6:13 scoring drought with an offensive rebound and follow for a 22-10 Charger edge at the 3:49 mark.
Osofsky then went back to work with a three pointer on the very next Spotswood possession for a 25-10 lead at the 3:35 mark, and then James Pareti, one of the Pareti twins, found Osofsky again in the left corner for a trifecta that made the score, 28-10 with 2:05 to go in the half. The Spartans then outscored the Chargers by a 2-1 margin the rest of the way for a 29-12 Spotswood lead at the brief break. In the second half, Ocean Township rallied to the tune of a 30-21 showing, but it wouldn’t be enough as it couldn’t overcome an eight point deficit in the end. The Chargers actually started the second half with 5-2 run to go up by an astounding 20 points at 34-14 with 17:50 remaining. However, Ocean rallied with an 8-0 spurt, and then a 6-0 run for a 14-6 tear over a span of 5:50 that closed the gap to 40-28 with 12 minutes left.
As mentioned earlier, Spotswood started the second half much like it had ended the first with a steal that led to a Gerhart dish to Tom Pareti for a layup, and a 31-12 lead with 19:42 to play. Then, after a score by Ocean, Pat Dwyer came up with a three pointer from the left wing for a 34-14 Charger lead at the 17:50 mark. At this point, the Spartans began to rally with back to back three point plays for a 6-0 run over the next 1:57 to pull within 14 at 34-20 at the 15:53. Ocean then got the ball back, and drove in from the right wing for a layup that capped the 8-0 run, and force Spotswood to call for time at the 15:15 mark with the score now reading 34-22 in favor of the Chargers.
Following the timeout, the Chargers got going again as Gerhart, who has shown a more aggressive side of late by going to the basket, knifed into the key from the right side for the layin, and the foul for a three point play that made the score, 37-22 with 15:03 to go. Ocean then reeled off another six points to pull within a dozen before Gerhart struck for three via a different route, a trey from the left side for a 43-28 lead. The Spartans again registered another six unanswered points including an offensive rebound and follow on a missed free throw that capped a one of two showing at the line for an unconventional three point play that pulled them within nine points at 43-34 with 8:17 left. Ocean Township had a chance to get closer, but Osofsky came up with a huge play on defense in the form of a charge at the 7:32.
On the next Spotswood possession, Gerhart made one of two at the foul line to put the Chargers back up by ten at 44-34 with 6:55 to go. Ocean then pulled within eight on a nice feed down low that drew a foul, and netted two free throws for a 44-36 score. The Spartans then had two opportunities at the foul line to get closer, but failed to capitalize. At the 4:41 mark, Ocean Township was fouled on the follow, but came up empty in two attempts at the line. Then, at the 2:46 mark, another nice dish set up a scoring opportunity that drew another foul, but the Spartans misfired again on two free throws. The Chargers then got the rebound on the second missed charity shot, and that led to a Dwyer feed to Pace for a layup , and a 46-36 lead with 2:24 to go. Neither team would score for nearly a minute and a half before Pace inbounded to Dwyer for a layup at the 56.3 mark for a 48-36 lead.
The Spartans pulled within ten again at 48-38, but after quickly getting the ball back, Ocean Township turned the ball over as Pace swiped a steal for a layup, and a 50-38 lead. Ocean then closed the game with four straight points, but Spotswood came away with the 50-42 win. With the victory, the Chargers improved to 3-2 overall while the Spartans dropped to 2-3.
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spotswood (3-2) | 29 | 21 | 50 |
| Ocean Township (2-3) | 12 | 30 | 42 |
GMC Hoops plans to be back down at Rebounds again next Monday night to see East Brunswick against St. John Vianney, and Spotswood back in action with a game against G-Force of Union County.