2009 Summer Prime Time Shootout–Capsules–August 8th

ALLENTOWN, NJ–On Saturday, GMC Hoops saw the final four games from the second day of the 2009 Summer Prime Time Shootout. In addition, the site got results from four another games including two involving St. Joseph’s, and one involving Piscataway. This is the second straight year the site is covering the event, and third time ever. Below are brief capsules of each of the eight games.

Game #1–St. Joseph’s vs. The Hun School

The Falcons started their appearance at the Summer Prime Time Shootout on a positive note with a victory over The Hun School from Princeton, and the Mid-Atlantic Prep League. St. Joseph’s defeated Hun by a score of 47-41 in a game played on Saturday afternoon. In 2008-09, the Raiders of Hun went 11-12 overall including a loss to Cardinal McCarrick in the Joe Silver Holiday Tournament in Hillside. Hun was 5-4 in league play.


Game #2–St. Joseph’s vs. Cherokee

The Falcons went 2-0 on the day after beating a Cherokee team from the Olympic Conference in double overtime by a score of 42-40. Last season, the Chiefs went 20-6 overall including a 7-3 record in league play. Cherokee advanced to the semifinals of the South Jersey Group IV Tournament, where it lost to eventual Group IV Champion and Tournament of Champions semifinalist, Lenape.


Game #3–Ridge vs. Piscataway

In a rematch of their Len Sepanak Holiday Tournament Championship game, Ridge bested the younger Piscataway Chiefs by a score of 57-51. The Red Devils, which lost in their second game at the Summer Prime Time Shootout to Ewing on Friday afternoon, headed into the late summer event with a 29-7 record including an appearance in the Championship Game of the morning session of the Ironman Challenge before losing to state and national powerhouse, St. Anthony’s while the Chiefs were scheduled to take on Nazareth of the New York City Catholic League later on in the evening.


Game #4–Plainfield vs. Timber Creek

The Cardinals have lost a great deal with the departures of Isiah Epps and Anthony Baskerville, but they still have Mike Price and Tyrone Johnson returning. The North Jersey Section 2 Group IV Champions, and state semifinalists took on Timber Creek from South Jersey and the Olympic Conference. In a tightly played game, Plainfield edged Timber Creek, 41-36. The Chargers went 17-11 overall last season including a 7-3 mark in league play, and lost in the South Jersey Group III State Tournament Quarterfinals to Shawnee (60-53).


Game #5–Piscataway vs. Nazareth (NY)

Behind the efforts of soon to be senior Wayne Newsome, Piscataway jumped out to an early 9-2 lead, but Nazareth, a team from the New York City Catholic League, which played in the Elizabeth Summer League a number of years ago, cut the deficit to three by halftime (27-24), and then locked down on defense with a 15-11 showing in the final 20 minutes for a 39-38 victory over the Chiefs. The Kingsmen, which went 11-14 overall in 2008-09 including 8-9 in league play, competes against the likes of Bishop Ford, and Monsignor McClancy, another team playing in this event.


Game #6–Cherokee vs. Middle Township

The Cherokee Chiefs ended up 0-2 on the day with another tough luck loss. This time it was to Middle Township of the National Division in the Cape Atlantic League of South Jersey. The Panthers, which finished 20-7 overall including a 13-3 mark in league play, had a 26-25 lead early in the second half, but the Chiefs rallied by scoring five of the next eight points including a three pointer, and a field goal for a 30-29 lead at the 15:26 mark. Cherokee increased that lead with a three pointer while Middle Township got a layup that made the score, 33-31 with 12:20 left. However, the Panthers took control of the game with a 4-0 run, and then added two free throws at the 7:07 mark for a 37-34 edge. Cherokee got within two on a score with 46.3 seconds remaining, but Middle Township sealed the 44-40 victory with a steal for a breakaway layup at the 11.8 second mark.


Game #7–Plainfield vs. Hyde (CT)

This contest was quite an entertaining one as the Cardinals went to two overtimes before losing to Hyde by a point. The Connecticut school led 23-17 with 46.3 to go in the first half before Plainfield netted two free throws at the 13.7 second mark for a 23-19 halftime score. Hyde opened the second half with an 8-4 spurt for a 31-23 lead before Plainfield put together their best effort of the game with a 14-0 tear over a span of 10:45 to lead 37-31 with 2:57 remaining in regulation. Against the ropes, Hyde rallied with a 9-3 run including a three pointer, a field goal, and then a jumper to tie it at 40-40 with 42.6 seconds left. Neither team was able to score down the stretch, and the contest went to overtime where the scoring drought continued. However, in the second extra session, Hyde emerged victorious with three point with 27.5 seconds left for a 43-42 win after Plainfield opened the period with a field goal for a 42-40 lead.


Game #8–Monsignor McClancy vs. Elizabeth

In the final game of the evening on the West Court, Monsignor McClancy of the New York City Catholic League, took on Elizabeth. The Minutemen got off to a fast start with a 27-14 surge over the first 14:34 of the contest. McClancy made one of two from the line at both the 3:18 and 50.3 second marks, but they were bookends to a 4-0 run by Elizabeth for a 31-18 score. The Minutemen of Union County then scored the final points of the half for a 33-18 lead. In the second half, McClancy wasn’t able to put a dent into its deficit with a 19-17 run over the first 17:34 of the half, and then Elizabeth closed out the scoring with a layup for the 52-37 victory.

GMC Hoops was back out at Allentown High School for the final day of action on Sunday.