NEPTUNE, NJ–It was another rainy and dreary night for GMC Hoops to take the trip down Route 35 to Rebounds, and back on Route 18, but it was well worth it as the site was treated to another fine game involving the Falcons of Monroe Township, the only team from the Greater Middlesex Conference participating in this year’s Hoop Group Headquarters Spring High School Boys League.
Monroe, which moved up to Central Jersey Group IV this season, took on Manasquan, the recently crowned Central Jersey Group II Champion. Both teams had a common opponent this past year in Middlesex, which the Purple Birds defeated (58-51) in the Round of 16 in the 2009 Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament while the Warriors knocked off the Blue Jays (59-36) to win the CJ Group II Championship at South Brunswick High School. This game would be a hotly contested game from start to finish, but Manasquan’s overall shooting, and size advantage would gain it the edge for its first victory of the spring.
In a game that saw 12 lead changes and 3 ties while Monroe didn’t hold a lead bigger than three points and Manasquan’s largest advantage was only nine, the Warriors rallied from a late 46-43 deficit with a 7-2 run over a minute and a half to take a 50-48 lead on a three pointer. Manasquan seemed to have the game sown up late with a 54-50 advantage with only 1:03 left, but Monroe hung around as Travis Dufner made two free throws at the 50.5 second mark for a 54-52 score, and then the junior forward made just one of two at the 27.8 second mark for a 54-53 Warrior lead. The Purple Birds then had a chance to take the lead when freshman guard, Ahmid Williams swiped a steal, but Monroe failed to put it in, and despite getting a break, turned the ball over on the ensuing inbounds with 6.1 seconds left. The Falcons refused to quit by getting another Manasquan turnover that set up a last second heave by Dufner that went off the iron as time expired with the Warriors winning, 54-53.
As a team Monroe struggled from the field going only 10 of 31 from two point range, and 4 of 12 from beyond the arc for a 14 of 43 effort (32.6 percent) from the floor overall. However, the Falcons uncharacteristically performed well at the line, and that effort helped keep them in the game. The Purple Birds, not known for its proficiency in free throw shooting, went an astounding 21 of 23 from the line for 91.3 percent. The effort included a 6 of 6 effort from Timmy Brix, a 5 of 5 showing by younger brother Danny Brix, 2 of 2 makes by both Kenny Pace and Mike Walp, and even a 6 of 8 performance by Dufner, who missed the only two free throws of the game for Monroe. The Purple Birds also did a fine job taking care of the basketball with only 10 turnovers while swiping 11 steals.
Leading the way for Monroe was Williams, who despite being limited in the second half somewhat, still managed to connect on 5 of 7 attempts from the floor including a three pointer for 11 points to go along with 3 rebounds, an assist and a steal. Timmy Brix led all Monroe scorers with 13 points along with 3 steals, 2 assists, and 2 rebounds while younger brother Danny chipped in with 12 as well as 4 steals, 3 assists, and 2 rebounds. Dufner collected 8 points, 3 rebounds, an assist, and a steal while Pace added 7 points, 3 rebounds, and an assist. Walp rounded out the Monroe scoring with 2 points, 4 rebounds, and a steal while Mike Mahmoud (3 rebounds, 2 assists, a steal, and a block) played, but didn’t score.
The Falcons really struggled with Manasquan thanks to its superior perimeter shooting, and size inside. Monroe only managed to collect 20 rebounds overall including 8 on the offensive boards while the Warriors had several second and third chance opportunities. In the first 4:45, Manasquan went 6 of 8 from the field including two three pointers for a 14-7 lead at the 15:15 mark. The Warriors opened the scoring with a layup off a nice pass on the inbounds underneath at the 19:28 mark. Williams then connected for a three pointer from the right side at the other end for a Monroe 3-2 lead. Manasquan came right back with a bucket to go up 4-3 before the Falcons came back with a score to go up 5-4. The Warriors then began to take control of the game with a three pointer from the right corner at the 17:48 mark for a 7-5 lead, and another trey some 20 seconds later for a 10-5 lead at the 17:28 mark.
From that point until the 12 second mark of the first half, the Warriors held the lead, a span of 17:36. A minute after the second trey by Manasquan, Timmy Brix got Monroe within three on a pair of free throws at the 16:28 mark. Over the next 1:13, the Warriors would get two more field goals to complete a 10-2 spurt for their biggest lead of the night thus far. At the 15:46 mark, Manasquan sank a baseline jumper from the left side for a 12-7 lead, and then a little more than thirty seconds after that, Manasquan got another score thanks to a steal for a layup, and a 14-7 advantage with 15:15 to play in the opening half. Monroe fought back though with Kenny Pace playing an integral part. Pace first sank a three pointer from the top of the key to close the gap to 14-10 at the 14:50 mark, and then handed out an assist on a trifecta by Danny Brix for a 14-13 score with 12:45 to go in the half.
Over the next 3:45, Manasquan retook control of the game with an 8-2 spurt that consisted of two free throws at the 12:14 mark, a baseline jumper again from the right side at the 11:15 mark, a steal off a Walp pass for a dunk at the other end with 10:38 left in the half, and then another steal and score for a 22-15 lead. Pace’s two free throws at the 10:09 mark were the only Monroe points during that span. Timmy Brix got the Falcons to within five again on a pair of free throws for a 22-17 Manasquan lead at the 8:31 mark. Neither team would score for the next 2:18 before the Warriors got a steal off Pace, and used great teamwork to produce a layup at the other end for a 24-17 lead with 6:13 to go in the half. Both teams exchanged scores as the Warriors took their biggest lead of the night before Danny Brix sank a pair of charity shots for a 26-19 Manasquan lead with 5:04 to play in the half.
Over the next 2:01, Williams starred as he scored all six of Monroe’s points in a 6-2 burst that closed the gap to 28-25 at the 3:03 mark. Walp then inched the Purple Birds closer with a pair of foul shots at the 2:05 mark for a 28-27 score. Manasquan made one of two at the lead to go back up by two at 29-27 with 19.8 to go in the half, and then Timmy Brix ended the first half scoring with a layin with 12 seconds to go for the 29-29 tie at the break. In the first half, Monroe was just 8 of 23 overall for 34.8 percent including 5 of 14 from two point range, and 3 of 9 from three point range. The Falcons, were, however, a perfect 10 of 10 from the line while only making 6 turnovers. Williams was a spark with 9 points and 3 rebounds. He shot 4 of 6 from the field including a three pointer.
The early part of the second half showed a tug of war like nature to the struggle as Monroe took it’s first lead since about the 18:00 mark of the first half when Dufner sank one of two at the line for a 30-29 edge after neither team scored for the first 2:48 of the new period. Manasquan then retaliated with a layup at the 16:29 mark for a 31-30 lead, but Timmy Brix replied with another perfect 2 of 2 showing at the line for a 32-31 lead with 15:57 to go in the game. The Warriors took almost a minute, but would take the lead again with a strong drive to the basket for a layup, and a foul that was converted into a traditional three point play for a 34-32 advantage at the 15:03 mark of the second half. Neither team scored for over two minutes before the Warriors got on the board again with a one of two showing at the line for a 35-32 lead. However, nearly a minute and a half later, Manasquan fouled Danny Brix on a three point attempt from the left side that resulted in a 3 of 3 effort from the line, and a 35-35 tie with 11:36 to go.
Following a Falcon timeout at the 10:48 mark, the Falcons took the lead back on Williams only field goal of the second half, which was a layup from Mike Mahmoud at the 9:52 mark. Manasquan then made one of two at the foul line for a 37-36 Monroe lead at the 9:13 mark. Nearly a minute later, Dufner connected on both of his foul shots for a 39-36 advantage at the 8:15 mark. Manasquan didn’t go away though by scoring 7 of the next 11 points over the next 2:55 including a three pointer at the 5:20 mark for a 43-43 tie. Fifty seconds later though, Monroe retook the lead as Williams penetrated, and kicked out to Timmy Brix on the left wing for a three pointer, and a 46-43 lead with 4:30 to go. The Warriors, however, would take the lead for good by scoring 7 of the next 9 points including another clutch three for a 50-48 edge at the 2:57 mark.
Despite a block by Mahmoud, Manasquan went up by four on an offensive rebound and follow that made it 52-48 with exactly two minutes left. Danny Brix then came up with a huge defensive play by swiping a steal that he converted into a layup for a 52-50 score as the Falcons called for time at the 1:19 mark. Following the timeout, Manasquan came up with what would prove to be the game clinching basket on a floater with 1:03 remaining to make the score, 54-50. The Purple Birds wouldn’t go away though. On the very next possession, Dufner netted a pair at the foul line that made the score, 54-52, and then Manasquan was cited for traveling by the officials with 41.6 seconds to play. Dufner then was fouled on a subsequent possession, and had a chance to tie the game, but only made one of two at the line for a 54-53 score with 27.8 left to play.
Not giving up, Monroe caught another break as Williams got a steal, and the Falcons tried to cash in. However, the first shot attempt wouldn’t fall, and then Timmy Brix’s offensive rebound and follow wouldn’t go. However, the Falcons managed to keep possession, and call for time with 10.2 seconds left. Unfortunately for Monroe, the Falcons would turn the ball over on the ensuing inbounds as Manasquan stole the pass, and called timeout to keep possession with 6.1 seconds remaining. The Purple Birds still managed to get the ball back, and Dufner let fly a long heave from beyond midcourt that hit the right side of the back iron as time expired. With the 54-53 win, Manasquan improved to 1-2 on the spring while Monroe fell to 1-2.
| Team | 1 | 2 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manasquan (1-2) | 29 | 25 | 54 |
| Monroe (1-2) | 29 | 24 | 53 |
GMC Hoops plans to be back out to Rebounds on Monday, May 11th to see Monroe again in action against St. John Vianney of Holmdel.