EDISON, NJ–On Tuesday night, GMC Hoops traveled over to the Physical Education Center on the Edison Campus of Middlesex County College to take in the third night of games at the 2009 Middlesex County College Summer League. For ten straight summers, the web site has been covering this league through its ups and downs. There were eight games on the docket on Tuesday night including three contests that involved GMC teams. Take a look at all of the results from the third night of action as well as current standings.
There were three games that the site covered. All of them teams from the GMC while one consisted of teams outside the conference. Over on Court #1, East Brunswick was taking on South Brunswick while on Court #2, South Amboy was battling with Sayreville for Raritan Bay bragging rights. Finally, on Court #3, Highland Park was taking on Roselle Park from Union County.
East Brunswick Rallies From Behind To Defeat South Brunswick, 43-35
These two schools are familiar foes since they compete in the rugged GMC Red Division, and they both went at it tooth and nail in a very competitive game. Both staffs are familiar with each other since South Brunswick’s Bob Henning is the son of Bo Henning, who is the head coach of East Brunswick. In this contest, the Vikings led 28-21 with 13:31 to go before East Brunswick go two free throws to pull within five at 28-23 at the 13:10 mark. Little did the site know that those two foul shots were the start of what would be a decisive 22-7 tear the rest of the way for a 43-35 victory. When GMC Hoops returned from watching South Amboy play Sayreville, and Highland Park take on Roselle Park, the Bears were already up by a score of 39-35 with 58 seconds to play.
EB had a chance to go up further, but misfired on both foul shots. However, on the second missed free throw, the Bears got the key offensive rebound, and eventually drew another foul that resulted in a pair of charity shots at the 34 second mark for a 41-35 lead. The Vikes then had the ball stolen with 17 seconds left, and East Brunswick was fouled again with 12 seconds to go. After getting a kind bounce for the make on the first free throw attempt, the Bears netted the second foul shot for an eight point, 43-35 lead. EB then got another steal with four seconds left to close out the victory. With the win, East Brunswick improves to 2-1 on the summer while South Brunswick drops to 1-2.
South Amboy Downs Sayreville In Battle Of Raritan Bay, 40-34
While East Brunswick was rallying to defeat rival South Brunswick, there was a Battle of Raritan Bay taking place on Court #2. The Guvs of South Amboy were taking on the Bombers of Sayreville. Both teams entered Tuesday night’s action with 0-2 records so someone had to emerge from the contest with a win. GMC Hoops caught up to this game with 13 minutes to go, and the Guvs out in front, 26-19. South Amboy had a chance to go up even further, but was called for a traveling violation at the 12:13 mark. The Bombers then made a layup at the 11:20 mark to pull within five at 26-21. The bucket sparked a 5-2 rally that closed the gap to 28-24 with 7:42 remaining. Sayreville wasn’t through either as the Bombers came up with three more points over the next 1:03 to pull within one at 28-27 with 6:39 left.
South Amboy would get a score for some much needed breathing room, but then the Bombers tied the game up at 30-30 with a three pointer from the left side at the 4:50 mark. Following a timeout at the 4:40 mark, the Governors began to take control of the game for good with five straight points over the next 1:34 for a 35-30 lead. Neither team scored much over the next 1:13, but Sayreville still managed to close the gap again to three at 35-32 with 1:53 left. Several seconds later, the Bombers got on the board again with a pair of free throws to pull within one again at 35-34. However, Luke O’Connor came up with a pivotal basket at the 1:30 mark for a 37-34 lead, and then the Guvs scored again with 44 seconds to play to round out the 40-34 win. With the victory, the Guvs improve to 1-2 on the summer while the Bombers slipped to 0-3.
Highland Park Pulls Away In Second Half For Win Over Roselle Park, 46-35
In the final game covered on Court #3, Highland Park and Roselle Park were going at it in a contest pitting two Group I schools. Like Sayreville and South Amboy, the Owls and the Panthers entered the evening at 0-2 so someone had to come out a winner. Tom Sclafani, who had previously coached at Highland Park, was back at it on the sidelines again for the Owls, which participated at the East Brunswick Team Camp last week. GMC Hoops joined the action in this game with the Owls already leading by six, 31-25 with 8:50 to go. Following a Highland Park timeout, the Owls failed to score thanks to a traveling call on what appeared to be a nice move at the 8:36 mark. Roselle Park then made one of two free throws at the 8:06 mark, and on the missed second shot, the Panthers got the ball back, but couldn’t take advantage.
About two minutes later though, Roselle Park made one of two from the foul line again to close within four at 31-27 with 6:07 to go. Neither team would score for about a minute and twelve seconds before the Owls got on the board with an offensive rebound, and putback at the 4:55 mark for a 33-27 lead. Roselle Park quickly retaliated though with a field goal at the 4:40 mark for a 33-29 Owl edge. Highland Park would get another basket to go up by six before the Panthers came back with another one of two showing from the charity stripe with 3:23 remaining for a 35-30 lead. The Owls then added a free throw before missing a one and one with 2:19 to go in the game. Highland Park then took command with a steal and assist on a layup for an eight point, 38-30 lead with 1:45 to play. From there, the Owls outscored the Panthers, 8-5 for a 46-35 win. With the victory, the Owls are now 1-3 on the summer while the Panthers are now 0-3.
GMC Hoops will return on Thursday for the fourth night of action from the MCC Summer League.