Conference Teams Lose All Five Games Against Non-Conference Foes
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–If you’re a true GMC fan, then the results from non-conference games played on Friday were not too pleasing. There were five games involving GMC teams against foes from outside of Middlesex County. All five contests resulted in losses, which dropped the GMC’s combined record against non-conference schools to 68-46 overall. The GMC lost two games against the Shore Conference, one game against the Skyland Conference, one against the Union County Conference, and another against the Super Essex Conference. Most notable were the defeats suffered by Monroe and St. Joseph’s at the 2010 Prime Time Shootout held at Kean University.
The Purple Birds lost to Ridge of the Skyland Conference’s Delaware West Division by a score of 79-59 while St. Joseph’s fell to Plainfield of the Union County Conference’s Watchung Division by a score of 62-49 in the nightcap. However, there were other losses too. St. John Vianney was led by former Ridge standout Ishaq Pitt in a blowout victory over Old Bridge (65-32). Keyport was the other Shore Conference team that defeated a GMC school as it defeated South Amboy (59-35). Finally, Bloomfield of the Super Essex Conference’s Liberty Division soundly defeated Dunellen (70-38). The GMC made up a little bit of ground when Piscataway defeated Asbury Park of the Shore Conference on Saturday (75-49).
After play on Saturday, the boys basketball teams in the Greater Middlesex Conference have a combined mark of 69-46 (.600). The GMC is 9-6 against the Shore Conference, 9-7 against the Union County Conference, 1-1 versus the Super Essex Conference, and 7-10 versus the Skyland Conference. Prior to Friday, the GMC had gone 63-34 after getting off to a 5-7 start. Ridge’s victory over Monroe made it 2-0 against teams from the GMC White Division. Over the holidays, the Red Devils defeated Colonia (52-49) in the opening round of the Len Sepanak Holiday Tournament. Plainfield is also 2-0 versus the GMC this year. The Cardinals defeated Cardinal McCarrick (54-46) several weeks back in addition to defeating St. Joe’s. Keyport also has a 2-0 mark against GMC teams. The Red Raiders defeated Highland Park (68-52) several weeks ago as well.
St. Joseph’s, which is undefeated against teams from the GMC (15-0), is 3-4 against non-conference foes. The Falcons have defeated Union, Sandy Creek (GA), and Moore Catholic while they have lost to Archbishop Moeller (OH), St. Pius X (GA), St. Anthony’s, and Plainfield. Monroe, which has only one loss in the GMC (14-1) is 3-2 against non-conference competition with victories over Barnegat (67-46), Toms River East (58-35), and Lawrence while it has lost to Brick Memorial (56-53) and Ridge. Friday’s loss ended a 13 game winning streak for the Purple Birds. Playing well in non-conference play is a good measure of how well prepared GMC teams are for the states. Different conferences play different styles, and teams that are able to adapt best to those styles will be more successful in state tourney play.