NEPTUNE, NJ–On Monday night, GMC Hoops headed down Route 18 South to Monmouth County to take in the final week of action in the 2010 Hoop Group Headquarters Spring League. This week was the Showcase Games featuring the best matchups between teams with similar records. Both GMC teams, South River played earlier in the evening, and lost to Manasquan in a battle of winless teams. However, the site did manage to catch Monroe in action for the first time this spring in a Division A rematch against Neptune. Then, in the nightcap, GMC Hoops stayed around to watch G-Force Gold take on Asbury Park Black in a crossover game featuring the top team from Division B.
G-Force Gold Finishes Best Spring Season By Defeating Asbury Park Black, 58-55
After watching the second half of the Showcase Game played between Monroe and Neptune, GMC Hoops managed to catch some of the action in a nightcap game played between G-Force Gold and Asbury Park Black. G-Force entered the contest at 6-1, but was facing a formidable challenge in an Asbury Park Black team that faced the rigors of a tougher Division A schedule.
While watching the Monroe game, the site managed to catch a few glances at what was going on in this game. G-Force Gold trailed by a half dozen at 30-24 going into the intermission. Asbury Park Black then opened up the second half with an 8-5 run for a nine point, 38-29 advantage before G-Force battled back with an 8-6 run to pull within seven at 44-37 with 9:52 to play. The Stallions then scored six unanswered to creep within one at 44-43 at the 7:37 mark. G-Force Gold then got a three point play to go ahead 46-44 at the 7:30 mark.
The Bishops of Asbury Park Black then tied the game up at 46-46 with a score at the 6:06 mark, but G-Force Gold scored six of the next ten points to go up 52-50 with 5.8 seconds remaining. Asbury Park Black then tied the game, and had a chance to win after getting a basket while being fouled with 2.2 seconds to go in regulation. As G-Force head coach, Bob Gomulka watched on with his hands behind his head, Asbury Park missed the bonus free throw, and the game went to overtime tied up at 52-52. In the extra session, G-Force Gold took advantage of its second chance, and pulled away with a 6-3 showing for the 58-55 win.
G-Force opened the overtime scoring with two free throws at the 1:19 mark for a 54-52 lead. Rob Gomulka then extended the edge to four with a drive to the basket from the left side that drew a foul, and produced two free throws for a 56-52 score at the 36.7 second mark. The Stallions then added two free throws at the 10.5 second mark to seal the victory with a 58-52 lead. Asbury Park Black rounded out the scoring with a three pointer as time expired, but G-Force came away with the hard fought win.
With the win, G-Force Gold finished 7-1 on the spring while Asbury Park Black ended up at 4-4. Combined with G-Force Black, the G-Force squads went 12-4 this season. The two Asbury Park teams that competed in the league were a combined 9-7.
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| G-Force Gold (7-1) | 24 | 28 | 6 | 58 |
| Asbury Park Black (4-4) | 30 | 22 | 3 | 55 |
Monroe Avenges Only Loss Of Spring By Downing Neptune, 65-60
GMC Hoops saved the best for last this week. For the first time this spring, it was able to see the Monroe Falcons in action. All season, Monroe had been playing at 7:00 PM. So, by the time the site arrived at the Hoop Group Headquarters after work and driving down to Neptune, the Falcons were already on their way home. However, the Falcons were playing at 8:00 PM on this day since they were involved in the premiere Showcase Game against Neptune. The site arrived with 13:04 to go in the game, and Monroe leading by the score of 46-45.
Almost exactly a minute later, Monroe connected on a three pointer for a 49-45 advantage at the 12:07 mark. Seconds later, Neptune traveled with just under twelve minutes to play. However, the Falcons continued take advantage as the Flier swiped a steal for a layup with 10:52 to go for a 49-47. Danny Brix gave the Falcons some breathing room with a pull-up jumper from the foul line for a 51-47 lead. Neptune then got one of two free throws from Ike Calderone at the 9:46 and 8:51 marks to close the gap to two at 51-49.
Keyshawn Straughn helped Monroe keep control with a nice bounce pass to Danny Brix for a layup attempt that drew a foul, and produced one of two free throws for a 52-49 lead with 8:32 to play. Calderon responded with a layup as he was fouled for a three point play and 52-52 tie, but Danny Brix put the Purple Birds back in front with a leaner at the 7:06 mark for a 54-52 lead. Calderon tied it again at 54-54 with a layin at the 5:32 mark, but Brix put Monroe ahead again with two foul shots for a 56-54 lead with 4:32 left. A little more than a half minute later, Brix swiped a steal, passed to Ryan Genevieve, who dished to Ahmid Williams for a layup, and a 58-54 lead with just under four minutes to go.
Neptune would get one of two from the foul line for a 58-55 score, but the Falcons kept them at arm’s length. Mike Walp grabbed a rebound off a miss by a teammate, and put in the follow as he was fouled for a conventional three point play, and a 61-55 lead with 1:10 to play. The Scarlet Fliers then made one of two from the line at the 56.6 second mark, netted two charity shots at the 45 second mark, and swiped a steal for a layup attempt that produced two more foul shots at the 30 second mark for a 61-60 Monroe lead. Genevieve then came up with a huge play as it put in a follow of a Brix miss to make the score 63-60 with 22.4 seconds left. Williams then sealed the 65-60 victory with two free throws at the 5.1 second mark.
With the win, Monroe avenged its only loss of the spring, and finished up a league best 7-1 while Neptune fell to 6-2. The Purple Birds will be again active this summer. Monroe is already competing in the Kean Pre-Summer League, and will begin the summer season in earnest next week when it competes in the 2010 Montgomery Team Camp.