EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ–On Thursday evening, GMC Hoops traveled to East Brunswick High School to see the third ranked Bears take on the top ranked St. Joseph’s Falcons in an early season GMC Red Division showdown. Below is a rough play by play of what happened in this contest.
First quarter
6:39–St. Joe’s jumps out to a 6-2 lead as DeCosey scores all six. He is unfazed by the Bear’s Den. Ukawuba scores the only two for EB.
4:51–EB ties it at 6-6 on a tough shot by Anthony Guisti after Abu Bestawros netted a jumper from the right wing.
3:32–After the Bears stop DeCosey again on the drive, Joe Ross makes a nifty move with a fake to his right, and then goes up for the layup, and a 6-0 run for an 8-6 lead.
2:25–EB is now on a 9-0 run as Guisti takes a kickout from Ross at the top of the key for a three pointer. Bears lead 11-6.
1:41–Ukawuba powers his way for a layup after St. Joe’s gets a score from DeCosey for a 13-8 EB lead.
0:00–Jimbo Long ends the first period with a three pointer from the top of the key for a 13-11 EB lead.
East Brunswick had five different players score with Ukawuba leading the way with 4 points.
Second quarter
7:42–EB gets a turnover as Bobby Fullem forces a jump ball by blocking DeCosey’s shot.
7:31–Bears called for an offensive foul.
6:55–Brandon Dolan makes a nice defensive play to stop John Genco on the drive.
6:48–Fullem gets an offensive rebound off a miss by Summerer, and puts in a follow off his own miss for a 16-11 lead.
6:37–Dan Sclafani converts a St. Joe’s turnover with a three pointer for an 18-11 lead.
5:57–Nick Straughn makes one of two at the line for a 18-12 EB lead.
5:40–Nick Gudzak kicks out to Sclafani for a three from the left wing for a 21-12 advantage.
5:21–Kevin Mayce goes 0 of 2 at the foul line.
5:06–Scalfani passes down low to Summerer who fakes his way to a layup from the left low block for a 23-12 lead.
4:26–Ross hits a three from the right wing for a 26-12 lead. Bears on a 24-6 surge.
Bears defense has really stiffened. They’ve made things difficult for DeCosey, especially in the paint with Summerer and Ukawuba.
3:22–St. Joseph’s calls a 30 second timeout after a drive for a score by DeCosey for a 26-14 EB lead.
3:00–Dolan rebounds an airball by Ukawuba, gives the ball to Long, who dribbles upcourt, and hands the ball back to Dolan for a three pointer, and a 26-17 EB lead as the Bears call for time.
2:47–Mayce blocks Sclafani shot.
2:12–DeCosey steals a lob pass intended for Summerer, and drives the length of the floor for a layup, and a 26-19 EB lead.
1:48–Delayed call and a foul on Ukawuba, and he makes one of two for a 27-19 lead.
1:36–DeCosey hits a triple from the right wing…10-1 run for a 27-22 EB lead.
0:53–DeCosey scores again on a drive from the left side for a bank shot, 27-24 EB.
0:30–Guisti–three pointer from the right wing for a 30-24 EB lead.
0:01–Long misses shot for St. Joe’s–Fullem rebounds to end the half…30-24 EB at the break.
St. Joe’s had a 12-1 tear over a span of 3:33 to get back into the game. The Falcons get two threes and three field goals on the run. DeCosey scored nine during the stretch. EB had four threes during the period including two by Sclafani.
Third quarter
7:30–Bestawros called for offensive interference as he tried to tip in a follow of a miss by Ross.
6:31–Straughn drives to the basket, and draws a foul from Ukawuba–he makes one of two for a 30-25.
6:23–Ross called for a double-dribble.
6:11–DeCosey takes a entry pass from Mayce at the right high post, drives down the lane, and banks it in for a 30-27 EB lead.
6:09–EB timeout.
5:34–Mayce puts back miss by Straughn for a 30-29 EB lead.
5:23–Ukawuba travels.
5:09–James Ziemba grabs an offensive board off a miss by DeCosey, and is fouled on the follow by Ukawuba–goes 0 of 2 from the line.
4:52–St. Joseph’s calls a timeout after Ziemba blocks Bestawros shot, and the Falcons get the loose ball.
3:26–DeCosey drives baseline from left side for a layup, and a 31-30 lead…Falcons on a 19-4 run since trailing 26-12.
2:45–DeCosey pulls-up for a jumper off the dribble, and St. Joe’s leads 33-30.
2:13–Bestawros drives and spins for a layin, and a 33-32 Falcon lead.
1:22–Fullem draws a foul, and makes one of two–Gudzak gets the offensive rebound, and gives to Fullem, but he missed the layup.
1:10–Gudzak draws a charge on DeCosey.
0:42–Ukawuba with a strong drive and good take for a layin, and a 35-33 lead.
0:22–DeCosey with a pull-up jumper–35-35 tie.
0:00–Ukawuba drains a three right in the face of DeCosey for a 38-35 lead.
Fourth quarter
7:26–Amir Bell draws a charge on DeCosey (third foul).
7;14–Mayce draws a charge on Sclafani.
6:54–Bell forces a St. Joe’s turnover.
6:25–Ukawuba powers in on the drive from the left side for a layin from the right low block for a 40-35 lead.
5:53–DeCosey with a nice move for a layin for a 40-37 EB lead.
5:39–Genco–three pointer from the left wing for a 43-37 Bears lead.
5:20–Long–three pointer from the right wing for a 43-40 EB lead.
5:08–Gudzak draws a foul, but misses both…Dolan gets the loose ball off the rebound, and draws an intentional foul.
5:02–Dolan–makes one of two intentional foul shots. 43-41 EB.
4:45–DeCosey fakes jumper, drives in from right wing for another score, and a 43-43 tie.
4:25–EB forces 10 second violation after Long draws a charge on Sclafani.
4:09–Genco his another three from the left side off a kickout for a 46-43 lead.
3:56–St. Joe’s timeout after DeCosey drives in for another layin, and a 46-45 EB lead.
3:39–EB gets a three pointer from Ross for a 49-45 lead.
3:12–Ross hits a pull-up jumper for a 51-45 EB lead.
2:12–DeCosey hits pull-up from the left baseline for a 51-47 Bears lead.
1:08–Mayce saves ball from going out of bounds after air ball by DeCosey, and gives it to Dolan for a short jumper, and a 51-49 EB lead.
0:52–DeCosey picks up his fourth foul. Bears avoid a five second call by calling timeout.
0:20–St. Joe’s forces a jump ball after trapping Genco, but the Bears get the ball on alternate possession.
0:12–EB turns the ball over.
0:00–DeCosey stopped on the drive to the hoop by three EB defenders, and his shot is short. EB wins 51-49.