PISCATAWAY, NJ–On Wednesday night, GMC Hoops traveled over to the Timothy Christian School for the first time since TCS became a member of the Greater Middlesex Conference. The Tigers were involved in a GMC Gold Division showdown against South River, another new member of the division. The game was a compelling one although it had its moments with turnovers and fouls.
The Tigers and Rams exchanged leads eight teams with seven ties. Neither team had a lead bigger than nine points. South River had a 13-2 run in the first half while TCS had a 12-2 run in the first and a 15-9 run in the third. The Tigers led 56-47 with 3:05 to go, but the Rams rallied to close within two with 16.4 seconds remaining. South River couldn’t get any closer as Timothy Christian won 63-62. Junior guard, Dan Decker led the way for the Tigers with 33 points on five threes, four field goals, and 10 of 11 from the foul line.
Decker scored 10 points in the first, seven in the second, nine in the third, and seven in the fourth. Junior forward, Kristian Svendsen, also chipped in with 21 points. Kyle Majewski led South River with a team high 22 points while Gavin Campbell, who saw limited action due to foul trouble, helped out with 13 points before leaving the game late in the fourth quarter. Below is the play by play in the contest.
First Quarter
7:54–Timothy Christian opens the game up with a layup by Will Gaskin for a 2-0 lead.
7:27–Kyle Majewski evens the score at 2-2 with a floater.
6:00–Craig Huff gives Rams a 4-2 lead on a layin.
5:03–South River gets another layin from Kyle Majewski for a 6-2 lead.
4:47–TCS–30 second timeout.
3:47–TCS–Dan Decker–three pointer from the right wing for a 6-5 South River lead.
3:22–South River turnover, and a technical foul on Gavin Campbell. Â Dan Decker makes both technical foul shots for a 7-6 lead.
2:47–TCS–Decker fakes up, dribbles left, and pulls up for a jumper inside the three point line for a 9-6 lead.
2:12–TCS–Decker nets a three again from the right wing for a 12-6 lead. Â He has scored the last 10 TCS points.
2:06–South River–Majewski draws a foul, and makes both free throws for a 12-8 TCS lead.
1:48–Following a timeout, TCS gets a score as Jeff Parker made an entry pass down low to Kristian Svendsen for a layup, and a foul for a 14-8 lead. Â Svendsen missed the bonus free throw.
23.8–TCS called for an illegal screen.
4.0–South River gets the final points of the period as Majewski makes a nice dribble and dish to Tim Huff for a layup to end the period with TCS leading 14-10. Â It was South River’s first field goal in 5:03. Â Only had four points over the last five plus minutes of the quarter.
Decker scored 10 points for TCS while Svendsen and Gaskin added two each.
Majewski scored 6 points for South River while both Tim and Craig Huff added two.
Second Quarter
6:45–South River gets a three pointer from the left corner by Craig Huff for a 14-13 TCS lead.
6:16–South River now on a 7-0 run after a layup in transition by Craig Huff for a 15-14 lead.Â
6:02–TCS takes the lead back on a layup by Svendsen for a 16-15 lead.
5:32–South River now on an 11-2 spurt, gets a steal and score from Tim Huff for a 19-16 lead. Â NIck Boyler got an earlier score to put the Rams in front again at 17-16.
4:34–South River–Boyler scores on a floater from the left baseline for a 13-2 run, and a 21-16 lead.
3:46–TCS–Ryan Gray passes to Decker for another three from the left side for a 21-19 South River lead.
3:18–TCS–Decker pulls up for another jumper off a kickout by Gray to tie the score at 21-21.
2:55–TCS–goes ahead on a fadeaway jumper by Svendsen for a 23-21 lead…7-0 spurt.
2:37–South River–turnover on a traveling violation.
2:22–South River–Craig Huff gets a long rebound off a missed shot by Svendsen and outlets to Majewski for a breakaway layup, and a 23-23 tie.
1:45–South River–takes lead on a kickout by Boyler to Majewski for a three pointer from the top of the key for a 26-23 lead. Â Rams had set up the score on a steal by Tim Huff, and got several offensive rebounds.
1:16–TCS–Svendsen draws a foul, and makes one of two from the line for a 26-24 Rams lead.
46.3–TCS–Shaquir Tannis swipes a steal that the Tigers get to Decker, who draws a foul on a foul line jump shot attempt, and makes two free throws for a 26-26 tie.
34.1–TCS–Majewski scores on a runner for a 28-26 lead.
Both teams miss opportunities to score as Majewski missed a shot with 5 seconds left, and the Tigers couldn’t get a bucket at the other end as time expired.
TCS–got all their scoring from Decker (7 points) and Svendsden (5 points) in the period. Decker has 17 points in the game on  three treys, two field goals, and 4 of 4 from the foul line while Svendsen has 7 points on three field goals and one of two from the foul line.  Gaskin has the other two Tigers points.
South River–Majewski scored 7 points in the second for 13 points on four field goals, a three pointer, and two foul shots. Â Craig Huff has five points in the period for 7 in the half on two field goals and a three. Â Tim Huff had two points in the period for 4 in the half while Nick Boyler had four points.
There were 7 lead changes and four ties in the first half.
Biggest runs–South River–13-2 tear over a span of 6:22. TCS–12-2 run over a span of 2:59.
Third Quarter
7:49–South River–Campbell drives in for a layup. Â Rams lead 30-26.
7:17–TCS–Svendsden–banks in shot from near the right baseline for a 30-28 South River lead.
6:52–TCS–Svendsen ties the game up with a pull-up jump along the left baseline for a 30-30 tie.
6:30–TCS–Jeff Parker gives Tigers a 32-30 lead on layup.
6:23–South River–Campbell nets two free throws for a 32-32 tie.
6:12–TCS–Svendsen strikes with a drive along left baseline for a flaoter, and a 34-32 lead.
5:58–South River–Campbell makes a difficult shot for a 34-34 tie.
5:45–TCS–Decker sinks another three from the left wing off a kickout for a 37-34 lead.
5:00–South River–Campbell drives in and banks one off the glass as he was fouled, but misses the bonus free throw.
4:53–TCS–Decker steals an errant pass off Tim Huff for a layup, and a 39-36 lead.
4:38–TCS–Decker steals an errant pass from Majewski, and is fouled.
4:18–TCS–Tannis steps on the end line–turnover.
4:05–South River–Campbell sinks baseline jumper from the right side 39-38 TCS lead.
3:54–TCS–Parker scores layup for a 41-38 lead.
3:32–TCS–Svendsen blocks Boyler shot, but throws outlet pass away.
3:26–South River–Nick Boyler called for a technical…TCS–Decker at the line, and makes both free throws for a 43-38 lead.
3:07–Rams got a fast break opportunity, and Majewski dishes to Boyler, but he misses the layup.
2:59–South River–Campbell picks up fourth foul.
2:45–South River–Danny Boychuck–scoop shot layup 43-40 TCS lead.
2:23–TCS–Svendsen gets offensive rebound off a missed jumper by Decker for a put back, and a 45-40 lead.
2:16–South River–Majewski–makes two free throws for a 45-42 TCS lead.
1:40–TCS–Svendsen scores on a putback for a 47-42 lead.
1:25–TCS–called for traveling.
1:11–South River–Majewski–makes one of two from the line for a 47-43 lead.
33.1–TCS–Decker drives in from the right wing for a layup off clear out for a 49-43 lead.
25.5–South River–Majewski called for traveling.
Tim Huff got a long rebound off a missed shot by Decker, but his outlet pass for Boyler was too long as time ran out in the period.
There was one lead change and three ties before TCS closed the quarter with a 15-9 run.
TCS–Decker scored nine points in the period while Svendsen added 10 points including the first six of the period. Â Decker has 26 on the game while Svendsen has 17.Â
South River–Campbell scored 8 points in the period before going to the bench with his fourth foul. Â
Fourth Quarter
7:25–TCS–Svendsen drives in from left side for a layup, and a 51-43 lead.
7:08–South River–Boyler scores on foul line jumper for a 51-45 TCS lead.
6:01–South River–Tim Huff misses front end of one and one–Svendsen rebounds.
5:45–TCS–Svendsen called for traveling.
5:05–TCS–30 second timeout.
4:39–TCS–Gaskin called for traveling.
4:22–TCS–Svendsen blocks three point attempt by Craig Huff, and knocks the ball off of Huff for a Ram turnover.
4:07–TCS–Decker called for traveling.
3:52–South River battles for three offensive rebounds, and it results in a foul on Campbell. Â He makes both ends of bonus–TCS has 9 team fouls while the Rams have only four this half.
3:36–TCS–Decker makes a nice feed to Svendsen for layup, and a 53-47 lead.
3:05–TCS–Decker hits a three pointer from the right side off a kickout by #44 for a 56-47 lead.
2:22–South River–Tim Huff steals and passes to brother Criag for layup, and a 56-49 TCS lead.
1:47–South River–Boyler ties up Decker for jump ball, and Rams get it on the alternate possession.
1:44–TCS–Svendsen blocks shot on drive by Tim Huff.
1:41–TCS–Decker called for traveling.
1:06–South River–Campbell gets a steal, drives in for a layup attempt, and draws foul. Â He makes one of two from the line for a 56-50 TCS lead. Â South River timeout.
1:05–South River–with several fouls to give, they foul Decker. Â Tigers already have 10 team fouls.
1:04–South River–fouls again.
58.8–TCS–Decker calls timeout to avoid a turnover after a stumbles to the ground with the ball.
56.6–South River–Campbell fouls out after attempting a steal on Decker…TCS–Decker misses one and one.
50.6–South River–Timothy Darrar steps inside the three point line for a jumper, and draws a foul. Â Makes both free throws for a 56-52 TCS lead.
44.7–TCS–Parker at the line–makes both free throws for a 58-52 lead.
36.1–South River–Majewski gets an offensive rebound off his own miss, and puts in the follow as he is fouled for a traditional three point play, and a 58-55 TCS lead. Â Rams timeout.
28.5–TCS is able to inbound the ball to Svendsen, who passes to Decker. Â The junior guard is fouled, and makes both free throws for a 60-55 lead.
16.4–South River–Rams get offensive rebound off a miss on the drive by Majewski, and kick out to Darrar for a three pointer, and a 60-58 TCS lead. Â Rams timeout.
15.3–TCS–Decker fouled on the inbounds. Â He sinks both free throws for a 62-58 lead.
10.7–South River–Majewski drives in for shot attempt, and picks up a foul. Â He makes one of two for a 62-59 TCS lead.
8.8–TCS–Parker fouled in Tiger backcourt. Â He misses the first. Â South River calls timeout. Â Parker makes second…63-59.
0.0–South River gets three at the buzzer to round out the 63-62 final score.
We’ll have an article on the game posted soon.