NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–Since my network connection had trouble tonight at New Brunswick High School, I wasn’t able to get stuff posted to facebook. However, I did jot down some notes during the course of the game while I took breaks from shooting video. Here’s what I was able to compile.
First Quarter
South Brunswick led 10-8 with a bit more than two minutes to go in the first quarter. Â However, New Brunswick got one of two from the line by Milton Pittman at the 1:50 mark, and then a short turnaround jumper by Jaquan Cook at the 1:05 mark for an 11-10 lead heading into the second. Â Cook has 6 points, Reeder has four, and Pittman has one for the Zebras. Â Kory Sanders had two threes for 6 points
Second Quarter
South Brunswick had taken a 14-13 lead when Nyeem Coleman netted a long two point basket from the right wing for a 15-14 lead. Â Derrick Lunn and Cook added one of two showings from the foul line for a 17-14 lead, and led 19-16 before Sanders connected on a jumper while being fouled for a traditional three point play that tied the game with 1:12 left in the half for the 19-19 score at the intermission. Â Reeder had four more points in the quarter for eight in the game while Cook had one for seven, and Sanders had three for 9 on the game at the half.
Third Quarter
The Vikings drew first blood in the period with a three pointer by Sanders as he was fouled at about the 6:30 mark (missed bonus FT) for a 22-19 lead. Â Jaquan Cook then got New Brunswick on the board with a layin at about the 6:00 mark, and then Pittman gave the Zebras a 23-22 lead with a reverse layup at the 4;39 mark. Â However, the Vikings rallied back with six straight points including a short jumper from the left side and a steal for a layup by Michael Green for a 28-23 lead before New Brunswick called for time at the 3:03 mark. Â
South Brunswick scored six of the last nine points of the period including a layup and a foul by Danny Strickland (missed bonus free throw) with 11.1 seconds left for a 34-26 lead. Â The Vikings are doing a good job of forcing the Zebras to shoot from the perimeter, and NBHS is struggling from there. Â One possession, the Zebras missed three straight trey attempts. Â One by Lunn, one by Rogers, and one by Coleman.
Fourth Quarter
New Brunswick started off with a jumper by Cook in the face of Danny Strickland at the 7:22 mark. Â Strickland then made two free throws at the 7:02 mark for a 36-28 lead. Â The Vikings got one of two at the line with 6:24 remaining before Fuquan Rogers hit a layin, and Cook scored on a follow at the 4:39 mark for a 37-32 score. Â Milton Pittman then added a bucket to draw the Zebras within three at 37-34 with four minutes to go. Â South Brunswick then got a turnover in the New Brunswick backcourt that led to a layup by Strickland, and then Green took a rebound, and drove the length of the floor for a layup, and a 41-34 lead at the 3:06 mark.
On the ropes, New Brunswick got some good fortune in the way of two missed free throws by Sanders at the 2:06 mark, and a missed foul shot by T.J. Taylor. Â Then, Lunn made one of two from the line at the 1:41 mark, and Cook put in the follow of the missed second free throw at the 1:37 mark for a 41-37 SBHS lead. Â New Brunswick then got the ball back, and put in another layup to close the gap to 41-39. Â South Brunswick went up by three when Taylor made one of two from the line for a 42-39 score, and the Zebras were unable to score on its next possession as a layin attempt by Coleman was off the mark. Â
After a South Brunswick timeout with 42 seconds left, Stickland made one of two from the line for a 43-39 lead at 24.6 seconds left, and then Lunn made two from the line with 16.9 seconds left for a 43-41 score. Â Green made one of two from the line for a 44-41 lead, and then Taylor made one of two for a 45-41 score. Â The Vikings were 5 of 12 from the line down the stretch, but still managed to come away with the 45-41 victory.