MENDHAM, NJ–Here are the notes from Thursday afternoon’s North Jersey Section 2 Group III Quarterfinal between Colonia and Mendham. Â The eleventh seeded Patriots got here by defeating sixth seeded Barringer by the score of 58-39 in the opening round. Â These two teams played last year with the Minutemen getting all that they could handle before pulling out the close win en route to the Group III state title. Â In this contest, C.J. Gray scored his 1,000th career point, and Colonia had the lead on a couple of occasions early in the fourth, but gave way to a decisive 10-0 run as Mendham advanced to the semifinal round with a 56-49 victory. Â Here are the notes from the game:
First Quarter
2:37–Colonia timeout–Follows third three pointer of the period by Mendham. Â There have already been four lead changes and a tie in the period, but the Minutemen have put together an 8-1 run for a 13-7 lead. Â C.J. Gray has all of Colonia’s points with two bank shots including one at the 6:00 mark, and a follow at the 4:49 mark.
0:00–Colonia ties the game for the second time with a 7-1 spurt for a 14-14 score heading into the second. Â Gray adds a three, and a short jumper in the waning moments of the frame while Dave Cole hits a foul line jumper with 30 seconds left. Â Mendham gets one of two from the line at the 1:25 mark for a 14-10 lead.
Second Quarter
0:00–Non-stop action in the period. Â There were four more lead changes and two ties in the frame. Â The Patriots fell behind 18-16, but went on an 8-2 run including threes by Matt Wagner and Dave Cole for its biggest lead of the game at 24-20 before Mendham closed the half with a 10-2 spurt including two threes for a 30-26 lead at the intermission. Â The Minutemen have five threes while Colonia has only three. Â Biggest lead for Mendham in the first half was six points. So far, there have been eight lead changes and three ties in the game.
Third Quarter
3:34–Colonia timeout–Mendham has opened the second half with an 8-3 run including a three point play, and a three pointer from the right wing for a 38-29 lead. Â The Minutemen opened the third with a steal for a layup before Matt Wagner sank a three from the top of the key to make it 32-29.
0:00–Colonia ends the quarter with a 9-4 run including a three by Greg Jones, two field goals including a jumper by C.J. Gray, and a jumper by Dave Cole as time was running out in the period. Â Mendham only had one field goal over the final 3:34 of the period. Â The Minutemen got two free throws with 35 seconds left in the frame for a 42-36 lead.
Fourth Quarter
6:58–Mendham calls timeout. Â C.J. Gray just scored his 1,000th point on a three pointer from the left wing at the 7:33 mark. Â Dashon Johnson followed up with a lay-up at the 7:03 mark for a 43-42 lead. Â The ninth lead change of the game. Â Colonia is on a 14-4 tear over the last 4:36.
2:35–Colonia calls timeout after Mendham has put together an 11-4 tear including an 8-0 spurt for a 53-46 lead. Â There have been 12 lead changes in the game. Â Mendham has their biggest lead of the game. Â Gray gave Colonia its last lead of the game on a three pointer for a 46-45 lead after Mendham got a three by Jacobs. Â Corey Vicarisi gave the Minutemen a 48-46 lead on a three point play.
1:22–Colonia calls timeout after a defensive breakdown led to a Mendham layup off an assist by Jacobs for a 13-3 run, and a 55-46 lead. Â Since Gray’s three for a 46-45 lead, the Minutemen have been on a 10-0 run.
52.4–Mendham calls a timeout after Johnson is called for traveling down low. Â Dave Cole hits a three from the top of the key to close the gap to 55-49 earlier.
34.2–Mendham gets one of two from the line by Corey Vicarisi for a 56-49 lead.
24.4–Mendham calls timeout….fouls…Colonia 8–Mendham 3
0.0–Mendham comes away victorious with a 56-49 win. Â The Minutemen had eight threes in the game while Colonia had seven. Â The Patriots only could muster six points over the final 6:58 of the contest, and were outscored 14-6. Â The only field goals were threes by Gray and Cole. Â