Non-Conference Foes Give GMC A Black Eye In 2010-11

March 19, 2011 Greg Machos Amboy Tech Hoops, Cardinal McCarrick Hoops, Carteret Hoops, Colonia Hoops, Dunellen Hoops, East Brunswick Hoops, East Brunswick Tech Hoops, Edison Hoops, J.F. Kennedy Hoops, J.P. Stevens Hoops, Metuchen Hoops, Middlesex Hoops, Monroe Hoops, New Brunswick Hoops, North Brunswick Hoops, Old Bridge Hoops, Perth Amboy Hoops, Piscataway Hoops, Piscataway Tech Hoops, Sayreville Hoops, South Amboy Hoops, South Brunswick Hoops, South Plainfield Hoops, South River Hoops, Spotswood Hoops, St. Joseph's Hoops, St. Thomas Aquinas Hoops, Timothy Christian Hoops, Wardlaw Hoops, Woodbridge Hoops 0

Burlington County Scholastic League Among Several That Dominated GMC Foes

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–It was quite amazing to see a Greater Middlesex Conference team win a sectional crown, and battle for a state title this year. Why is that? Simple. The GMC really struggled this year against non-conference opponents. In 159 games against opponents outside the conference, GMC teams were a combined 73-86 for a winning percentage of only .459. Here is a breakdown of how the GMC did against some of the major non-conference competition:

  • Colonial Valley Conference (5-1)
  • Super Essex Conference (3-1)
  • Patriot Conference (6-4)
  • Skyland Conference (8-13)
  • Shore Conference (15-26)
  • Hudson County Interscholastic Athletic Association (4-7)
  • Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference (2-5)
  • Union County Conference (5-13)
  • Burlington County Scholastic League (2-10)

The one mark that stings the most was the record of GMC teams against schools from the BCSL. The conference actually lost 10 in a row to the BCSL before Cardinal McCarrick knocked off Holy Cross and Trenton Catholic in the Non-Public B South State Tournament. Rancocas Valley scored two huge wins over GMC teams by defeating East Brunswick in the quarterfinals and North Brunswick in the semifinals of the Central Jersey Group IV State Tournament. The Red Devils eventually won the sectional crown despite being the 10th seed.

New Egypt, another BCSL school, inflicted similar damage on GMC foes in state tourney play by soundly defeating Perth Amboy Tech and Metuchen in the first two rounds of the Central Jersey Group I State Tournament. Northern Burlington also knocked out New Brunswick in the opening round of the CJ Group III tourney. In total, Burlington County Scholastic League teams were 6-2 against GMC opponents in the state playoffs.

On top of that, the GMC was a combined 28-52 against foes from either the Skyland Conference, Shore Conference, or Union County Conference. Breaking things down by division, the GMC only had one division, the Red, that played over .500 ball against non-conference opponents. Even the Gold was uncharacteristically under .500 with a 24-32 mark. Some bright spots in the GMC as far as non-conference play is concerned are: Cardinal McCarrick (8-2), East Brunswick Tech (7-2), St. Joseph’s (7-2), Piscataway (6-4), North Brunswick (5-3), Wardlaw (5-3), Colonia (4-2), and East Brunswick (3-1).

The GMC has a lot of junior talent coming back next year. Hopefully, this year’s experience will make them better, especially against non-conference foes. If that happens next year, the conference could come away with more sectional title gold.