SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–On Friday night, GMC Hoops hurried over to the South Amboy Middle/High School after being at the Rutgers Overnight Team Camp I to take in some rare Friday action at the 2011 Raritan Bay Summer League. There were three games on the night including a battle in the High School Division between the Jersey Shore Breakers and Merrill Park. The site only saw the final six minutes of the game, but they were all exciting as the Breakers defeated the Mustangs in double overtime, 38-36.
Breakers Pull Out Exciting Win Over Merrill Park In Double OT, 38-36
The High School Division at the Raritan Bay Summer League has always been competitive. However, this year, it seems to be even more so. Overtime games and close finishes have characterized play in this division up to this point in the summer. The funny thing is that, play in this division didn’t really get going until early last week. The game between the Jersey Shore Breakers and Merrill Park was no exception.
The Monmouth County team battled back from deficits late in regulation and in the first overtime, and then got the only points in the second extra session to come away with a hard fought, 38-36 victory. GMC Hoops arrived with the score 27-26 in favor of Merrill Park with less than three minutes to play. Â Shore Breakers made a foul shot to tie the game at 27-27 at the 2:02 mark. Â Merrill Park made two free throws with 1:31 to play for a 29-27 lead. Â Shore Breakers would tie the score again at 29-29, and then blocked a shot with 5.0 seconds to play. Breakers hit the rim on a 30 foot shot as time expired
The Shore Breakers jumped out to a four point lead by first scoring a layup to go ahead 31-29 at the 1:49 mark, and then swiped a steal on the ensuing inbounds to score another layup while being fouled at the 1:41 mark. The Breakers missed the bonus free throw, but still had a 33-29 lead. The Mustangs didn’t fold though. Instead they battled right back by banking in a three pointer from the right wing at the 1:28 mark for a 33-32 Shore Breakers lead.
Then, Merrill Park took a 34-33 lead with 25.4 seconds to go when #54 got a steal and went in for a layup. The Shore Breakers had a chance to tie, or even take the lead when they drew a foul with 20.5 seconds to go, but missed both free throws. Following a Merrill Park timeout at the 18.7 second mark, the Mustangs drew a foul off the inbounds twice at the 15.6 and 13.3 second marks. The Woodbridge Township team then made two free throws for a 36-33 lead. Howver, the Shore Breakers refused to give up as they connected on a three pointer from right corner with 5.3 second remaining to force double overtime at 36-36
In the second extra session, Merrill Park, which recently registered its first victory of the summer with a win over South Amboy, seemed to have the upper hand early on with a steal at the 44 second mark, but couldn’t take advantage as the Shore Breakers came up with a blocked shot. Jersey Shore had a chance to go in front, but turned the ball over near the Mustang basket at the 25.4 second mark. However, the Breakers got a steal on the ensuing inbounds, and scored to take the lead at 38-36 with 21.8 seconds remaining.
Following a Merrill Park timeout with 16.4 seconds to play, the Mustangs almost traveled, but managed to maintain possession. However, Merrill Park had the ball stolen again on a side out of bounds play with 11.8 seconds to play, and the Breakers ran out the clock for the two point win.
GMC Hoops plans to be back out at Raritan Bay next week.