LINDEN, NJ–In the second semifinal, East Brunswick faced off against St. Peter’s Prep of Jersey City. The Bears, which lost to St. Patrick’s in the semifinals last summer at Linden, jumped out to a 8-7 first quarter lead, and led 10-7 before the Marauders scored six of the last eight points of the half for a 13-12 lead. EB got 8 first half points from Rob Ukawuba, but was only 8 of 16 from the line in the first 20 minutes. Over the first 4:52 of the second half, St. Peter’s Prep went on an 11-2 tear to take a 24-14 lead midway through the period, and led by as many as nine points with 1:29 left. East Brunswick rallied though with an 8-2 spurt sparked by a steal for a dunk by Ukawuba to pull within three, but the Marauders were able to hang on for the 35-31 win. Below is the play-by-play from this game:
First Quarter
9:46–EB–Amir Bell deflects pass out of bounds.
9:32–EB–Bell deflects pass out of bounds again.
9:02–SPP–offensive foul.
8:36–EB–Abu Bestawros hits backiron on jumper, and ball goes out of bounds.
8:15–SPP–fouled on the drive, and makes both FTs for a 2-0 lead.
7:36–EB–Rob Ukawuba finds Mike Summerer for layup attempt that results in a foul, and two FTs for a 2-2 tie.
6:54–SPP–drives and kicks out to left wing for three pointer, and a 5-2 lead.
6:21–EB–Avi Oren called for blocking foul.
5:53–SPP–turnover.
5:22–EB–Bell dribbles and dishes left to Ukawuba for jumper, and a 5-4 SPP lead.
4:48–EB–Oren deflects pass out of bounds.
4:31–EB–Bell swipes steal, and dishes to Oren for layup attempt, but misses…EB gets ball out of bounds.
3:54–EB–Ukawuba to Bestawros, who dribbles and dishes back to Ukawuba for layup and foul–traditional three point play for a 7-5 lead.
3:05–EB–Ukawuba gets steal, and draws foul on layup attempt for one of two FTs, and an 8-5 lead.
2:01–SPP–calls timeout–EB playing solid defense–especially Garry Baumer and Oren.
1:46–SPP–fouled on floor.
1:30–SPP–fouled underneath.
1:17–EB–Jake Krantz pokes away steal.
0:48–EB–Baumer’s solid defense leads to fadeaway shot by SPP that falls short.
0:34–SPP–drives in for layup, and an 8-7 EB lead.
0:13–EB–Krantz blocks shot.
0:00–SPP–misses shot as time runs out.
Second Quarter
9:41–SPP–gets rebound off missed shot by Baumer, and draws foul on floor on drive.
9:18–EB–traveling.
8:55–SPP–fouled on floor.
8:31–EB–Ethan Folz deflects pass out of bounds.
8:12–SPP–fouled on the drive, but misses both FTs.
7:23–EB–Ukawuba gets offensive board off Baumer miss, draws foul, and makes both FTs for a 10-7 lead.
6:49–SPP–fouled on floor.
6:20–EB–Ukawuba draws charge on SPP player.
5:49–SPP–double dribble.
5:16–EB–Ukawuba loses handle, and can’t save ball from going out of bounds.–turnover.
4:49–EB–Folz pokes away steal.
4:35–EB–Ukawuba draws foul on follow of Folz miss, but misses both FTs.
4:02–EB–Summerer gets offensive rebound off missed FT, but misses both FTs.
3:19–EB–Ukawuba deflects pass, but he and Folz are unable to get steal..
2:58–EB–Krantz pokes away steal.
2:54–SPP–swats away Bell layup attempt.
2:04–EB–Summerer pass to Krantz goes off Krantz’s hands out of bounds–turnover.
1:45–SPP–banks in floater for a 10-9 EB lead.
1:24–EB–Bestawros fouled on floor during drive, and makes 1 of 2 FTs for an 11-9 lead.
1:07–EB–Bell blocks SPP shot.
1:03–SPP–fouled on floor–in double bonus–makes 1 of 2 FTs for an 11-10 EB lead.
0:30–SPP–cans three pointer from top of the key for a 13-11 lead.
0:05–EB–Bell fouled on the drive–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 13-12 lead.
0:00–SPP–misses heave at buzzer…leads 13-12 at half.
EB–two FGs and 8 of 16 FTs in first half
Ukawuba–8 points on two FGs and 4 of 7 FTs, and an assist.
Summerer–2 points
Bestawros–1 point
Bell–1 point
Third Quarter
9:12–SPP–three point play for a 16-12 lead.
8:51–EB–Bell traveled.
8:22–SPP–loses ball out of bounds after missing shot in left low post.
7:58–SPP–fouled on the floor.
7:32–SPP–hits jumper in paint for a 18-12 lead.
7:18–EB–hits jumper from right wing for an 18-14 SPP lead.
6:53–SPP–hits three pointer after getting loose ball for a 21-14 lead.
6:38–EB–backcourt violation.
6:33–EB–timeout.
6:07–EB–turns ball after missed layup by Summerer.
5:49–SPP–traveling.
5:08–SPP–fouled on three point attempt for three FTs and a 24-14 lead.
4:11–EB–Summerer fouled on reverse layup attempt, and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 24-15 SPP lead.
3:24–SPP–traveling.
3:02–EB–fouled on the floor.
2:34–EB–Folz fouled on three point attempt off inbounds, and makes all 3 FTs for a 24-18 SPP lead.
1:37–SPP–fouled on the floor by Oren.
1:25–SPP–fouled on the inbounds by Oren.
1:01–EB–Summerer deflects pass out of bounds.
0:33–EB–good box out by Ukawuba leads to over the back call.
0:05–SPP–steals pass, and draws foul on layup attempt for two FTs, and a 26-18 lead after three.
Fourth Quarter
9:53–EB–Bell fouled on the floor.
9:35–EB–Bell loses ball out of bounds–turnover.
9:10–EB–Ukawuba block leads to Bell layup at the other end for a 26-20 SPP lead.
9:00–SPP–timeout.
8:44–EB–Ukawuba pokes away steal, and Bell is fouled on the floor.
8:12–EB-Bell deflects pass out of bounds.
8:00–SPP–layup for a 28-20 lead.
7:36–SPP–blocks Baumer shot.
7:27–SPP–fouled on layup attempt, but misses both FTs.
6:44–EB–Baumer splashes three from left side for a 28-23 SPP lead.
6:21–SPP–banks in shot off spin move between Krantz and another EB defender for a 30-23 lead.
6:06–EB–turnover.
5:41–EB–timeout–follows foul on floor by Bell.
5:27–EB–Bell steals errant pass at midcourt, dribbles in for three attempt, and misses. Â Krantz gets offensive board, and draws foul, but misses both FTs.
4:14–EB–Krantz pokes away steal to Baumer, who pushes ball upcourt, and dishes to Bell, but misses layup.
3:38–SPP–timeout to avoid turnover on 5 sec call.
3:22–SPP–fouled on the floor by Bell.
2:58–SPP–fouled on the floor by Summerer.
2:39–EB–Ukawuba gets hands on pass and forces jump ball–SPP keeps possession.
2:05–SPP–fouled on floor by Bell.
1:51–EB–Amir Bell ties up SPP player, and forces jump ball–EB possession.
1:29–SPP–gets offensive rebound and makes short shot on follow for a 32-23 lead.
1:15–EB–Ukawuba fouled on drive, and makes both FTs for a 32-25 SPP lead.
1:09–SPP–draws blocking foul on Bell, and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 33-25 lead.
0:47–EB–Ukawuba–scores on putback off missed three by Bell for a 33-27 SPP lead.
0:46–EB–timeout.
0:44–SPP–fouled on floor by Bestawros–makes 1 of 2 FTs, and gets loose ball.
0:40–SPP–timeout.
0:33–EB–Ukawuba steals it, and strides in for a one handed dunk, and a 34-33 SPP lead.
0:17–EB–Bestawros steals it for layup, and a 34-31 SPP lead.
0:08–EB–almost gets steal…SPP ball out of bounds.
0:06–SPP–fouled on floor–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 35-31 lead.
0:00–EB–Ukawuba three attempt hits front of rim, and Summerer unable to put in follow–SPP wins 35-31.
GMC Hoops will be posting an article on all this action soon.