NEPTUNE, NJ–On Monday, October 10th, GMC Hoops took another trip down to the Hoop Group Headquarters to take in the final two hours of games from the 2011 HGHQ Fall League. Both GMC teams were in action as Perth Amboy took on Neptune while Metuchen fought Howell. G-Force also took on Ocean Township, and there is play-by-play from the action in that contest.
Another Strong First Half Bolsters Neptune Past Amboy, 59-40
In week four of the Hoop Group Headquarters Fall League, the Perth Amboy Panthers were making a big step up in terms of its competition by taking on the home town Neptune Scarlet Fliers in the 8:00 PM game. Â Last Monday night, the Panthers lost a heartbreaking overtime game to Holmdel (54-53). Â Meanwhile, the Scarlet Fliers of Neptune were coming off a victory over Ocean Township the week before.
Neptune had a 34-12 lead at the half, and Amboy had its work cut out for them in the second half. Â However, the Panthers were willing to give it a try against one of the state’s top basketball programs. Â David Rogers sparked an 8-3 run over a span of 5:30 with a pair of free throws at the 18:00 mark to close the gap to 37-20 before Neptune called for time at the 14:27 mark.
Amboy also added two three pointers during the run while the Fliers had one of their own to take a 37-14 lead. Â The two treys by the Panthers helped get the team’s offense going again. Â Over the next three and a half minutes, Amboy exchanged baskets with Neputne even though the Fliers still led by a 44-24 margin with 11:03 to play. Â The home town team had a chance to go up by more after getting a steal, but Rogers swatted the subsequent shot away.
Over the next 9:54, Amboy continued to make the score more respectable. Â The Panthers outscored the Fliers by a margin of 14-8 to pull within 52-38 after two free throws with a minute remaining. Â PAHS was game, but it was too little, too late. Â Neptune ended up winning the contest by a score of 59-40.
Howell Rebels Defeat Metuchen, 75-43
In another 8:00 PM game, it was a classic case of big vs. small, David versus Goliath as Group I Metuchen took on Group IV Howell. Â Like Perth Amboy, the Bulldogs dug themselves a deep hole in this one. Â The GMC team trailed the rebels by a margin of 37-15 at the intermission. Â Things didn’t get much better in the second half either.
Howell began the final period of action with a 22-12 surge to take a 59-27 lead with 10:25 to go in the contest.  The Bulldogs responded with scores by Harry Halas and Brian Eustace to narrow the gap to 59-31 before the Rebels made one of two free throws with 8:07 to go for a 60-31 advantage.  Metuchen got the point back with one  of two from the line at the 7:21 mark for a 60-32 score.
The Bulldogs and Rebels exchanged scores before Howell drilled a three from the right side for a 65-34 lead with 6:07 remaining. Â The Monmouth County school added another score before MHS responded with a putback at the 5:10 mark for a 67-36 score. Â Playing with a roster of mostly freshmen and sophomores, Metuchen was overmatched against an older, bigger, and stronger Howell squad, but the Bulldogs didn’t quit.
Howell wound up winning the game by a margin of 75-43.