NEPTUNE, NJ–On October 3rd, GMC Hoops headed down Route 18 South to the Hoop Group Headquarters to take in the third week of action in the fall league there. Leaving work early on Monday, the site had a chance to take in all three hours worth of games including two games involving Shore Conference foes. Neptune took on Ocean Township while Marlboro battled Howell. The two GMC teams in this league were also in action as Metuchen took on Middletown South and Perth Amboy fought Holmdel in game that went to overtime. Check out the play-by-play from both of those games in the blog.
Strong Start Propels Neptune Past Ocean Township
In a battle of two teams that normally see each other twice a year in the tough Shore Conference Class B North Division, the Spartans of Ocean Township jumped out to a 5-2 lead before Neptune began to assert itself with an 8-0 run for a 10-5 edge at the 10:47 mark.
The Scarlet Fliers continued to pour it on after a timeout by scoring ten more unanswered points over a span of just 2:40 for an 18-0 run, and a 20-5 lead when Ocean called for another timeout at the 8:07 mark. Â The Spartans were scoreless for about nine minutes before connecting on a three pointer from the left wing at the 6:38 mark for a 20-8 Neptune lead.
After Neptune got a bucket, and made several nice defensive plays including a blocked shot at the 5:47 mark, Ocean Township cut the deficit in half with a three pointer from the right wing with 4:37 to go in the first half for a 22-11 score. Â The Spartans then closed the half with six of the final nine points including a layup with five seconds left to pull within 25-17 at the intermission.
The Fliers opened half number two with a bang as they got a emphatic one handed jam that got the Neptune reserves up and off the bench hooting and hollering as their team went up 27-17. Â Ocean got the points back with a bucket prior to a timeout being called at the 17:10 mark with Neptune ahead 27-19. Â Following the stoppage, the Spartans got another score at the 16:42 mark to pull within six at 27-21.
Over the next six minutes, Neptune took control of the game again with a 10-2 run to take a 37-23 lead. Â To make matters worse, Ocean Township missed two free throws after drawing a foul at the 10:41 mark. Â The Spartans would climb back to within ten, but Neptune got a three pointer from the left side at the 8:10 mark, and then a fastbreak layup at the 7:27 mark to take a 42-27 lead.
The Scarlet Fliers increased their lead to 16 points on a couple of occasions before a timeout was called at the 2:08 mark with Neptune leading 49-33. Â The Fliers then spread the floor out to take time off the clock. Â Ocean scored the final six points of the game, but the Fliers pressure defense proved to be too much in a 49-39 victory.
Howell Surges To Overcome Slow Start And Defeat Marlboro
In a battle of two teams that normally square off twice a year in the rough and tumble Shore Conference Class A North Division, the Marlboro Mustangs jumped out to 10-0 lead over the first 5:15 of the contest. Â Howell didn’t get on the board until about the 14:20 mark. Â Following a timeout at the 14:17 mark, the Mustangs drilled a three pointer from the top of the key for a 13-2 lead.
The Rebels got the three points back on a trey from the right corner at the 12:20 mark, and had another chance to score and get closer after getting a steal moments later, but after missing another three attempt from the right corner, Howell turned the ball over at the 11:41 mark. Â Howell then added two free throws and another score to pull within four at 13-9 with 7:01 left in the first half.
A short time later, the Rebels were on the move again with a layup in transition while being fouled for a three point play, and a 13-12 Marlboro lead at the 6:45 mark. Â Howell then capped a 12-0 spurt with a layin for its first lead of the game at 14-13 with 6:00 left in the opening half. Â Following a Marlboro timeout at the 5:55 mark, Â Howell continued to roll with two more scores for a 16-0 run, and a 18-13 lead.
Marlboro didn’t get on the board again until it drew a foul, and made two free throws at the 2:59 mark for an 18-15 Howell lead. Â The Mustangs were scoreless for over 11 minutes. Â The Rebels responded with two scores over the next 57 seconds including a layin at the 2:02 mark for a 22-15 advantage. Â Marlboro got a bucket to draw within five, and then had another scoring opportunity, but lost the ball out of bounds on a drive to the basket.
Howell went into the brief break with a 22-17 lead. Â The Mustangs opened the second half with the first points to pull within three. Â About two minutes later, the Rebels went back up by five when they drew a foul, and made two free throws at the 17:50 mark. Â After a Marlboro score, Howell netted a three pointer from the right wing at the 17:03 mark to go up 27-21. Â The Mustangs would score another basket to pull within four, but the Rebels scored the next six points.
With two three pointers, Howell increased its lead to ten points, and then after missing two free throws at the 15 minute mark, it got an offensive rebound, and put it back in for a 35-23 advantage. Â Marlboro scored 6 of the next 10 points on two threes from the right corner to close the gap to 39-29 midway through the second half. Â The Rebels did manage to keep Marlboro at bay for the next six minutes or so, and actually increased their lead back to double digits at 43-32 with 3:30 remaining.
The Mustangs then made two free throws at the 2:59 mark to pull within single digits again, but Howell drilled a three pointer from the right side for a 48-34 lead with a little more than two minutes to play in the contest. Â Marlboro rallied with a 10-0 run to close the game including a three pointer with just under a minute left, and a layup in the waning moments, but the Rebels came away with the 48-44 victory.
GMC Hoops plans to be back out at the Hoop Group Headquarters next week for more action from this league.