SOMERVILLE, NJ–On Sunday night, GMC Hoops caught the finale of the seventh week of action in the Immaculata Fall League taking place at Immaculata High School. The Bishop Ahr Trojans were in action against North Hunterdon of the Skyland Conference’s Delaware Division. The Lions jumped out to a 9-0 lead thanks to two threes and a conventional three point play, and didn’t let BGA get on the board until the 11:31 mark of the first half. The Trojans only got as close as five points in the first half as North Hunterdon went on to win by the score of 48-33.
Solid Start Lifts North Hunterdon Past Bishop Ahr, 48-33
For the first time this fall, GMC Hoops had the chance to see one of the two Greater Middlesex Conference teams competing in the Immaculata Fall League on Sunday night. Â Bishop Ahr was taking on North Hunterdon in the finale of the seventh week of action at Immaculata. Â This year’s BGA squad is a bit thin this fall since standout players such as Roger Kilgore, Kenny Virden, Dillon Salva, and Kevin Douyoun are all playing football.
The absence of those players does provide an opportunity for younger, or less experienced players get some minutes, and improve. Â In addition, it helps reserves such as Dan LaBella and Chris Abood get more playing time, which will help immensely when the season gets underway. Â North Hunterdon also has a younger team after having two fine seasons under the guidance of Kyle Rehrig. Â However,the Lions have been more competitive so far this fall. Â Another advantage North Hunterdon had was size, and it used that to its benefit with multiple second chance opportunities thanks to offensive rebounds.
Bishop Ahr didn’t get off to a good start in this one as North Hunterdon struck for two threes, and then a conventional three point play to take a 9-0 lead in the first 2:42. Â The Trojans didn’t get on the board until the 11:31 mark of the first half after a putback. Â Ahr didn’t give up though. Â The undermanned squad fought hard to compete in this matchup. Â Over the next six minutes, the Trojans outscored the Lions by a margin of 10-6 to pull within three at 15-12 at the 5:35 mark of the first half. Â BGA would get no closer though. Â The Trojans got within six on one occasion early in the second half, and eight points on several other occasions, but couldn’t overcome North Hunterdon as the Lions won 48-33.
For the game, North Hunterdon had five three pointers, and three conventional three point plays. Â On the other hand, Bishop Ahr only had two threes and one traditional three point play. Â In addition, the Lions had at least six offensive rebounds that were cashed in for six second chance points. Â North Hunterdon also took advantage of Ahr mistakes with 14 points off of turnovers. Â Chris Abood did his best to help the Trojans. Â He tallied up 4 points, 3 blocks, 2 offensive rebounds, and an assist. Â Angel Mendoza led the way in a losing cause for Ahr. Â The senior collected a team high 15 points on six field goals including a three, and two free throws along with two steals.
The Lions led for the entire game, and had a lead as big as 15 points at the end of the contest. Â North Hunterdon closed the first half by scoring 7 of the last 9 points to take a 22-14 lead into the intermission. Â Then, in the second half, after Ahr drew within eight on two occasions including when Mendoza banked in a line drive three from the right wing at the 14:23 mark, North Hunterdon went on an 8-2 spurt over a span of 4:36 to take a 37-23 lead just past the midway point of the second half. Â Bishop Ahr tried to battle back with an 8-2 run over a span of 4:02 that was highlighted by a three point play at the 7:32 mark, and a trey at the 5:45 mark, but was held without a field goal the rest of the way.
BGA was actually held scoreless for exactly four minutes before Mendoza went to the line, and made two charity shots with 1:45 remaining. Â Meanwhile, North Hunterdon, which had recently suffered losses to Randolph and Morristown in back to back weeks, closed the game with a 9-2 run to round out the 48-33 victory.