SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–Friday night was opening night around the Greater Middlesex Conference. Thirty of the 31 teams that play basketball in the GMC were in action including Cardinal McCarrick and Woodbridge in a GMC Hoops Top Ten clash from the White Division.
Kyle Pearson led all scorers with 29 points for the Barrons on 8 field goals, 3 treys, and 4 of 7 from the foul line, but Marques Townes led the Eagles with 26 points on 7 field goals, 2 threes, and 6 of 11 from the foul line while Alonzo Hamilton chipped in with 10 points on 4 field goals and 2 of 3 free throws as McCarrick jumped out to a 15-7 first quarter lead, and didn’t let Woodbridge get closer than a point in a 56-49 victory. Below is the play-by-play from the game.
First Quarter
4:32–CM–timeout–Eagles lead 7-5. Â McCarrick jumped out to a 7-3 lead as Marques Townes scored all seven points including two free throws and a three pointer. Â Kyle Pearson helped get Barrons within two on a jumper in the key.
0:00–CM–scores off nice outlet pass to Marques Townes for a layup and a 15-7 lead. Â After Pearson tied it at 7-7 with another jumper, McCarrick ended the quarter with an 8-0 run that included one of two from the line by Townes, a score inside, a three pointer by Mohammed Alli, and Townes quarter ending layup.
Second Quarter
Woodbridge opened the quarter with a 9-2 spurt that included a putback by Pearson to close the gap to 17-16, but Townes connected on a three from the left wing for a 20-16 lead. Â The Eagles didn’t allow the Barrons to get within two after that. Â Keith Hughes having difficulty getting into a rhythm and has two fouls including one on a charge with less than two minutes to go in the first half. Â McCarrick drew two charges in the frame. Â Townes had 15 points in the first half.
Third Quarter
5:27–Woodbridge timeout. Â Follows 6-0 run by McCarrick including short pull-up jumper by Townes, a putback by Alonzo Hamilton, and a layup by Hamilton off a dish from Townes for a 30-23 lead. Â The Barrons began the second half with one of two from the line by Hughes, and then a basket from Pearson to close the gap to one.
3:02–Woodbridge called 30 second timeout. Â Mika Graham and Kyle Anderson scored baskets during a 4-2 run that narrowed the deficit to 32-27, but the Eagles went back up by seven on a nice inbounds play to Townes for a layup.
1:28–McCarrick called a 30 second timeout. Â After giving up a basket, the Eagles scored six unanswered points including a dunk by Townes and two free throws by Jumanne McDaniel for a 40-29 lead.
0:00–Woodbridge closes the quarter with the final four points including a last second shot from way beyond the arc by Kyle Anderson for a 40-33 McCarrick lead.
Fourth Quarter
7:19–We have an official timeout–Jumanne McDaniel is down for McCarrick with an apparent leg cramp. Â Woodbridge has closed the gap to 40-36.
2:47–Woodbridge timeout–Eagles have scored five of the last seven points including baskets by Townes and Hamilton for a 45-38 lead. Â Pearson accounted for the only two Barron points during the stretch. Â Both defenses have done a nice job of clamping down.
34.7–Woodbridge timeout–Kyle Pearson just connected for a three from the right wing for a 52-45 lead. Â Barrons have only been as close as five points (47-42). Â Hughes has not played much in the second half.
5.1–Pearson just hits another three for Woodbridge to close the gap to 54-49, but Alli makes two free throws for the 56-49 final.
Point Totals
McCarrick
- Mohammed Alli–3 PTR +6-6 FTs–9 points
- Jumanne McDaniel–FG + 5-8 FTs–7 points
- Robert Nunez–FG–2 points
- Alonzo Hamilton–4FGs + 2-3 FTs–10 points
- Marques Townes–7 FGs + 2 3s + 6-11 FTs– 26 points
- Anthony Manning–2-3 FTs–2 points.
Woodbridge
- Keith Hughes–2 FGs + 3 PTR + 1-2 FTs–8 points
- Kyle Pearson–8 FGs + 3 3’s + 4-7 FTs– 29 points
- Khall Jordan–FG–2 points
- Bobby Marquez–1-2 FTs–1 point
- Mika Graham–FG–2 points
- Kyle Anderson–FG + 3 PTR–5 points
- Anthony Nyers–FG + 0-3 FTs–2 points
GMC Hoops will be posting an article as well as some video highlights from this game soon.