NORTH EDISON, NJ–It was a Gold Division late afternoon battle at Wardlaw-Hartridge as the Rams played host to the Guvs of South Amboy. Wardlaw avenged an opening day loss with a 55-49 victory. The Guvs led 13-8 early in the second before the Rams went on a 13-4 tear to take the lead for good at 21-17. Wardlaw got a three pointer from Shareef Ibrahim to take a 45-30 lead with 4:41 remaining before the Guvs rallied with a 17-7 tear over the next 4:13 to make it a two possession game with just under 30 seconds to go, but the Rams hung on to win by six. Below is the play by play from the final three and a half quarters.
First Quarter
3:43–arrive–WH leads 6-3.
3:15–SA–Joe Fruncillo converts a three point play for a 9-6 lead.
2:35–WH–Jordan Del Sol draws foul, and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 9-7 SA lead.
2:15–WH–Matt Rosado draws foul, and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 9-8 SA lead.
1:55–SA–Fruncillo scores on layup from down low for an 11-8 lead.
0:00–WH–misses heave at buzzer–SA leads 11-8.
Second Quarter
7:52–SA–turnover.
7:18–SA–Herdman steals ball from Noah Ganz, pushes ball upcourt and dishes left to Fruncillo for layup, and a 13-8 lead.
6:13–WH–Arturo Martinez banks in three pointer from top of the key for a 13-11 SA lead.
5:42–WH–Justen Davis outmuscles Fruncillo for the ball, and draws a foul that results in one of two free throws, and a 13-12 SA lead.
5:26–SA–Rob Burns scores layup from left low block for a 15-12 lead.
4:35–WH–Rosado fouled on drive from left side, and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 15-13 SA lead.
4:25–SA–timeout.
3:32–WH–Del Sol converts three point play for a 16-15 lead.
3:09–WH–Rosado drew a foul and made both FTs for an 18-15 lead.
2:45–SA–Dan Murphy with a layup to close the gap to 18-17.
2:22–WH–Ganz connects on three pointer from the right corner for a 21-17 lead.
2:06–SA–Herdman three pointer from left wing for a 21-20 WH lead.
1:47–WH–Ganz makes three from right wing for a 24-20 lead.
1:30–SA–turnover.
1:00–SA–Matt Lavan scored on a layup for a 24-22 WH lead.
WH leads at half 24-22…went on a 9-2 run over a span of 2:13 to take a 21-17 lead.
Third Quarter
7:11–SA–Murphy called for traveling.
6:53–WH–Davis knocks in baseline jumper from right side for a 26-22 lead.
6:40–SA–turnover.
6:30–WH–John Belfer connects on short jumper for a 28-22 lead.
5:54–SA–Nick Kales swishes long two point jumper for a 28-24 WH lead.
4:38–SA–Murphy draws foul on baseline drive from Belfer.
3:55–WH–Davis converts a traditional three point play for a 31-24 lead.
3:35–SA–turnover.
3:13–WH–Ganz scores on putback for a 33-24 lead.
3:03–SA–Herdman scores on runner for a 33-26 WH lead.
2:36–WH–30 sec timeout after SA throws ball away.
2:15–WH–Davis draws foul, and makes one of two FTs for a 34-26 lead.
2:09–SA–turnover.
1:59–WH–offensive foul.
51.5–WH–Davis hustles to save ball off Amboy player to give Rams the ball.
25.2–WH–Davis fouled, and makes one of two FTs for a 36-26 lead.
0.0–SA–Kales connects on baseline jumper from right side for a 36-28 WH lead.
Fourth Quarter
7:40–SA–turnover.
7:30–WH–turnover.
7:11–WH–Martinez swipes steal.
6:31–WH–Davis scores off spin move for a 38-28 lead.
6:23–SA–fouled on floor.
6:15–SA–Murphy scores on leaner for a 38-30 WH lead.
6:07–WH–Ganz scores on layup from left side for a 40-30 lead.
5:35–WH–Davis scores down low for a 42-30 lead.
5:08–WH–blocks shot by Murphy
5:06–SA–timeout.
4:41–WH–Del Sol hits three pointer from left wing for a 45-30 lead.
4:25–SA–Fruncillo fouled on the follow, and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 45-31 WH lead.
3:35–SA–Herdman swishes three from left wing for a 45-34 WH lead.
3:23–WH–timeout.
2:43–SA–Kales knocks in two with jumper for a 45-36 WH lead.
2:27–SA–Rosado goes in for layup and a 47-36 lead.
2:12–WH–Del Sol fouled and makes both FTs for a 49-36 lead.
1:52–SA–timeout after Herdman hits three pointer for a 49-39Â
1:31–SA–Murphy gets steal, but is unable to score
1:15–WH–Rosado drives through middle again for layup, and a 51-39 lead.
58.9–WH–Rosado fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 52-39 lead.
50.8–SA–timeout–after Kales connects on short baseline jumper from right side for a 52-41 WH lead.
37.0–SA–called for foul after three pointer by Charles Pannell–Martinez misses front end of the bonus for a 52-44 WH lead.
28.3–SA–30 sec timeout after Kales makes three from top of the key for a 52-47 WH lead.
26.2–WH–Ganz fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 53-47 lead.
6.6–WH–Del Sol gets fouled and makes both FTs for a 55-47 lead.
0.5–SA–Fruncillo puts back miss by Herdman for a 55-49 final