METUCHEN, NJ–On Friday night, it was a packed house at the Bird Cage on the campus of St. Joseph’s High School as two old arch rivals, the top seeded Falcons and CBA, went at it in the Non-Public A South State Tournament Quarterfinals.
After a first quarter that ended in a 4-4 tie as CBA seemed to set the style and tempo while St. Joe’s struggled to find its rhythm, the Falcons went on the attack in the second with a 17-3 tear as Danny Brix scored 9 of his 11 first half points including a three with 20 seconds to go in the first half for a 21-7 halftime lead.
From there, CBA was only able to get within 11 points as the Falcons beat the Colts by the score of 47-32 to advance to the sectional semifinals on Monday. Brix ended up with 15 points, Quenton DeCosey chipped in with 12 points while Karl Towns added 11 points. Jimbo Long also contributed with 8 points. Below is the play-by-play from the contest.
First Quarter
6:30–STJ–Brix sinks baseline jumper for a 2-0 lead.
4:45–CBA–layup for a 2-2 tie.
3:39–CBA–basket for a 4-2 lead.
3:25–CBA–fouled on floor–Karl Towns unable to get charge call.
2:17–CBA–turnover.
1:00–STJ–Brix kicks out to Jimbo Long for jumper from left side to tie the game at 4-4.
16.5–CBA–timeout.
0.0–CBA–misses shot at the buzzer–score tied at 4-4.
tempo and style in CBA’s favor–playing very deliberately and patient on offense.
DeCosey–0 points in quarter.
both teams feeling each other out–STJ struggling to find a rhythm.
Second Quarter
7:45–STJ–DeCosey drives in for basket to get on the board for a 6-4 lead.
7:35–STJ–Jimbo Long gets steal, and passes ahead to Brix for layup for an 8-4 lead.
7:17–STJ–Towns gets steal.
7:02–STJ–turnover.
5:45–CBA–scores underneath for an 8-6 STJ lead.
5:19–STJ–timeout after Towns puts back missed jumper by Long for a 10-6 lead.
4:27–CBA–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 10-7 STJ lead.
3:20–STJ–Long connects on a three pointer from the right wing for a 13-7 lead.
3:03–STJ–Karim Awad fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 14-7 lead.
2:37–STJ–Brix sinks jumper from right baseline for a 16-7 lead.
1:43–STJ–Brix fouled–makes both FTs for an 18-7 lead.
1:10–STJ–Towns blocks shot, CBA gets offensive rebound, but DeCosey blocks the follow.
0:21–STJ–Towns with a nice extra pass to Brix for three from right side and a 21-7 lead.
0:00–CBA–misses shot as time expires.
STJ outscores CBA by a margin of 17-3 in 2nd quarter.
CBA–only one FG and  1 of 2 FTs in 2nd.
Brix–11 points, Long–5 points, Towns–2 points, DeCosey–2 points, Awad–1 point.
Third Quarter
7:46–STJ–Brix gets steal, and is fouled.
7:25–STJ–Towns spins and nets fadeaway jumper from right baseline for a 23-7 lead.
7:02–CBA–basket for a 23-9 STJ lead.
5:37–STJ–Long knocks in triple for a 26-9 lead.
4:49–CBA–fouled on floor.
3:56–STJ–Towns fouled–makes both FTs for a 28-9 lead.
3:42–CBA–three pointer for a 28-12 STJ lead.
2:48–STJ–fouled on floor.
2:18–CBA–fouled on the floor after getting steal.
1:32–CBA–layup for a 28-14 STJ lead.
1:08–CBA–timeout after steal for a layup and a 28-16 STJ lead.
36.1–STJ–DeCosey gets the basket, and the foul for a three point play and a 31-16 lead.
8.9–CBA–fouled on floor–DeCosey–2nd foul.
0.0–CBA–unable to score as time runs out.
Fourth Quarter
7:45–STJ–fouled on floor after getting two offensive rebounds (Towns and DeCosey).
7:41–STJ–DeCosey fouled on three point attempt–makes 1 of 3 FTs for a 32-16 lead.–Long gets offensive rebound.
7:26–STJ–traveling.
7:07–CBA–fouled–missed both FTs.
6:47–STJ–Long gets steal–passes ahead to Brix, who gets the ball knocked away from him by CBA player.
6:42–STJ–30 sec timeout.
6:27–STJ–Long dishes Brix a nice bounce pass for a layup, and a 34-16 lead.
6:07–CBA–fouled–makes both FTs for a 34-18 STJ lead.
5:37–STJ–Long fouled–misses front end of one and one.
5:17–CBA–fouled–makes both FTs for a 34-20 STJ lead.
4:26–CBA–fouled–makes both FTs for a 34-22 STJ lead.
4:12–STJ–DeCosey fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 35-22 lead.
4:08–CBA–timeout.
4:01–CBA–scores on reverse layup for a 35-24 STJ lead.
3:34–STJ–DeCosey–fouled–makes both FTs for a 37-24 lead.
3:16–CBA–hits three pointer from left side of the key for a 37-27 STJ lead.
2:57–STJ–Brix feeds Towns for one handed slam, and a 39-27 lead.
2:30–STJ–Towns hits three pointer from right corner for a 42-27 lead.
2:03–CBA–fouled–makes both FTs for a 42-29 STJ lead.
2:03–full timeout called.
1:57–STJ–DeCosey fouled–misses both FTs.
1:34–STJ–Brix fouled–makes both FTs for a 44-29 lead.
1:02–STJ–DeCosey gets basket and the foul for a three point play, and a 47-29 lead.
55.3–STJ–Towns blocks layup attempt by CBA.
46.0–CBA–three pointer from right wing for a 47-32 STJ lead.
0.0–STJ–runs out the clock for the 47-32 win.
STJ scoring–Brix–15 points, DeCosey–12 points, Towns–11 points, Long–8 points, Awad–1 point.