PISCATAWAY, NJ–On Sunday night, the finale of the Public School State Finals quadrupleheader was played between Asbury Park and University of Newark for the Group I Championship. The Blue Bishops, defending Group I champion, jumped out to a 45-30 halftime lead, but University rallied behind the three point shooting of Keith Foster to put together a 43-27 surge for a 73-72 lead with 1:19 left. However, Thomond Hammary responded with a three point play at the 1:11 mark for a 75-73 lead, and Asbury Park went on to win its second straight Group I title by the score of 79-76. Below is the play-by-play from the second half of the contest.
First Half
1:05–AP–leads 41-28.
0:00–AP–scored 4 of the last 6 points of the half to take a 45-30 lead at the intermission.
Third Quarter
7:05–UNIV–score for a 45-32 AP lead.
6:47–AP–Anthony McNeil with the layup for a 47-32 lead.
6:38–UNIV–three pointer from right wing for a 47-35 AP lead.
6:31–AP–30 sec timeout after layup by Amir Conover for a 49-35 lead.
6:20–UNIV–Keith Foster fouled–makes both FTs for a 49-37 AP lead.
5:25–UNIV–Foster hits three pointer for a 51-40 lead.
5:17–UNIV–draws charge on McNeil.
4:57–UNIV–Joe Kelly score for a 51-42 AP lead.
4:29–AP–Amir Conover scores on layup for aÂ
3:51–UNIV–30 sec timeout following foul by Thomond Hammary of AP.
3:46–UNIV–traveling.
3:23–UNIV–Kelly putback of miss by Foster for a 53-44 AP lead.
3:19–AP–Armond Conover–transition layup for a 55-44 lead.
2:36–AP–Thomond Hammary scores layup in transition off steal.
2:28–AP–steal, but UNIV steals it back moments later.
2:24–UNIV–Elijah Brown–fouled–makes both FTs for a 57-46 AP lead.
2:12–UNIV–pokes ball away, but loses ball out of bounds.
1:46–UNIV–Brown scores an easy layup for a 57-48 AP lead.
1:07–AP–draws charge on Brown.
39.1–UNIV–deflects ball out of bounds.
37.9–AP–Armond Conover fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 58-48 lead.
31.0–OFF–timeout–wipe up floor.
18.0–UNIV–Brown scores on layin for a 58-50 AP lead.
17.0–OFF–injury timeout–Taj Hammary goes out with injury for AP.
0.0–AP–unable to score as time runs out…leads 58-50.
Fourth Quarter
7:43–AP–ties up UNIV–jump ball–AP possession.
7:25–UNIV–swipes steal, but can’t score.
7:10–AP–Danron Morrisey sinks triple from left wing for a 61-50 lead.
6:48–UNIV–Murphy Akawuaku–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 61-51 AP lead.
6:10–AP–timeout follows score by Armond Conover for a 63-54 lead.
3:57–
3:42–UNIV–Kelly fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 65-63 AP lead.
3:29–AP–Islam Joshua fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 66-63 lead.
3:17–UNIV–Kelly fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 66-64 AP lead.
2:58–AP–full timeout after a layup by Armond Conover for a 68-64 lead.
2:31–AP–Thomond Hammary throws down dunk for a 70-64 lead.
2:24–UNIV–Brown–fouled–makes both FTs for a 70-66 lead.
2:17–UNIV–scores off steal for a 70-68 AP lead.
2:05–AP–basket for a 72-68 lead.
1:50–UNIV–layup for a 72-70 AP lead.
1:19–UNIV–Foster sinks three from left wing for a 73-72 lead.
1:11–AP–Thomond Hammary converts three point play for a 75-73 lead.
1:00–UNIV–Jerrell Murray fouled–missed both FTs.
50.0–AP–Thomond Hammary fouled–UNIV–timeout–Hammary makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 76-73 lead.
38.7–UNIV–Brown scores on layup.
27.5–AP–Amir Conover–fouled–makes both FTs for a 78-75 lead.
13.5–UNIV–Murray–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 78-76 AP lead.
12.0–AP–Armond Conover–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 79-76 lead–AP timeout.
0.0–UNIV–Foster misses three from left corner off a good look..Phoenix gets the offensive rebound, but three attempt is off the mark as time runs out.
AP wins 79-76–wins back to back Group I State Titles.