SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–In front of a packed house and a changed atmosphere with loud student sections for both schools, South Amboy took on old crosstown rival, Cardinal McCarrick. in a benefit game that helped raise 30,000 dollars for victims of Hurricane Sandy. In the contest, South Amboy turned a 22-19 early third quarter deficit into a 38-27 lead thanks to a 19-5 tear over a span of nearly a quarter. However, led by the efforts of Sky Harris and Tavian Chukwuani, McCarrick rallied with a 19-8 run of its own over the last 8:40 of regulation to tie the game at 46-46, and won the game in overtime by the score of 54-51 on a three point play by Chukwuani wth 21.3 seconds left. Below are notes from the second half and overtime.
Pre-Game Notes
For the first time in several  years, the Guvs of South Amboy will be playing old crosstown rival, Cardinal McCarrick in a game that will benefit residents of South Amboy impacted by Hurricane Sandy at the end of October.  The superstorm caused a good deal of damage to the town as well as many other municipalities along Raritan Bay. Â
The last time the Guvs and Eagles played each other was back in 2008 when the Eagles, top seed of that year’s GMCT, defeated eighth seeded South Amboy, which had won the GMC Gold for the first time in school history. Â Both teams opened their season with losses on Friday night as the Guvs lost a tough one at home to Dunellen (53-51) in Gold Division action while the Eagles fell on the road at Edison (54-41).
South Amboy returns much of its nucleus from last year including Steve Herdman, Nick Kales, Joe Fruncillo, Dan Murphy, Matt Lavan, and Tim Kales while McCarrick lost five players from last year’s team due to transfers alone including Marques Townes (Linden), Alonzo Hamilton (Linden), and Jonathan Rodriguez (Bound Brook). Â The Eagles did have a couple players transfer in including Sky Harris (J.P. Stevens) and Jacquante Madden (St. Patrick’s).
First Half
arrive just seconds before the end of the first half–McCarrick makes a couple free throws for a 20-19 lead at the intermission.
Third Quarter
7:49–CM–Jacquante Madden drives left baseline on Joe Fruncillo, and scores on layup for a 22-19 lead.
7:26–SA–Fruncillo scores on layup from left low block for a 22-21 CM lead
7:03–SA–Steve Herdman–deflects ball out of bounds.
6:55–CM–fouled on the floor.
6:34–SA–Nick Kales hits baseline jumper from left side for a 23-22 lead.
6:10–SA–Herdman makes a nifty move, and then hits a short fadeaway for a 25-22 lead.
5:30–CM–Sean McRae scores for a 25-24 SA lead.
5:10–timeout.
4:48–SA–Herdman pulls up on short jumper and misses off the rim–Fruncillo gets offensive board, but misses putback attempt. Â Dan Murphy gets offensive rebound, and is fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 26-24 lead.
3:58–CM–calls timeout after Fruncillo gets an offensive rebound, and puts it back in with Madden right behind him for a layup, and a 28-24 SA lead.
3:29–CM–Herdman finds a cutting Fruncillo underneath, but he is unable to score as Tavian Chukwuani helps knock the ball off him out of bounds–CM ball
2:50–CM–Herdman–finds Fruncillo on the same cut again for a layup and a 30-24 lead.
2:21–CM–throws it away–turnover.
2:12–SA–Murphy–fouled underneath on right low block–makes 1 of 2 FTs–Fruncillo pushes off on Madden on the rebound–and is called for a foul–Madden down.–apparently had his shoulder pop out. Â Gets helped up by rescue workers to a nice ovation from fans in the gym. Â Taken out on stretcher.
2:04–SA–Herdman swipes steal in CM backcourt, and goes in for layup attempta–fouled–makes both FTs for a 33-24 lead.
1:52–SA–Fruncillo called for a foul–third of the game.
1:32–SA–Tim Kales deflects pass to CM post–Herdman picks it up, and then dribbles down the right side of the court, and drains three for a 36-26 lead.
1:14–SA–Dan Murphy called for offensive foul.
49.1–CM–Sky Harris fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 36-27 CM lead.
40.7–SA–Herdman fouled on floor–Guvs now in bonus–makes both FTs for a 38-27 lead.
19.2–CM–Jahmal Pryce fouled on layup attempt–makes 1 of 2 FTs
0.0–SA–after Harris misses shot–Guvs take the ball down court for a Matt Lavan shot with several seconds miss, but it goes off front of the rim. Â Murphy hustles for the offensive rebound, but is unable to get a shot off as time expires.
Fourth Quarter
7:24–CM–Harris got his hands on a steal–passes ahead to Pryce for a layup as  he is fouled–missed th ebonus FTs.  Gets offensive rebound and passes to Harris, who connects on jumper from left wing for a 38-32 SA lead.
7:00–CM–#33–fouled–makes both FTs for a 38-34 SA lead.
6:49–timeout.
6:41–SA–Murphy fouled on the drive–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 39-34 lead.
5:52–SA–Herdman passes upcourt to Murphy for layup from right side and a 41-34 lead.
5:22–CM–Aaron Lewis connects on three pointer from right side for a 41-37 SA lead.
5:11–SA–Murphy fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 42-37 lead.
4:55–CM–Chukwuanifouled on the floor–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 42-38 SA lead.
4:41–CM–McRae forces turnover–CM ball.
4:19–CM–gets fouled after getting rebound–misses both FTs.
4:06–CM–McRae scraps for steal, and is fouled at midcourt–goes to the line–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 42-39 SA lead.
4:01–CM–deflects ball out of bounds.
3:44–CM–Harris misses pull-up jumper from right side, both teams get tied up–jump ball–SA possession–Guvs call timeout.
3:13–CM–Harris and Nick Kales get on the ground for a loose ball–get tied up–Harris called for foul–Guvs in double bonus–Nick Kales makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 43-39 lead.
2:54–SA–Lavan fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 44-39 lead.
2:38–CM–Harris drives in from right side for the layup as heis fouled–makes bonus FT for a 44-42 SA lead.
2:23–SA–Murphy–layup from right low block for a 46-42 lead.
2:11–CM–#11–at the line–misses both FTs.
1:35–CM–Harris–fouled on rebound–makes both FTs for a 46-44 SA lead.
1:19–CM–Harris–swipes steal, and goes in for layup to tie game at 46-46.
1:15–CM–timeout–Chukwuani almost forced a steal, but SA hangs on.
1:04–CM–timeout after Nick Kales misses shot and Eagles get the rebound.
45.7–SA–Murphy swipes steal from Harris–drives in for a layup, but is called for traveling–CM ball.
10.3–SA–timeout–Guvs get the ball after Pryce misses shot.
9.2–CM–deflects ball out of bounds.
2.8–CM–timeout after SA pass down low on right side goes out of bounds.
0.0–SA–Tim Kales deflects ball out of bounds as time expires. Â 46-46 tie.
Overtime
3:52–CM–scores off the tip for a 48-46 lead.
3:26–SA–turnover.
3:00–CM–#11–drives through middle and hits floater for a 50-46 lead.
2:54–SA–Nick Kales fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs–gets his own rebound, but misses follow–ball goes out of bounds on SA–CM ball and leads 50-47.
2:19–SA–Herdman misses three–CM–rebounds.
1:35–SA–Lavan strokes a three from the top of the key for a 50-50 tie.
1:09–CM–Harris called for over the back–Nick Kales–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 51-50 lead.
36.7–CM–#11–fouled–after getting rebound–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 51-51 tie.
21.3–CM–Chukwuani pounces on loose ball for the steal, and takes the ball in for a layup and a foul–SA timeout–Chukwuani–makes bonus FT for a 54-51 lead.
8.0–SA–timeout.
0.0–SA–Herdman takes two attempts from three in the final six seconds, but both are off the mark–CM wins 54-51.