WEST ORANGE, NJ–On Sunday afternoon, GMC Hoops traveled up the Garden State Parkway to West Orange High School to take in all or part of the final four games of the last day of action from the 2012 Hoop Group Tip-Off Classic. The first matchup of the afternoon seen by the site was between Pope John of Sparta of the Northwest Jersey Athletic Conference, and Roselle Catholic. The battle of Lions was won by Roselle Catholic, which trailed 31-26 just moments into the third, but finished the game on a 45-27 surge to win, 71-58. Tyler Roberson earned game MVP honors for RCHS with 21 points while freshman, Bryce Aiken put on quite a show with 26 points for Pope John. Below are notes from the second half of action.
First Half
Pope John leads 29-26
Third Quarter
6:45–RC–after giving up an early layup to PJ, the Lions go on a 5-0 run including a three by Roberson to tie the game at 31-31.
6:30–PJ–hits jumper from left corner for a 33-31 lead
6:25–RC–Roberson #21–fouled–makes both FTs to tie the game at 33-33
5:48–PJ–#11–freshman–drives in from left side for a layup and a 35-33 lead.
5:00–PJ–#11–nifty drive for layup and a 37-33 lead.
4:47–RC–Hakim Santil #20–gets kind bounce on floater for a 37-35 PJ lead.
4:14–RC–Roberson scores for a 37-37 tie.
4:04–RC–Santil picks #11’s pocket and goes in for layup and a 39-37 lead.
3:36–RC–Santil picks up third foul.
3:21–RC–#12–Malachi Richardson–basket and the foul–misses bonus FT for a 41-37 lead.
3:00–RC–fouled–makes both FTs for a 43-37 lead.
2:47–RC–deflects ball out of bounds–RC timeout
2:22–PJ–#11–pulls-up for jumper from left elbow and a 43-39 RC lead.
2:09–RC–turnover.
1:46–RC–Santil races in from left side for layup and a 45-39 lead.
1:00–RC–Richardson scores on putback for a 47-39 lead.
18.2–RC–transition layup for a 49-39 lead.
1.2–PJ–#13 Brown banks in three pointer from right wing for a 49-42 RC lead after three.
Fourth Quarter
7:37–PJ–#31–fakes up and hits jumper from left side for a 49-44 RC lead.
7:13–RC–transition layup for a 51-44 lead.
6:50–PJ–Mustafa Bentley  (#44)–scores on putback for a 51-46 RC lead.
6:39–RC–Santil–fouled on floor–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 52-46 lead.
6:13–RC–Roberson throws down a putback for a 54-46 lead.
6:10–RC–Richardson fouled–misses front end of a one and one.
5:58–PJ–forces turnover.
5:45–PJ–throws ball away–turnover.
5:10–PJ–#11–fouled by Richardson–1 of 2 FTs for a 56-48 RC lead.
4:32–PJ–#11–fouled by Santil–fourth foul–both FTs for a 56-50 lead.
3:56–RC–#4–three from right wing for a 59-50 lead.
3:36–PJ–#44–Mustafa Bentley–powers in for layup from right low block for a 59-52 RC lead.
3:07–RC–Santil–drives in for layup and a 61-52 lead.
2:49–RC–calls timeout after PJ scores on baseline drive for reverse layup by #11 for a 61-54 RC lead.
2:37–RC–Santil drives to  the basket, and is fouled by #13–misses front end of one and one.
2:06–PJ–#11 drives in for layup and a 63-56 RC lead.
1:56–RC–Roberson throws one down for a 65-56 lead.
1:42–RC–Richardson–fouled–and makes the basket–makes the bonus FT for a 68-56 lead.
1:28–PJ–#11 dishes to #44 Mustafa Bentley for layup and a 68-58 RC lead.
1:19–RC– Roberson fouled by #44 Bentley (fouls out)–RC–calls for a full timeout–Roberson–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 69-58 lead.
1:00–RC–#2–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 70-58 lead.
52.7–PJ–almost loses the ball out of bounds.
47.0–PJ–#22–fouled–misses front end of one and one.
42.0–RC–Santil–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 71-58 lead.
8.8–RC–hits rim on jumper from right wing–ball goes out of bounds–PJ ball.
0.0–PJ–#11–loses handle on drive–RC runs out the clock for a 71-58 win.