NORTH EDISON–After traveling over to Carteret to see the game between the Ramblers and Metuchen, GMC Hoops headed over to Bishop Ahr High School to see the final ten minutes of action between the Trojans and Highland Park. The game was no longer in doubt by the time we entered the gym with Ahr already leading 50-24. BGA led by as many as 28 on two occasions in the fourth before Highland Park closed the game with a 15-2 run over the final four and a half minutes including 11 points by Nadre Hepburn in the last 2:53, but the Trojans still won, 62-47. Hepburn had a game high 21 points while Jordan Long chipped in with 17 for the Owls. Bishop Ahr had a more balanced attack led by Tom Duffy and St. Joe’s transfer Owen McLeod, who scored 12 each, and three other players: Mike Jensen, Tom Weiler, and Greg Patuto scored 7 points. Below are game notes from the final 9:52 of the game.
Third Quarter
1:52–arrive–Bishop Ahr leads 50-24.
1:40–HP–Jordan Long gets the ball in the paint, dribbles to his right, and flips up a one handed shot that goes in for a 50-26 BGA lead.
1:31–BGA–Owen McLeod scores on a follow off a missed jumper from the left wing for a 52-26 lead.
1:23–HP–Jordan Long misses layup down low.
1:17–BGA–backcourt violation
1:05–HP-Long gets ball off pick and roll, tries to knife in between two BGA defenders, flips up a shot as he is fouled, and it goes–missed bonus free throw for a 52-28 BGA lead.
0:05–BGA–Mike Viggiano, deflects a pass for a steal, and goes the rest of the way for a layup from the right side to give the Trojans a 54-28 lead after three.
Fourth Quarter
7:25–BGA–McLeod dribbles to the foul line from the left wing, and pulls-up for a jumper and a 56-28 BGA lead.
6:05–HP–Hepburn drives into the foul line area, and dishes a dump pass to Long for a layin underneath, and a 56-30 BGA lead.
5:23–HP–Jarren Miller scores on a shot in the paint for a 56-32 BGA lead.
4:59–BGA–Christian Bader puts in a follow off a missed layup by McLeod for a 58-32 lead.
4:35–BGA–Christian Bader dishes bounce pass from right high post to Casey Damour for a layup from the left low block and a 60-32 lead.
3:43–BGA–McLeod leaves the game.
3:26–HP–James Webb drains triple from the right wing in transition for a 60-35 BGA lead.
2:53–BGA–30 sec timeout–HP–Hepburn–swipes steal and is fouled–makes both FTs for a 60-37 BGA lead.
2:28–HP–Long–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 60-38 BGA lead.
2:15–BGA–Robert Paccitti fouled on the drive–makes both FTs for a 62-38 lead.
1:19–HP–Hepburn draws a crowd of BGA defenders in the left lane before hitting a short jumper for a 62-40 BGA lead.
0:43–HP–Hepburn drives into the paint and hits floater between two defenders for a 62-42 BGA lead.
0:30–HP–Hepburn swipes steal, and goes in for layup from left side for a 62-44 BGA lead.
0:10–HP–Long blocks shot from behind out of bounds.
0:00–HP–Hepburn drains three at the buzzer for a 62-47 final score.
HP–ends game with a 15-2 tear.
Highland Park Scoring
#1–Jordan Long–17 points
#5–James Webb–3 points
#3–Nadre Hepburn–21 points
#4–Jarren Miller–4 points
#10–Harry Landis–0 points
#14–Travis Lesuer–2 points
Bishop Ahr Scoring
#5–Tom Duffy–12 points
#10–Mike Jensen–7 points
#20–Owen McLeod–12 points
#35–Tom Weiler–7 points
#22–Greg Patuto–7 points
#11–Chris Sudowsky–3 points
#13–Patrick Astarita–3 points
#12–Christian Bader–4 points
#14–Mike Viggiano–2 points
#15–Robert Paccitti–2 points
#24–Casey Damour–2 points