SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–After taking a brief respite at home following the trip to Matawan to see Old Bridge play in the Huskies Christmas Classic, GMC Hoops traveled over to South Plainfield Middle School to take in the first round matchup from the 2012 Anthony J. Cotoia Tournament between Perth Amboy and the hometown Tigers of South Plainfield.
Amboy appeared poised to come away with a double-digit victory. With less than four minutes to go in the contest, the Panthers led 34-21 as South Plainfield’s offense floundered for only six points over a span of nearly two quarters after railing only 16-15 midway through the second. However, behind the three point shooting of Jordan Hankerson and Justin Glover, and the inside play of Claude Payne, the Tigers closed regulation with a 15-2 tear in the final 3:44 of the fourth to tie the game at 36-36 and force overtime.
In the extra session, Perth Amboy took control with two scores by Cairo Henry for a 40-36 lead, and then sealed the win by making 7 of 8 from the foul line in the final 2:30 including 6 of 7 from Cardinal McCarrick transfer, Carlos Morales. South Plainfield only got two points in overtime courtesy of a Payne basket that narrowed the deficit to 44-39 with 56.9 seconds left. The Panthers went on to win 48-39 to even their record at 3-3. South Plainfield drops to 0-3 with the loss. Amboy will face the winner of the Middletown South-J.P. Stevens game while South Plainfield will face the loser. Below are some notes from the contest.
First Quarter
2:00–arrive–PA leads 10-5.
1:41–SP–Jason Lee scores from left low block for a 10-7 PA lead.
59.3–PA–timeout.
28.7–SP–gets steal–leads to Justin Glover basket and a 10-9 PA lead.
4.9–PA–Cairo Henry basket and the foul for a three point play, and a 13-9 lead.
1.8–SP–traveling
0.0–PA–Marquis Irizarry–misses shot from left side as time runs out–PA leads 13-9.
Second Quarter
4:30–SP–after Amboy gets a three to open the period–South Plainfield scores six unanswered including four by Justin Glover and two by Jordan Hankerson for a 16-15 PA lead.
3:09–PA–David Rodgers throws down two handed jam for an 18-15 lead.
1:44–PA–Carlos Morales hits a three pointer from left wing for a 21-15 lead.
59.3–SP–Glover misses layup attempt.
45.0–PA–traveling.
28.3–PA–blocks shot
0.7–SP–Claude Payne draws charge.
0.0–SP–inbounds to Chris Mathis, who holds the ball to run out the clock for a PA 21-15 lead at the half.
Third Quarter
7:03–PA–Rodgers hits three pointer for a 24-15 lead.
6:34–PA–August Enriquez called for over the back–SP ball.
5:59–PA–knocks ball out of bounds–SP ball.
5:25–PA–Carlos Morales–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 25-15 lead
5:10–SP–Lee–fouled–missed both FTs.
4:50–PA–August Enriquez fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 26-15 leadd
3:50–PA–Rodgers scores on putback for a 28-18 lead.
3:47–SP–timeout.
1:59–PA–Irizarry gets rebound, and scores on follow with reverse layin for a 30-18 lead.
1:15–PA–traveling.
Fourth Quarter
7:50–SP–Lee three pointer from left wing for a 30-21 PA lead
7:21–PA–timeout.
3:59–PA–Rodgers scores on layin off a nice feed for a 34-21 lead.
3:44–SP–Glover hits three from left baseline for a 34-24 PA lead.
3:37–PA–30 sec timeout.
3:22–SP–Glover–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 34-25 PA leadg.
2:59–PA–Joshua Hernandez–layin for a 36-25 lead.
2:44–SP–Glover fouled down low–misses both FTs.
2:27–SP–Hankerson connects for three from left wing for a 36-28 PA lead.
2:00–SP–Payne–three  point play for a 36-31 PA lead.
1:52–SP–gets steal.
1:48–SP–timeout.
1:37–SP–Hankerson pulls up for three off the dribble for a 36-34 PA lead.
1:22–PA–Enriquez fouled–misses both FTs.
1:07–SP–Payne scores on putback for a 36-36 tie.
43.6–SP–30 sec timeout.
33.0–SP–Hankerson
14.5–PA–timeout.
1.6–PA–misses three from right corner–goes out of bounds off SP.
0.0–PA–Rodgers three attempt hits back iron.
Overtime
3:48–PA–Henry scores on layup from left low block for a 38-36 lead.
3:24–SP–loses ball out of bounds.
3:02–PA–Irizarry dishes to Henry for layup and a 40-36 lead.
2:55–SP–full timeout
2:41–SP–Glover–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 40-37 PA lead.
2:30–PA–Morales–fouled–misses front end of one and one.
2:11–PA–Morales–fouled–makes both ends of the bonus for a 42-37 lead.
1:07–PA–Morales–fouled–makes both ends of bonus for a 44-37 lead.
1:04–SP–timeout after Morales almost gets a steal for PA.
56.9–SP–Payne gets shot to roll in for a 44-39 PA lead.
50.0–PA–Alejandro Hererra–fouled–makes both FTs for a 46-39 lead.
15.9–PA–Morales–fouled–makes both ends of bonus for a 48-39 lead.
7.3–SP–shot off the mark–goes out of bounds–PA ball
0.0–PA–runs out the clock.