Red Division Race Again Looks To Come Down To St. Joe’s and EB

Colonia May Be Able To Crash Party Between Falcons and Bears

SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–Last year, St. Joseph’s and East Brunswick were not only the class of the Red Division, but also of the entire conference.  The two teams went at it in three classic games including the first ever double overtime game for the GMCT Championship.  Both teams were at a level much higher than all the other schools in the conference in 2012-13.  The semifinal matchups of the GMCT, which are usually some of the most competitive games of the season, were proof that nobody else in the GMC were in the same league as the Falcons and Bears.

Although East Brunswick lost a great deal to graduation including all time leading scorer, Rob Ukawuba, who now plays at NJIT, both the Bears and the Falcons have programs that are like well oiled machines, and will be too tough for most if not all the teams in the Red Division, and the rest of the GMC to keep up with come conference tournament time in mid to late February.  St. Joseph’s has potential four D1 players in their starting lineup with Kentucky bound, Karl Towns, Vanderbilt bound, Wade Baldwin, Canisius bound Raven Owen, and Marques Townes, who has generated D1 interest not only in basketball, but in football as well.

Sophomore Breein Tyree rounds out the starting five, and there is no drop off with him.  He can play just as well as the other four.  Quarterback on the football team, Tyree helped keep the Falcons within striking distance through its contest against Shore Regional in the Tip-Off Classic on opening weekend with his 17 points.  A transfer from Rutgers Prep, Tyree can slash to the basket, shoot the three, jump out of the gym, and be a fine distributor.  You can argue that the Falcons have the best starting five in the state let alone the GMC.  St. Joe’s doesn’t go that far deep though at this point in the year with reserves Marcus Ashamole, Mike Cintron, and Connor Klementowicz all returning from last year.

A couple things that help St. Joe’s this year are the fact that they are playing a tough schedule that includes out of state foes such as Archbishop Wood (PA), New Mission (MA), Wilbraham & Monson, DeMatha (MD), and Montverde Academy (FL), and that everyone is gunning for them.  With appearances in the past two NJSIAA T of Cs including last year’s final against Roselle Catholic, the Falcons now have a target on their back, and will get the very best of our their opponents.  The first two games of the season against East Brunswick and Shore Regional were good indicators of that, and that could really help Joes in the long run as we get into tourney season in February and March.  There is still one remaining game with EB next week at the Bird Cage, and it should be another thriller.

Despite a good deal of turnover from last year’s squad, a new head coach, and only playing four games several weeks into the season, East Brunswick figures to be in the mix again for the Red Division crown.  First year head coach, Mark Motusesky was an integral part of building the EB program under Bo Henning, especially since the 2007-08 season when the varsity went 4-18.  Motusesky, who won three East Brunswick/GMC JV Tournaments in 2004, 2012, and 2013 as EB’s JV head coach, provides continuity along with varsity assistant Rich Whalen, a member of the last East Brunswick team to win the GMCT in 1996, and freshman coach Jon Pawlowski.  East Brunswick has plenty of depth this year thanks to very successful JV and Freshman programs over the past five seasons.  While they have starters in Princeton bound Amir Bell and Gary Baumer returning this season, the Bears also have a good junior class, and a couple talented sophomores in Matt Ross and Addis Ralph.

A classic example of how EB’s depth helps them was in the opening round of the All Brunswick Classic against North Brunswick.  When Bell had to leave the game with blurry vision after a collision in the first quarter, Ross, the younger brother of Joe Ross, who now plays at Ithaca, came in and the Bears didn’t miss a beat as the sophomore scored a game high 15 points including a poised 7 of 8 from the foul line in the victory over the Raiders.  Juniors John McHenry and Tyler McNamara also hit clutch shots en route to the win.  Additional depth was provided when senior Owen Summerer came out for the team.  After sitting out last season, the younger brother of Mike Summerer, who is now playing at Kean, came back out for the basketball team.  Summerer was a member of the EB freshman squad that reached the Final Four of the 2011 Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament.

As far as the rest of the pack goes in the Red Division, one team looks like they may be able to contend with St. Joe’s and EB this season, and that is Colonia.  In spite of the losses of Trent Barneys and Bleriot Thompson to graduation last June, the Patriots are off to their best start at 4-1 since moving up to the GMC Red several years ago.  Led by sophomore Chase Barneys and James Corbett, the Pats have already beaten perennial Red Division contenders South Brunswick (67-41), Piscataway (57-40), and Old Bridge (54-50), and reached the finals of the John “Butch” Kowal Tourney before losing to last year’s Group I State Champion and T of C Quarterfinalist, Point Pleasant Beach (60-41).  Colonia has some size with 6’6″ senior forward, Charlie Caver, and 6’4″ junior center Patrick Naguib, and have guards that can attack the basket in Barneys, Corbett, and Chris Siletti.  Jodrell Thompson also adds additional scoring punch and athleticism.  CHS also has a fanatical fan base with the Colonia Crazies coming out in full force.  The Pats have yet to play both Joes and EB, so they have that going for them.

South Brunswick took some hits to graduation including the losses of big man, Chris Bourne, point guard Dion Hooper, and shooting guard Sean Keenan.  The Vikings did get a bit of a boost though during the fall when Jason Saldiveri transferred in from Sayreville.  Saldiveri is a good compliment to senior Corey Lumpkin and junior Jack Engel.  SBHS also has some size and shooting ability with in Andrew Avots, and scrappy play and scoring punch from sophomore Eric Savage.  Had a chance to see the Vikings a bit during the fall at the Monroe Sports Center Fall League, and they improved with each game, especially after Saldiveri was added to the mix.  South Brunswick doesn’t have a lot of size with its tallest player only 6’3″, but they do have plenty of good guards.  Another team that is in a bit of transition is Piscataway.  Second year head coach, Antoine Allen is beginning to put his imprint on the program, but there are a couple more new faces.

Plainfield transfer, Najee Lucky, and Immaculata transfer, Asiah Avent join returning players from last year, Elijah Murray Tucker, Marinus Tavernier, Joe Hines, Rachid Schimou, Shahmir Ahmed and Justin Leak.  The Chiefs came at you with a full court pressing style.   They also have a good combination of size, speed, and athleticism.  Losing scorer Marcus Freeney to graduation last June has left a bit of a void, but there are players on this roster that have the potential to fill that void.  Murray-Tucker has a great combination of shooting and playmaking ability and leaping ability.  Tavernier just gets bigger and stronger with each year.  Schimou provides another perimeter threat along with experience, and Hines is a nice complement to Tavernier in the low blocks.  A team that may make some big strides and improve this year is Perth Amboy.  After struggling the past two seasons, the Panthers have a good blend of guard play, size and depth that will help them rise above the middle of the Red Division pack.

With a roster that can go eleven deep, Amboy appears to have its best team in place since the 2010-11 season.  They have good guard play with the likes of Marquise Irizarry, Chris Morillo, and Joseph Malave.  The Panthers also have a good deal of size with Natanahel Melendez, Augustin Enriquez, and John Wahrmann.  Next to Timothy Christian, the Panthers looked the most impressive in the tri-scrimmage between TCS, Amboy, and J.P. Stevens.  The Panthers then followed that up by starting the season with division wins over Old Bridge and Piscataway along with close victories over J.P. Stevens and Middletown South in the Anthony J. Cotoia Holiday Tournament in December. Perth Amboy also suffered a close loss (65-61) to Edison on the road just before the holidays.  Amboy suffered double digit losses to St. Joe’s and Ewing, which may be an indication that they are still a short ways from being at the top, but it will be much more competitive than it has been the past two seasons.

Finally, we have Old Bridge, which is off to a tough start, but has lost some close games against a fairly tough schedule, and are a team in a bit of transition after losing the likes of all time leading scorer, Sultan Aminu, who now plays D2 college hoops at East Stroudsburg, Chris Conrad, Billy Andrews, and Jordan Marrero.  The Knights to have another 1,000 point scorer in Tyler Drews, who will probably be the all time leading scorer at OBHS within the next month or so.  Also returning this season is Kola Adeleye, Kasaun Figueroa, Kyle Mapson, and Dante Whipple.  Old Bridge also has a very talented sophomore class consisting of Stephen Strom, Connor Romano, Zach Attianese, and Bayonne transfer Luis Cruz.  This year’s sophomore class won the Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament last year.  The Knights don’t have a lot of size, but they do have great guard play headed by Drews, who can beat you off the dribble, shoot the three, attack the basket, get to the line, and be a good playmaker.

Strom’s ability to knock down the perimeter shot gives Drews another option while Figueroa is athletic, but can also make the perimeter shot.  Mapson, Whipple, and Attianese will battle in the low blocks despite giving up some size. Romano is a scrappy player, who isn’t afraid to mix it up.  Cruz can slash to the basket, and also hit the three.  Seeing the Knights play a bit at the Hoop Group Headquarters Fall League and in the semifinals of the Matawan Huskies Holiday Tournament, I think Old Bridge can be a good team, especially as we get later into the season.  Don’t be surprised if the Knights come up with some late season, and GMCT tourney early round upsets.  Once again, St. Joseph’s and East Brunswick appear to be the class of the GMC Red this year, but expect Colonia and Perth Amboy to be better with the Patriots possibly knocking off either Joes or EB, and South Brunswick, Piscataway, and Old Bridge improving as we get later into the season.