GMC Hoops Summary–Top Ranked St. Joseph’s.Rolls Past EB, 70-43

January 24, 2014 Greg Machos East Brunswick Hoops, St. Joseph's Hoops 0

By Anthony Colucci, St. Joseph’s Beat Writer

St. Joe’s Finally Turns Corner, Bounces Back

 
Following four straight back and forth games between the St. Joseph Falcons and East Brunswick, the fifth looked like it would be keeping the status quo after the first half with St. Joe’s (12-1) only leading 27-23 and drama in the air. A halftime breakthrough changed fate en route to a 70-43 win.
 
“We were playing too fast, and Coach Turco told us we weren’t being efficient and we had to slow down,” said senior swingman Marques Townes, who helped spark the second half outburst and added 15 points. “Our main focus was getting our defensive pressure up in the second half because that is something we take pride in.”
 
St. Joe’s took that defensive pride to heart in the second half outscoring East Brunswick 26-3 in the third quarter alone.
 
The Bears fell victim to a snowball effect through the third quarter. Before East Brunswick could scratch across a point, St. Joe’s had accelerated to a 32-23 lead following a Karl Towns three pointer after senior Gary Baumer missed a field goal on the half’s opening possession and Carl Taylor missed a pair of free throws.
 
Princeton-bound point guard Amir Bell had a rare two consecutive turnovers, which resulted in St. Joe’s taking a 38-25 lead just over three minutes into the half. Sophomore guard Alex Fitzgerald converted one free throw for East Brunswick with 3:44 to play in the third quarter before the Falcons ended the quarter on a 10-0 run.
 
Coming off a 73-45 scourging by Dematha Catholic at the Spalding Hoop Hall Classic, the intensity from the Falcons was the result of a perfect storm playing their rivals
 
“Today was a statement,” said Townes. “We came off getting blown out and played with a chip on our shoulders especially being against East Brunswick who we always like giving something extra.”
 
Towns had a game high 21 points for the Falcons, while Vanderbilt-bound Wade Baldwin added 16 along with Townes’s 15. The Bears were led by Owen Summerer’s nine points while captains and main offensive weapons Bell (11 points), Baumer, and Taylor were limited to a combined 17 points.