Top Ranked Falcons Put On A Show At Prime Time Shootout
ROSELLE, NJ–In the featured game for GMC Hoops at the 2014 Prime Time Shootout at Roselle Catholic, top ranked St. Joseph’s, which is also ranked third in the Garden State, was taking on Pace Academy from North Carolina. Â The Falcons jumped out to a 16-4 first quarter lead, and never looked back in a 91-57 rout. Â Eight different players got into the scorebook for Joes including four that scored in double figures led by game MVP Marques Townes with 25 points.
Karl Towns put on a dunking exhibition as he barreled his way to another double-double  performance with 21 points and 17 rebounds.  Raven Owen was en fuego from beyond the arc as he knocked down five threes en route to his 19 points on the night.  Wade Baldwin also threw down a couple dunks while scoring 13 points and orchestrating the up-tempo, highlight reel style of play that St. Joseph’s has been displaying over the past several weeks.  For the game, the Falcons outscored Pace in three of the four periods except the third, which ended in a 19-19 tie. Â
St. Joe’s had more two point field goals (24-22), outscored Pace by a 27-3 margin from beyond the arc, and had more points from the foul line (16-10). Â The North Carolina school had 8 players score, but only three in double figures, and nobody had more than 14 points in the contest. Â Townes scored 16 of his points in the first half as the Falcons ended the first period ahead 24-10, and then extended that lead to 47-21 going into the locker room at halftime thanks to a 23-11 showing in the second. Â Owen chipped in with 12 points while Towns added 8 and Baldwin contributed with 7 including a two handed jam. Â Townes closed the first half with a baseline drive from the left for an acrobatic layup as time ran out in the second for the enormous 26 point lead at the break.
The third quarter saw the Falcons get their highlight reel act in full gear with Towns throwing down a monster one handed slam from the right baseline. Â The Falcons scored 4 of the first six points of the half for a 51-23 lead at the 6:19 mark of the third, and then maintained that lead for much of the frame before Pace Academy went into the fourth trailing 66-40. Â In the final period, Towns threw down a couple more dunks including one off the break that followed another trey by Owen for a 79-48 lead with just under five minutes to play. Â
The Joes reserves got into the act as Mike Cintron scored four points including a long two point jumper from the left corner and freshman, Mike Granda added a triple in the final minutes to help round out the 34 point victory. Â With the win, St. Joseph’s improved to 18-1 overall on the season including a 7-1 mark against non-conference opponents. Â The Falcons have yet to lose in the state of New Jersey this year.