Chiefs Finally Coming Together As GMCT Moves Into Round of 16
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–Despite having a good deal of talent, size, and athletic ability on the court, 18th seeded Piscataway was unable to get that to translate into a lot of wins. Â Although P-Way opened the second with two non-conference wins in its first four games, it went through the entire month of January with only one victory, which was a 78-57 shocker over Carteret at the MLK Jamboree in New Brunswick.
The month also had a couple low points. Â The Chiefs looked like a team that was coming apart at the seems when it hosted South Brunswick on January 16th. Â In that contest, the Vikings jumped out to an 18-4 lead within the first 9:21 of the game, and never let Piscataway get any closer than 14 points while leading by as many as 23 in the second half before winning 57-36. Â Then, after blowing past Carteret, the Chiefs stumbled on the road against Gold Division winner, Timothy Christian (50-39) on January 25th.
However, within the past week, Piscataway has begun to turn things around. Â First, the Chiefs traveled to South Brunswick, an avenged the ugly loss in the first meeting with a 62-60 victory on February 11th. Â Then, the Chiefs pulled a stunner by rallying to defeat second seeded East Brunswick, 45-40. Â Following an easy win over 31st seeded E.B. Tech in a GMCT Play-In round game on Saturday afternoon (61-27), P-Way advanced to the Round of 16 with a 65-56 victory over 15th seeded Perth Amboy in the GMCT Prelims on Tuesday night. Â Within a week, the Chiefs had amassed more wins than they had the entire season prior to a week ago.
The team is playing with much more confidence and determination. Â The players are playing with more enthusiasm and exuberance. Â Enduring a number of single digit losses including a 58-50 decision to Perth Amboy on January 8th, and two single digit losses to Old Bridge including one at OBHS in the final seconds, and another at home in overtime in a contest broadcast on WCTC back on February 7th (62-59). Â P-Way also lost to fourth seeded North Brunswick in overtime (62-60). Â With a number of transfers coming in including top talents Najee Lucky from Plainfield and Asiah Avent from Immaculata, it has taken some time for the team’s chemistry to develop. Â The boys hoops program at P-Way has had an influx of new faces come in over the past two seasons. Â Only Joe Hines, Rachid Shimou, and Marinus Tavernier remain from the season prior to head coach Antoine Allen’s arrival.
Like South Amboy and Timothy Christian, the Chiefs have a chance to make history on Thursday night when they travel down to play second seeded East Brunswick. Â A win coupled with a Timothy Christian win over South Amboy would make them the lowest seed to reach the GMCT Elite Eight ever. Â The lowest seeds to ever reach the GMCT Quarterfinals were 12th seeded Cedar Ridge in 1988 (lost to top seeded St. Peter’s in the semis), 14th seeded Perth Amboy in 1999 (lost to second seeded Colonia in the semis), and 15th seeded Old Bridge in 2007 (lost to 7th seeded South Plainfield in the quarters).