Garrett, Ugarte, Savage, and Engel Lead the Vikings to an Easy Win
MONROE, NJ–After a sub .500 season last year, the South Brunswick Vikings are looking to be a contender again this coming season. With a nice blend of veteran and young talent, the Vikes may be a factor in what looks to be a wide open GMC Red Division. While the varsity had an up and down year, the SBHS freshmen team reached the Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament Championship game for the first time since 2005. Simultaneously, the JV led by now sophomores Jaier Garrett and Mike Ugarte reached the Final Four of the 2014 East Brunswick/GMC JV Tournament before losing to eventual champion, East Brunswick in the semis.
Over the summer, this coming year’s group of Viking hoopsters turned in a fine effort by playing at the Montgomery Team Camp and Summer Primetime Shootout among other team camps and showcases while competing regularly in the Monroe Sports Center Summer League. All the hard work and dedication looks to be paying off with the Vikings coming out of the gate with two straight wins at the 2014 Monroe Sports Center Fall League. After coming from behind and defeating Princeton in its opening week contest, South Brunswick took on another opponent from the Colonial Valley Conference in Steinert, or Hamilton East. The game wasn’t close as the Vikes jumped out to a 30-8 lead with 7:08 left in the first half, and continued to put the pedal to the metal in a 77-39 rout of the Spartans.
Garrett was solid on both ends of the court. Shooting threes, handing out assists on other threes or scores, pushing the ball up and down the court, and being very active on the defensive end. Ugarte followed suit by attacking the basket for scores, getting to the foul line, and sinking shots from the perimeter. Savage played his typical high energy game with knifing drives through the defense for layups, getting to the foul line, hitting shots from the outside, contesting shots and pressuring ball handlers on defense while he and Jack Engel coached the team during timeouts and while they were resting on the bench. Engel also sank threes, handled the ball well, defended, ran the floor to cash in on transition opportunities. Sean Nally also got into the act with a trey from the right corner to spark a first half ending run while Tavian Alford had several putbacks and Danesh Thirukmaran contributed as well.
The Vikings were up by 22 with just over 7 minutes to play in the first half when they put together a half ending push that resulted in a 16-9 run. Sparked by threes from Garrett and Nally, South Brunswick then got baskets from Savage, Engel, and Alford to go into the locker room up 46-17 at the break. The second half saw more of the same from SBHS as the Vikes outscored Steinert by a margin of 31-22 to finish off the impressive win. The Vikings were a well oiled machine with Savage ending a 4-0 start to the final period by Steinert with a jumper from just inside the foul line for a 48-21 lead with 18:07 left. Over the next 4:21, South Brunswick would go toe-to-toe with Steinert as both teams scored six points each. The Vikes got their six on two foul shots and a layup by Ugarte and a breakaway layup from Garrett for a 54-27 lead at the 13:46 mark.
Continuing to pour it on, South Brunswick put together a 15-4 tear over a span of 6:53 to take a 69-31 lead with just a bit over six and a half minutes remaining in the game. Highlighting the Viking run were a layup at the 13:24 mark and a three point play at the 10:07 mark by Alford for a 59-29 lead, a driving layup by Savage with 9:15 left, a transition layup by Engel, a bucket while being fouled by Savage, and two putbacks by Alford. Garrett then helped the Vikes close out the game by making a floater among two defenders at the 3:00 mark for a 75-33 lead, and then a breakaway layup with 14.7 seconds left to round out the 38 point victory. With the win, South Brunswick improves to 2-0 while Steinert falls to 0-2. The Vikings will be back in action for Week #3 with a Monday night matchup against Monmouth Regional of Tinton Falls at 8:55 over on the MSC Red Court.