FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, NJ—On Wednesday night, GMC Hoops endured huge traffic on Interstate 287 North to get over to Franklin High School to see the final two and a half quarters of action between Woodbridge and Franklin in a pre-season scrimmage. Woodbridge trailed 25-20 with 5:19 to go in the second, and trailed 34-27 at the half before giving up the first points of the second half to trail by seven. Then, behind the shooting of Zahneer Shuler and Quassim Glover, the Barrons rallied back with a 12-2 tear to take a 39-36 lead. Franklin then scored the next four points for a one point lead, and the game seesawed back and forth for a bit until Woodbridge trailed 49-48 midway through the fourth period. The Barrons scored 8 of the next 10 points including a three by Shuler for a 56-51 lead, and then held on for a 56-55 win. Below are game note from the action:
Second Quarter
5:19—Arrive with Franklin leading Woodbridge 25-20.
4:57—Woodbridge scores to close the gap to 25-22.
4:00—Franklin scores to go up 27-22.
3:15—Woodbridge gets a three pointer from the right wing by Zahneer Shuler to pull within two at 27-25.
2:30—Franklin adds a free throw for a 28-25 lead.
1:00—Franklin scores 4 of the next 6 points for a 32-27 lead.
0:00—First half ends with Franklin leading 34-27 at the break. Warriors end the half on a 6-2 run.
Third Quarter
9:45—Franklin gets a basket to go up 36-27. Warriors now on an 8-2 run.
9:30–Keshaun Henry draws a foul and makes ft for a 36-28 Franklin lead.
9:00—Quassim Glover hits a jumper from the right side to close the gap to 36-30.
7:50 left in third and Franklin leads 36-32 after two fts by Glover.
7:11 left in third and WHS senior Zahneer Shuler exits game after he tweaked an ankle following a score on a layup to close the gap to 36-34.
5:33 left in third and Woodbridge ties Franklin in scrimmage at 36-36 on this putback by Quassim Glover.
3:38 left in third and both teams have exchanged leads now with Franklin up 40-39.
2:20 left in third and Franklin still leads 40-39 after a 4-0 run ended a WBG 12-2 tear.
44.3 secs left and Woodbridge takes a 43-42 lead on jumper off inbounds by Shuler.
16.8 secs left in qtr and Franklin calls timeout with a 44-43 lead.
0.00—Woodbridge is unable to score as time expires.
Fourth Quarter
9:40—Woodbridge scores to go up 44-43.
9:00—Franklin goes ahead 45-44 on a pair of foul shots by Piscataway transfer, Asiah Avent.
8:00—Woodbridge makes another pair of free throws for a 46-45 lead.
7:15—Franklin scores to take a 47-46 lead.
6:30—Woodbridge takes a 48-47 lead on a pair of free throws.
4:47 left and Franklin leads 49-48 on a jumper from the left wing.
2:38 left and Woodbridge on a 5-2 run including putback by Glover for a 53-51 lead.
1:41 left and Woodbridge now leads 56-51 after three pointer from the right wing by Shuler.
35.3 secs left and Franklin calls timeout after closing the gap to 56-53 with a score following an ill-advised three by Woodbridge.
0:00–Scrimmage just ended with Woodbridge hanging on to edge Franklin, 56-55. Franklin made a jumper from the top of the key with 14.3 secs left, but it was ruled a two, not a three. Over a span of 13 minutes from the middle of the third to late in the fourth quarter, there were 12 lead changes and a tie. Note: In addition to Asiah Avent transferring from Piscataway to Franklin, Matt Harris transferred in from Timothy Christian.