NORTH EDISON, NJ–On Friday evening, GMC Hoops traveled over to Bishop Ahr High School to take in the quarterfinal round game of the 2015 Perth Amboy/GMC Tournament between the 9th seeded Little Trojans of Bishop Ahr and 17th seeded Perth Amboy. In a first quarter that saw 7 lead changes and a tie, Amboy ended the frame on an 8-3 run to take a 17-13 lead. Then, in the second, Ahr drew within two at 33-31 going into the break thanks to an 18-16 showing capped by a basket in the waning seconds of the stanza by Jordan Wells. The Little Trojans then took a 34-33 lead within the first minute of the third on a three from the right side by Alex Santiago, but Amboy answered by scoring 6 of the next 8 points, and never looked back en route to a 62-50 win. Luis Bonilla led Perth Amboy with 16 points while Adam Gornowicz chipped in with 15 including 11 in the first half, and Dario Demoria added 14. Santiago led all scorers with 21 for Bishop Ahr while Matt Mellos chipped in with 10 and Wells added 9. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
6:30–Ahr gets on the board first with a short jumper by Matt Mellos.
4:04 to go in the first period and Amboy leads 7-6 thanks in part back to back threes by Adam Gornowicz. Matt Mellos has 4 pts for Ahr.
0:00–End of the first quarter and Amboy ends the frame on an 8-3 run for a 17-13 lead. Seven lead changes and a tie in the stanza. Adam Gornowicz scored 9 points in the frame to lead Perth Amboy while Alex Santiago led Bishop Ahr with 7 points.
Second Quarter
4:26 left in the first half and Amboy leads 26-23 after a three from the left wing by Luis Bonilla answered a couple scores by Ahr’s Jordan Wells.
1:09 left in the first half and Ahr closes to within two at 31-29 on a three from well beyond the top of the key by Alex Santiago.
0:00–Game has gone to the half at Ahr with Perth Amboy leading 33-31. Jordan Wells got a score in the final seconds of the first half to pull Ahr within two at the break. Bishop Ahr first half scoring: Alex Santiago leads the Little Trojans with 13 while Jordan Wells and Matt Mellos each have 6. Amboy scoring in the first half: Little Panthers had 6 threes over the first two periods. Adam Gornowicz led Amboy with 12 points including three treys while Dario Demoria chipped in with 6 points and Luis Bonilla added 5.
Third Quarter
3:20 left in the third quarter and Amboy leads 39-37 despite 3 points each by Alex Santiago and Matt Mellos for Ahr. Bishop Ahr had taken a 34-33 lead at the start of the period on a three pointer from the right side by Alex Santiago, but the Little Panthers responded with a 6-2 run to retake the lead. Nine lead changes and one tie so far in the game.
2:28 left in the third quarter and Ahr calls timeout trailing 42-37 after another three by Amboy’s Luis Bonilla.
0:00–End of third and Amboy leads 44-37 thanks to a drive for a layup from the right side by John Rodriguez in the final seconds
Fourth Quarter
5:54 left in the game and Amboy now leads 52-44 despite a trey from the left wing by Ahr’s Santiago.
2:54 left in the game and Amboy calls timeout after Bobby Krolick sinks this jumper to pull Ahr within 55-49.
1:35 left in the game and BGA calls a 30 second timeout after a FT by Wells closes gap to 57-50.
0:00–Game has just ended with Cinderella 17th seed Perth Amboy punching a ticket for the semifinals in the friendly confines of its own gym on Monday with a 62-50 victory over Ahr. Amboy finished the game on a 7-1 run after Ahr closed to within six at 55-49. Luis Bonilla led Perth Amboy with 16 points while Adam Gornowicz chipped in with 15 including 11 in the first half, and Dario Demoria added 14. Santiago led all scorers with 21 for Bishop Ahr while Matt Mellos chipped in with 10 and Wells added 9. Perth Amboy is making its first trip to the Final Four since 2010.