SOUTH AMBOY, NJ—On Saturday night, GMC Hoops took in the nightcap of the 2015 Friends of South Amboy Showcase at South Amboy Middle-High School. For the third time in four years, the Guvs took their visiting opponent to the limit. Sayreville jumped out to a 27-16 lead midway through the first half before South Amboy rallied with an 13-2 tear including eight unanswered points to pull within one late in the second period before Sayreville scored the last four points for a 33-28 halftime lead.
From that point on, it was a game as South Amboy actually tied the contest, and took the lead on a couple of occasions down the stretch before Sayreville pulled it out on a score by former South Amboy standout, Ryan O’Leary with 0.4 seconds left for a 59-57 iwn. O’Leary ended up with a game high 32 points while Zack Alessi added 9 and Henny Mautes added 8. Kehare Ford led the Guvs with 17 while teammate Julian Munoz added 14 and Nick Reagan chipped in with 8. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
4:43 left in the first and South Amboy off to a great start with an 8-6 lead on four field goals including a layup by Kehare Ford.
3:30 left in the first and Sayreville takes a 9-8 lead on a three from the right wing by Henny Mautes.
1:28 left in the first and Sayreville now up 16-8 after Ryan O’Leary scores 7 straight points including a trey from the left corner.
0:00–End of first quarter and Sayreville leads 21-12 as O’Leary has scored 12 straight points including a bucket to end t he frame.
Second Quarter
6:24 left in the first half and Sayreville now on 18-4 run for a 24-12 lead after another three from the right side by Mautes.
4:15 left in the first half and Sayreville draws a charge on Julian Munoz to maintain a 27-16 lead. South Amboy has scored 4 of the last 7 points.
1:49 left in the first half and Sayreville calls timeout after an 8-0 South Amboy run closes gap to 27-24. The Guvs have scored 12 of the last 15 points over a span of 4:35.
0:00–Game has gone to the half in South Amboy with the Guvs hanging tough with Jahsim Floyd and Sayreville, trailing 33-28. The Guvs had pulled within one at 29-28 after a score by Alan Kaczar, but the Bombers scored the last 4 points to end the half with a 5 point lead.
Third Quarter
6:00—Sayreville scored 5 of the first 7 points of the second half to take a 38-30 lead.
4:10 to go in the third and South Amboy calls timeout after going on a 6-0 run including this score by Julian Munoz to close the gap to 38-36.
1:47—South Amboy now on a 10-1 tear including a score by Julian Munoz to give the Guvs their first lead since 8-6 midway through the first period.
0:00–End of third and Sayreville leads 46-43 on a three from the left corner by Ryan O’Leary. The Bombers scored 7 of the last 10 points of the period to retake the lead.
Fourth Quarter
6:44–South Amboy’s Nick Reagan fouls out with Sayreville up 48-45. Each team has a basket to start the final period.
4:18 left in the game and we are tied at 51-51 after a drive down the right lane by Alan Kaczar for a layup. Sayreville had just taken a 51-49 lead on a three by Zack Alessi.
3:30 left in the game and South Amboy leads 54-51 on a three point play by Kehare Ford.
2:32 left in and Sayreville takes a 55-54 lead on a putback by Alessi.
1:57 left in the game and South Amboy now leads 57-55 after two FTs by Kehare Ford.
0:51 left in the regulation and there is a timeout with the score tied at 57-57 after two free throws by Derek Astarita.
0:32–Sayreville calls time with ball and score tied at 57-57.
0:00–Sayreville survives Sputh Amboy 59-57 on basket by Ryan O’Leary with 0.4 seconds left. O’Leary ends up with a game high 32 points.
Final Stats
Sayreville scored its 59 points on 13 field goals, 7 threes, and 12 of 18 from the foul line.
South Amboy scored its 57 points on 17 field goals, 4 threes, and 11 of 16 from the foul line.
Sayreville outscored South Amboy by a margin of 21-12 from beyond the arc.
South Amboy had two players score in double figures while Sayreville just had one.
Sayreville had 18 fouls while South Amboy had 21.
Sayreville scoring: Ryan O’Leary led all scorers with 32 points. Zack Alessi had 9 including 7 in the fourth quarter. Henny Mautes, added 8 points. Derek Astarita chipped in with 6 points while Jahsim Floyd contributed with 3 points including a dunk late in the first half, and Opeoluwa Ohloko made a free throw for a point.
South Amboy scoring: Kehare Ford led the Guvs with a team high 17 points while Julian Munoz added 14 and Nick Reagan chipped in with 8 before fouling out midway through the fourth quarter. Justin Lewis added 7 points, Alan Kaczar added 6 points, Isaiah Munoz had 3, and Lane Lepardo contributed with 2.