OLD BRIDGE, NJ–On Thursday evening, GMC Hoops traveled over to Old Bridge High School to take in the Red Division contest between top ranked St. Joseph’s and the sixth ranked Knights. Despite a game high 34 points from Old Bridge’s Connor Romano, St. Joe’s was able to come away with the 70-63 win thanks to a 17-8 spurt over the last 4:21 that included two scores by Branislav Vujadinovic and conventional three point plays by Tyus Battle, Bree Tyree, and Letrell West. Tyree scored 19 of his team high 25 points in the second half while Battle scored 10 of his 16 over the final two periods. Vujadinovic finished with 13 points while Alanzo Frink chipped with 11 including 9 in the first half. Kyle Parris chipped in for Old Bridge with 17 points. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
5:39 left in the first quarter and Joes leads OB 5-3 on a trey from the top of the key by Branislav Vujadinovic.
5:01 left in the first quarter and OB calls time after a Joes score for a 7-6 Falcons lead.
3:53 left in the first quarter and OB takes an 8-7 lead on an alleyoop dunk by Kyle Parris off an inbounds pass by Connor Romano.
0:00–End of the first quarter and Old Bridge leads Joes 17-13 after a Connor Romano three from the left wing caps a 9-2 Knights run. Romano had 7 pts during spurt.
Second Quarter
4:49 left in the first half and Old Bridge leads Joes 27-21 after this trey by Stephen Strom. Knights open 2nd quarter on a 10-8 run.
3:57–STJ–Alanzo Frink fouled and makes both FTs for a 27-23 Old Bridge lead.
0:00–Game has gone to the half with Old Bridge clinging to a 29-28 lead over top ranked St. Joseph’s. Joes ends half on a 7-2 run. Old Bridge first half scoring: Connor Romano (12 pts) and Kyle Parris (11 pts) have 23 of OB’s 29 pts.St. Joe’s first half scoring: Alanzo Frink leads the Falcons with 9 while Tyus Battle and Bree Tyree each have 6.
Third Quarter
6:36 left in the third quarter and Joes leads 30-29 after a dunk by Bree Tyree. There was an injury timeout after Tyree went in for a second dunk and was shaken up.
4:49 left in the third and Old Bridge leads 36-34 after Tyus Battle sinks a jumper from the right elbow.
33.6 seconds left in the third and Old Bridge still leads 48-44 after a trey from the left corner by Rich Calandrino.
0:00–End of the third and despite a Bree Tyree dunk, OB still leads Joes 48-44.
Fourth Quarter
7:10 left in the game and OB calls time after Bree Tyree sank a three and scored on this play for a 49-48 lead.
4:21 left in the game and OB leads 55-53 thanks to a three pointer by Connor Romano
2:47 left in the game and after back to back scores by Branislav Vujadinovic Joes leads 58-55.
2:01 left in the game and Joes now leads 61-58 after a three point play by Tyus Battle
1:05 left in the game and Old Bridge calls time after a three point play by Bree Tyree for a 64-58 Joes lead.
24.4 seconds left in the game and Joes calls time after Letrell West converts a three point play for a 69-63 Falcons lead.
0:00–Game just ended here in Old Bridge with top ranked Joes surviving Old Bridge, 70-63. Trailing 55-53 at one point in the 4th, Joes ended the game on a 17-8 run including three point plays by Tyree, Battle, and West. St. Joseph’s scoring for the game: The Falcons only had 5 players score, but 4 of them scored in double figures: Tyree (25 pts), Battle (16 pts), Vujadinovic (13 pts), and Frink (11 pts). Old Bridge scoring for the game. Connor Romano (game high 34 pts) and Kyle Parris (17 pts) accounted for 51 of the Knights 63 points. Both teams combined for 17 threes with Old Bridge outscoring Joes by a 30-21 margin from beyond the arc.