NORTH EDISON, NJ–In the nightcap game of the GMC Hoops quadrupleheader on Saturday, J.F. Kennedy took on Bishop Ahr in a rematch of a contest played several weeks ago and won by the Mustangs in Iselin. The Trojans took a 38-23 lead late in the third quarter before Kennedy began a 17-3 tear with a score by Kush Patel and a three pointer from Tamaj Coleman that banked in just before the buzzer to end the third. Kobie Wells added a jumper and a three pointer while Patel added a three point play to close the gap to 41-40.
However, BGA’s Alex Santiago sank a pull up jumper from the right baseline for a 43-40 lead with 1:08 remaining. JFK had several chances to tie the game including one in the final seconds, but was unable to score. Santiago, who came off the bench late in the first quarter, finished the game with a game high 19 points for Ahr while teammate Sean Kudelka scored all 8 of his points in the first half. Corey Ciszek scored 8 for the Trojans as well. Patel led JFK with 13 points while Wells chipped in with 9. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
4:00–Bishop Ahr jumps out to a 6-0 lead on two layups by Donald Fackina and a score by Sean Kudelka.
1:52 left in the first quarter and JFK pulls within 8-6 on a jumper by Kush Patel.
0:00–End of the first quarter and Bishop Ahr breaks away from a 10-10 tie with a three from the left side of the key and two free throws by Alex Santiago for a 15-10. Santiago also blocked a shot.
Second Quarter
6:00–Bishop Ahr takes an 18-10 lead on a three by Alex Santiago.
3:55 left in the first half and JFK now trails 20-16 after a reverse layup by Christian Pincon off a great feed from the baseline by Tamaj Coleman. JFK on a 6-2 run.
0:00–Game has gone to the half at Ahr with the Trojans leading JFK, 26-22 despite a layup by the Mustangs’ Christian Pincon just before the buzzer. Bishop Ahr’s first half scoring: Alex Santiago came off the bench to score 10 points including two threes while Sean Kudelka added 8 including 6 in the first period. BGA had 5 field goals, three treys, and went 7 of 8 from the foul line in the opening half. JFK’s first half scoring: Christian Pincon and Kush Patel lead the Mustangs with 6. Pincon scored all his points in the 2nd. Kennedy had 10 field goals in the first half and went 2 of 4 from the foul line.
Third Quarter
0:55 left in the third quarter and JFK calls time after this steal for a layup by Alex Santiago for a 38-23 lead. Ahr begins second half on a 12-1 tear.
0:00–Kennedy closes the third on a 5-0 run including a layup by Kush Patel, and a three from well beyond the top of the key by Tamaj Coleman that banked in just before the buzzer to close the gap to 38-28 heading into the fourth.
Fourth Quarter
7:00 left in the game and JFK now on a 9-0 run after a trey by Kobie Wells to pull within 38-32.
5:27 left in the game and Ahr leads 41-32 after a three from the right wing by Eric O’Keefe.
3:10 remaining in regulation and JFK pulls within one at 41-40 on a layup by Kush Patel.
1:08 left in regulation and Ahr clings to a 43-49 lead thanks to a pull-up jumper from the right baseline by Alex Santiago.
0:58 left in regulation and JFK calls time.
0:47 left in regulation and Bishop Ahr calls time after a JFK turnover
0:29 left in regulation and JFK calls time after getting a steal and missing two three point attempts.
0:06 left in regulation and JFK calls time after getting loose ball following block by Ahr’s Sean Kudelka.
0:00–Game just ended with Ahr hanging on for a 43-40 win over JFK. Kennedy had several chances down the stretch to tie the game with a three including one at the buzzer, but was unable to score. Alex Santiago led the Trojans with 19 while Corey Ciszek and Sean Kudelka each chipped in with 8. Kush Patel led Kennedy with 13 points while Kobie Wells chipped in with 9. BGA outscored JFK by a 15-6 margin from beyond the arc while enjoying an 8-6 edge from the charity stripe. The Trojans went 8 of 16 from the foul line while the Mustangs were 6 of 11. Kennedy had a 28-20 edge in points scored from inside the arc.