SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–In the nightcap of the Thursday quadrupleheader at the 2016 Raritan Bay Summer League, Old Bridge took on Merrill Park in a game from the 5th and 6th Grade Division.
After a back and forth first 10 minutes that saw three lead changes and two ties, Merrill Park turned a 9-8 deficit into a 21-9 lead with a 13-0 tear over a span of 8:15. Old Bridge would get a three to pull within single digits at 21-12 going into the intermission, but Merrill Park scored 25 of the first 33 points of the second half including a 15-2 tear over a span of 6:19 that increased the lead to 46-20.
Merrill Park, which had every player score in the contest, and outscored Old Bridge by a 44-18 margin over the last 29:44 of the game, then coasted to a 52-27 victory. Below are game notes from the action:
First Half
9:44–OB calls timeout with a 9-8 lead. There has been 3 lead changes and two ties. MP has a three, two FGs and a FT. OB has 4 FGs and a FT. MP jumped out to a 2-0 lead with a basket off the opening tip before OB got two scores for a 4-2 advantage. MP then hit a three for a 5-4 lead, and then OB got a score for a 6-5 edge. After MP made one of two FTs for a 6-6 tie, OB got a bucket for an 8-6 lead. MP tied it again at 8-8 with a score, but then OB went ahead by making one of two free throws.
5:35–OB–timeout after MP goes on a 8-0 run including a jumper and a three from the right wing for a 16-9 lead.
0:00–MP leads OB 21-12 at the half. MP had scores at the 3:37 and 2:12 marks as well as made one of two from the foul line to cap a 13-0 run before OB sank a three from the right wing at the 1:29 mark for the 21-12 score. MP had several chances before the end of the half, but couldn’t score.
Second Half
13:25–MP–timeout–leads 31-18 after a 10-6 start to the second half including four of the last 6 points.
7:06–OB–timeout after a 15-2 tear by MP highlighted by a three from the right corner off an inbounds, a drive through the middle for a layup, and two other scores for a 46-20 lead.
0:00–OB–hits a three at the buzzer to end the game on a 7-6 run, but MP wins 52-27. Over last 29:44 of the game, MP outscored OB by a 44-18 margin. Every player scored for MP.