RAHWAY, NJ–In the nightcap of the GMC Hoops doubleheader at the 2016 Rahway Summer League, it was an all GMC affair as the Mustangs of J.F. Kennedy took on the Panthers of Perth Amboy.
The game was back and forth throughout, and very fast paced although it was sloppy at times. Nevertheless, the contest had plenty of drama as the lead changed hands at least 11 times with 5 ties, and neither team leading by more than seven points.
Led by the group of Pete Obertan, Tamaj Coleman, Rohan Chakke, and Rishi Patel, the Mustangs of JFK rallied from a 26-23 halftime deficit with a 25-15 surge to take a 48-41 lead with 2:05 remaining after a bucket by Obertan as he was fouled.
However, Perth Amboy battled back to win the contest by scoring 10 of the last 12 points including a steal for a layup by Josh Nazario with 12 seconds left to win the game 51-50. It was the second straight win for Amboy, which defeated South Plainfield in the closing seconds on Thursday (54-51).
The Panthers, which started the summer at 0-4 in the Rahway Summer League, are now within two games of .500. Below are game notes from the action:
First Half
18:45–JFK–opens game with a jumper by Rohan Chakke for a 2-0 lead.
17:00–PA–After JFK scored on a layup for a 4-0 lead, the Panthers score 6 unanswered points for a 6-4 lead. Obertan layup from Coleman only JFK points.
15:23–JFK–scores on transition layup by Tamaj Coleman for a 6-6 tie.
12:11–JFK–takes an 10-9 lead on a layup by Patel off a nice feed by Coleman.
9:46–PA–after a three by JFK for a 13-9 lead, Amboy goes on a 6-0 run including back to back transition layups for a 15-13 lead.
6:36–PA–Joshua Nazario scores on layup for a 17-17 tie.
5:35–PA–gets loose ball for layup and 19-17 lead.
3:54–PA–timeout after two FTs by Coleman and a floater by Chakke that banks in for a 4-0 JFK run and a 21-19 JFK lead
3:15–PA–Luis Bonilla–sinks three from right wing for a 22-21 lead.
2:46–PA–fouled and scores the layup. Missed bonus FT for a 24-21 lead.
1:30–PA–scores on a layup for a 26-21 lead.
34.1–JFK–Coleman–steal for a transition layup and a 26-23 PA lead.
14.5–JFK–almost gets another steal, but ball goes out of bounds.
0.0–PA–runs out the clock for a 26-23 halftime lead.
Second Half
17:30–JFK–opens half on a 5-2 run including a three point play by Pete Obertan and a layup by Chakke for a 28-28 tie.
14:00–PA–goes on a 6-4 run capped by a layup by Bonilla for a 34-32 lead.
12:46–PA–Nazario–jumper from the right wing for a 36-32 lead.
12:31–JFK–Obertan–jumper from right elbow for a 36-34 PA lead.
9:46–JFK–hits three from left side for a 5-2 run and a 39-38 lead.
9:04–PA–three pointer from left side of the key for a 41-39 lead.
6:44–JFK–scores on putback off missed FT for a 5-0 run and a 44-41 lead.
5:45–PA–timeout.
3:46–JFK–Patel hits jumper from right side off kick out by Obertan for a 46-41 lead.
2:05–JFK–Obertan basket and a foul for a 48-41 lead.
1:29–PA–Nazario drives thru middle for a layup and a 46-43 lead.
1:17–JFK–timeout with a 48-43 lead.
1:01–PA–three from right corner for a 48-46 JFK lead.
54.0–JFK–Chakke layup for a 50-46 lead.
40.0–PA–three from the top of the key for a 50-49 JFK.
26.7–PA–timeout after JFK backcourt
19.2–PA–fouled–missed both FTs.
12.0–PA–Nazario swipes a steal and goes in for layup and a 51-50 lead.
0.0–PA–wins 51-50 as JFK misses shot from the left wing with time running out.