MONROE, NJ–In the first game of the Sunday night tripleheader at the 2016 Monroe Sports Center Summer League, South River took on Spotswood in a renewal of sorts in this neighborhood rivalry. For much of the first half, South River was able to hang in there with the Chargers.
Despite trailing early on 9-4, and then 27-16 late in the half, the Rams were able to stay within striking distance going into the intermission. However, the Chargers scored the first 8 points of the second half including a putback, layup and dunk by J.T. Vento and a score by younger brother Matt for a 35-23 lead.
The Rams would never recover after that as Spotswood outscored its neighbor by a 44-19 margin in the game’s final 20 minutes for a 71-42 win. Included in Spotswood’s second half surge was 22 of the last 31 points of the game highlighted by a couple layups and another dunk by J.T. Vento along with a couple threes and four free throws by Matt Vento, four points by Vinnie Guardiola, a bucket by Justin Dekovics, and a three by Abdul Nieskens. Below are game notes from the action:
First Half
13:00–Official timeout with Spotswood leads 9-7 after a layin and a three pointer from the top of the key by South River’s Derrick Whitaker. The Chargers had taken a 9-4 lead after layups by J.T. Vento and Andrew Fuzesi.
8:09–Spotswood leads 17-12 after a three by Matt Vento, but South River stays in striking distance after a score from Jayvon Taylor at the 10:04 mark, and a three from the left wing by Taylor at the 8:33 mark.
5:30–South River–scores the last four points including a jumper by Mike DeSantis off an offensive rebound off a missed shot by Silvio Cruz to pull within one at 17-16.
2:44–Spotswood–goes on a 7-0 run after another layup and turnaround jumper off an inbounds play by J.T. Vento for a 24-16 lead.
1:00–Spotswood now on a 10-0 run after a conventional three point play by Andrew Fuzesi for a 27-16 lead.
0:00–South River closes the gap to 27-23 after a 7-0 run to end the half including a putback and layup by Matt Pietryzk and a three from the left corner by Derrick Whitaker.
Second Half
17:58–Spotswood now leads 35-23 following an 8-0 after two layups and a dunk by J.T. Vento and a score from Matt Vento.
16:50–Spotswood–calls timeout after a Derrick Whitaker score as he is fouled. Matt Vento netted a three earlier. Chargers lead 38-25.
11:43–Spotswood–now on an 11-6 run including a three point play by J.T. Vento, a three pointer from the left wing by Abdul Nieskens, and a layup by Matt Vento for a 49-31 lead.
4:00–Spotswood now leads 57-33 after an 8-0 run consisting of two layups and a dunk by J.T. Vento and a pair of free throws by Matt Vento.
3:20–Spotswood–timeout–with a 59-38 lead after a jumper from the left side that banks in by Andrew Fuzesi off a kickout by J.T. Vento. Ends 5-0 South River run.
0:48–Spotswood–now leads 69-40 after a layup.
0:35–South River–timeout–after a jumper from the right wing by Derrick Whitaker for a 69-42 lead.
0:15–Spotswood–layin by Justin Dekovics for a 71-42 lead.
0:00–Spotswood runs out the clock for a 71-42 win. Chargers outscore South River by a 44-19 margin in the second half including 22 of the last 31 points.