MONROE, NJ–In the consolation game of the 2016 MTHS Holiday Tournament, Brick Township rallied from a 54-38 deficit after three quarters to force overtime and prevail in the extra session, 78-70. The Dragons back with a 26-6 surge in the fourth to take a 64-60 lead. Monroe would get two free throws from Luke Patel and a layup from Sashank Sindhia to force overtime tied at 64-64.
In the overtime though, Brick would break away from a 66-66 tie by finishing the game on a 12-4 tear for the 78-70 victory. Shane Williams led the Dragons with a game high 23 points. Noah Buono added 15 points while Dan Veniezia chipped in with 14 and Brandon Williams contributed with 10.
Sindhia led the Falcons in a losing cause with 22 points while Peter Nesti chipped in with 15 and Mike Kides added 13. Monroe outscored Brick by an 18-9 margin from beyond the arc as Nesti and Kides combined for six threes. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
6:18–Arrive–MON leading 6-0.
3:42 left in 1st qtr & Brick calls time after threes by Monroe’s Peter Nesti and Mike Kides for a 12-2 lead?
0:00–MON–Ends qtr on a 9-3 run including another three by Kides and two layups from Sashank Sindhia for a 21-5 lead.
Second Qtr
5:03–MON–30 second timeout after 3-2 start by BT to close gap to 23-8.
2:32–MON–goes on a 9-2 run including a three by Nesti from the left corner and two layups and a foul line jumper by Sindhia for a 30-10 lead.
0:17–MON–30 second timeout after 9-7 BT run including three from right side to close gap to 37-19.
0:00–BT–goes coast to coast fro layup just before buzzer for a 37-21 MON lead at the half.
Third Quarter
4:48–MON–timeout after a 7-2 spurt to open 2nd half including a three from the right corner and a layup by BT to close the gap to 39-28.
3:49 left in 3rd and AK Patel scores on a layup to give Monroe a 43-28 lead over Brick.
2:30–BT–timeout–after a Matt Hoyt layup caps a 10-2 run for a 49-30 lead.
0:00–BT–ends period with on 8-5 run including several FTs from a technical foul for a 54-38 MON lead.
Fourth Quarter
7:41–BT–timeout after making three from left wing for a 54-41 MON lead.
4:16–MON–timeout after two steals for layups by BT for a 12-3 tear and a 57-53 MON lead.
2:26–BT–putback to close gap to 58-55.
2:14–MON–Luke Patel fouled and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 59-55 lead.
2:08–BT–timeout.
1:46–BT–three pointer from well beyond the arc for a 60-58 MONlead
1:34–MON–timeout after BT ties it up at 60-60 with a steal for a layup.
1:10–BT–scores in paint for 62-60 lead.
1:00–BT–steals for another score for a 64-60 lead.
46.4–MON–Patel fouled and made two FTs for a 64-62 BT Lead.
12.4–MON–Sindhia layup from left low block for 64-64 tie.
0:00–BT–misses jumper in closing seconds. Going to overtime tied up at 64-64.
Overtime
3:30–BT–scores for a 66-64 lead.
3:00–MON–ties it at 66-66 with layup.
2:36–BT–sinks a three and adds a layup for a 71-66 lead.
2:00–MON–Sindhia–fouled–makes two FTs for a 71-68 BT lead.
0:00–BT–closes game on a 7-2 run for a 78-70 win. Sindhia made two FTs for MON’s only points.