Ralph, Sampson, and Wyman Lift Bears Past Knights
EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ–Through the first five games of the 2016-17 GMC boys basketball season, the tenth ranked East Brunswick Bears have been in every game despite its 2-3 record. The three losses have been by a combined total of 12 points, and against teams currently ranked in the latest GMC Hoops Top Ten.
The first game of 2017 provided an opportunity for EB to atone for those losses when it took on fourth ranked Old Bridge in the Battle of Route 18 at East Brunswick High School on Tuesday night. Bolstered by the play of Dante Ralph down the stretch, East Brunswick was able to get an important win in the still young season.
Gil Wyman sank a go ahead three with five minutes remaining while Ralph scored six unanswered points over a span of 2:37 to put EB up 48-39 with under two and a half minutes to play in the fourth quarter. From there, the Bears were able to knock off the Knights by the score of 59-47.
Ralph finished with a game high 19 points as he battled against Old Bridge’s Kyle Parris, and helped put the Knights senior forward on the bench with two quick fouls in the first period. Parris battled foul woes for the rest of the evening, and EB was able to take advantage. Junior guard, Joe Sampson chipped in with 14 points while Wyman finished with 8.
Despite his foul difficulties, Parris still finished with a team high 14 points for the Knights while teammate Rich Calandrino added 12. Brandon Milling also chipped in with 10. The Bears got a huge boost from the perimeter by outscoring Old Bridge by an 18-9 margin from long distance. EB also enjoyed a 34-16 advantage in points scored from within the arc. The Knights were able to make up some of the difference with a 22-7 edge in points scored at the foul line.
East Brunswick got off to a fast start by taking a 13-3 first quarter lead while Old Bridge had to fight on without Parris, who went to the bench with three fouls. The Bears then opened the second period by scoring 10 of the first 14 points in a five minute span for a 23-7 lead. This force Old Bridge to put Parris back in, and he promptly picked up his third foul at about the 2:45 mark of the second.
Despite Parris returning on the bench with three fouls, Old Bridge managed to muster up a 7-2 spurt to end the half and close the gap to 25-14 at the intermission. The Knights continued to close the gap in the third with a 15-12 showing although Parris and Will Osvald had picked up four fouls. Old Bridge then capped a 32-16 surge over a span of about 13:30 by scoring 10 of the first 15 points of the fourth to tie the game at 39-39.
Fortunately for EB fans, the Knights were unable to take the lead. Instead, Wyman sank his go ahead three at about the five minute mark, and then Ralph came up with his six unanswered points to give East Brunswick a 48-39 lead with just 2:23 remaining. The Bears then closed the game by outscoring the Knights 11-8 the rest of the way for the 59-47 victory. With the win, EB improved to 3-3 overall, and 2-2 in the GMC Red.
Meanwhile, Old Bridge, which lost to Ocean Township in the Championship Game, dropped its second in a row, and fell to 4-3 overall and also 2-2 in divisional play. Both teams return to action on Thursday with East Brunswick hosting top ranked South Brunswick at 7:00 PM. The Vikings were upset by Piscataway, 58-50 on Tuesday night. Old Bridge will host J.P. Stevens, which gave St. Joe’s a battle before losing 45-35, on Thursday evening at 5:30 PM.