UNION, NJ–In the first game of the second day of action at the 2017 Eric LeGrand Classic held at Kean University’s Harwood Arena, Carteret of the Greater Middlesex Conference’s Blue Division, took on Hillside of the Union County Conference in a very competitive contest that went down to the wire.
Carteret jumped out to a 10-0 lead early on, but then was outscored by a margin of 33-19 over the next two periods as Hillside took a 33-29 lead late in the third period. Jalen Harris trimmed the deficit to one at 33-32 by banking in a last second three to end the third.
Harris’ trey sparked a 19-9 surge for the Ramblers that included scores from Isaiah Daniels-Porter and Jemar Jordan for a 48-42 lead late in the fourth. However, the Comets battled back to tie the game at 50-50 with back to back threes highlighting an 8-2 rally.
The Ramblers would prevail though as Nasseir Moore took a pass from midcourt and sank a baseline jumper from the right side as time expired for the 52-50 victory. Moore finished with 14 points while Jordan added 13 and Daniels-Porter chipped in with 12.
Hillside was led in defeat by Tyrese Cherry, who had a game high 16 points while Malcolm Webb chipped in with 12, and Ta’kier Hill added 9. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
Carteret jumped out to a 10-0 lead before Hillside ended the period on an 11-2 spurt to close the gap to 12-11 after one.
Second Quarter
In the lowest scoring quarter of the game, both teams only combined for 13 points with Carteret gaining an 8-5 edge to increase its lead to 20-16 at the intermission.
Third Quarter
Hillside outscored Carteret by a 17-12 margin including a 7-0 spurt that turned a 29-26 deficit with 2:30 left in the third into a 33-29 lead with just seconds to play in the period. Carteret’s Jalen Harris then took a pass and put up a shot in one motion from three that banked in at the buzzer for a 33-32 Hillside lead heading into the fourth. Hillside had been on a 33-19 surge since trailing 10-0 early on.
Fourth Quarter
5:59–Carteret and Hillside exchange scores as Jemar Jordan takes a Nasseir Moore pass in transition and goes in for a layup from the right side to pull the Ramblers within one at 35-34.
2:57–Carteret had been on an 8-5 run including another score by Jordan for a 42-40 lead, but Hillside ties things up again at 42-42 with a putback off a missed free throw while being fouled, but missed the bonus FT.
1:19–Carteret on a 6-0 run after Isaiah Daniels-Porter takes a Nasseir Moore pass, and connects on a jumper in the paint for a 48-42 lead. Ramblers have outscored Comets 19-9 since trailing 33-29 late in third.
1:03–Hillside hits back to back three pointers from the right corner to tie the game at 48-48.
20.3–Carteret takes a 50-48 lead.
7.4–Hillside sinks two free throws to tie the score at 50-50.
0.0–Carteret wins as Nasseir Moore sinks a baseline jumper from the right side as time expires. Moore finishes with a team high 14 points while Jordan chips in with 13 and Daniels-Porter adds 12. Tyrese Cherry led all scorers with a game high 16 in a losing cause for Hillside while Malcolm Webb added 12 and Ta’kier Hill chipped in with 9.