METUCHEN, NJ–On Friday afternoon, GMC Hoops traveled out to Maglio Gymnasium on the campus of St. Joseph’s High School to see the quarterfinal round game between 17th seeded Perth Amboy and 8th seeded St. Joseph’s in the 2017 Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament.
The Freshmen Panthers, which defeated 16th seeded Bishop Ahr in the Preliminary Round, and then shocked top seeded Colonia in the First Round, fell behind early 7-2, but put together a 9-0 run on three straight treys for an 11-7 lead with under three minutes remaining in the first half.
Demarcus Shepard got St. Joseph’s going again with the first of two first half threes at the 2:19 mark of the first quarter to close the gap to 11-10. The Shepard trey sparked a 9-0 spurt to end the first including a floater by Adam Boucher before the buzzer to end the first period for a 16-11 lead.
Perth Amboy managed to stay close for much of the second with an 8-5 run to pull within two at 21-19 before Shepard drained his second and final trey of the first half from the right side of the key for a 24-19 edge, and kickoff an 11-0 St. Joe’s spurt that also included a Samir Daoud putback, and a steal for a layup by Shepard to end the first half with a 32-19 lead.
Amboy started the second half with a 10-9 run that included a three from the left corner at the 4:11 mark that closed the gap to 41-29, but the visitors couldn’t get any closer. Instead, the Freshmen Falcons scored the next five points including a layup off a steal by Adam Boucher for a 46-29 edge. Andrew Olden, who scored 18 of his game high 22 points in the second half, then made one of two from the line for a 47-31 lead at the 2:46 mark.
St. Joseph’s got two more baskets from Olden, who scored 11 in the third, but Amboy scored 7 of the last 13 points including a layup in the closing seconds to trail by 15 at 53-38 heading into the fourth. The Freshmen Falcons then opened the fourth by scoring 4 of the first 6 points including a score by Boucher for a 57-40 with 6:30 remaining.
Perth Amboy tried again to climb back into the contest with 5 of the next 7 points including a floater with 5:30 left for a 59-45 St. Joe’s lead. The Freshmen Falcons kept the Freshmen Falcons at bay though with with four straight points including a score by Shepard before a three by Amboy closed the gap to 63-48 at the 4:11 mark of the fourth.
St. Joe’s scored 4 of the next 6 points including a transition layup by Shepard at the 2:56 mark for a 67-50 lead. Olden then wrapped up the 70-54 win with a putback with 1:28 remaining. Olden finished with a game high 22 points while Boucher chipped in with 21, and Shepard added 16. Elbi led Perth Amboy with 20 points. Below are game notes from the action:
First Quarter
5:00–St. Joseph’s jumps out to a 7-2 lead.
4:18 left in first and Amboy ends a 7-2 Joes start with this three for 7-5 St. Joseph’s lead.
2:19 left in first and Demarcus Shepard of St. Joe’s ends a 9-0 Amboy run with this three for an 11-10 Perth Amboy lead.
0:00–End of the first quarter and Joes ends the period with a 9-0 run of its own to take a 16-11 lead after Adam Boucher hit a floater before the buzzer. Freshmen Falcons had three different players score, and had 3 FGs, two treys, and made 4 of 6 FTs. Adam Boucher had 9 points, Demarcus Shepard had 5 points, and Andrew Olden had 2 points. Perth Amboy also had 3 different players score. Freshmen Panthers had 3 treys and a FG in the period. Elbi had 6 points. Waldo had 3 points. Nate had 2 points.
Second Quarter
2:22 left in first half and Joes now leads 24-19 after a three by Demarcus Shepard. Ends an 8-5 run by Amboy.
0:00–Game has gone to the half with Joes freshmen leading Amboy, 32-19 thanks in part to a putback by Samir Daoud and a steal for a layup by Shepard. Freshmen Falcons end the half on an 11-0 tear. St. Joseph’s 1st half scoring: Adam Boucher leads Freshmen Falcons with 14 while Demarius Shepard has 10. Perth Amboy’s first half scoring. Elbi led the Freshmen Panthers with 11.
Third Quarter
4:11 left in 3rd and Amboy trails Joes 41-29 after a three from the left corner. Amboy opens second half on a 10-9 run.
3:22 left in 3rd and Joes goes up 46-29 after a steal for a layup by Adam Boucher. Freshmen Falcons on a 5-0 run.
2:46 left in 3rd and Amboy calls time after Andrew Olden makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 47-31 St. Joseph’s lead.
0:00–End of 3rd and Joes leads Amboy, 53-38 after a layup by Amboy to end the period. Freshmen Panthers end the frame on a 7-6 run. St. Joseph’s had 7 FGs and made 7 of 10 FTs in the period. Andrew Olden scored 11 points while Adam Boucher added 5 points and Tommy Fehl chipped in with 3. Perth Amboy had 5 FGs and 3 treys. Keldin led the Freshmen Panthers with 6 points.
Fourth Quarter
6:30 left in 4th and Joes leads Amboy, 57-40 after a layup by Adam Boucher. Freshmen Falcons score 4 of the first 6 points of the period.
5:30 left in 4th and Joes calls time after Amboy hits a floater to close the gap to 59-45. Freshmen Panthers on a 5-2 run.
4:11 left in 4th and Joes calls time after an Amboy three from the right side of the key closes the gap to 63-48. Ends a 4-0 St. Joe’s run.
2:56 left in 4th and Joes leads 67-50 after a Demarcus Shepard transition layup.
1:28 left in 4th and Joes calls time after an Andrew Olden putback gives Frosh Falcons a 70-54 lead.
0:00–Game just ended with Joes Freshmen defeating Perth Amboy, 70-54. St. Joseph’s Freshmen scoring for game: Andrew Olden had 22. Adam Boucher had 21. Demarcus Shepard had 16. Perth Amboy Freshmen scoring for the game: Elbi led the Freshmen Panthers with 20.