South Amboy’s Emma Kalantis and New Brunswick’s Kennedy Johnson squared off during a GMC Gold Division girls basketball contest to open the 2024 Friends of South Amboy Games on Saturday.
SOUTH AMBOY, NJ – In the first game of the day in the 2024 Friends of South Amboy Games, New Brunswick jumped out to a 12-4 first-quarter lead and led 29-18 in the third before South Amboy’s Lady Guvs stormed back for the 42-34 come from behind victory. Senior guard, Sara McLaughlin scored all of her game-high 17 points in the 2nd half.
First Quarter
New Brunswick scored 10 of the first 12 points of the game and led 12-4 at the end of the period.
SA – 2 FGs in qtr – Emma Kalantis scored for a 5-2 NB lead. Sophie Hernandez sank a jumper from the right side off a pass from Sara McLaughlin on an inbounds play to end a 5-0 New Brunswick run for a 10-4 NB lead.
New Brunswick – Had 4 different players score in the first qtr
- Kennedy Johnson – opened the game with a three from the left side and then ended the first quarter scoring with a layup for 5 points.
- M Burdett – two FGs for 4 points.
- L Taylor – one FG for 2 points.
- T Williams – made 1 of 2 FTs for a point.
Second Quarter
5:47 – SA – Gwen Kalantis hits a shot in the paint off a feed from Sophie Hernandez for a 14-10 New Brunswick lead. Gwen Kalantis has all 6 SA points in qtr so far.
5:00 – SA – Emma Kalantis puts back a missed shot for a 15-12 New Brunswick lead. SA now on an 8-3 run.
4:25 – SA – Gwen Kalantis sinks a shot in the paint off an inbounds pass underneath from Pearl Cintron. SA now on a 10-3 run. Gwen Kalantis has 8 of the 10 points.
3:39 – SA – Gwen Kalantis picks up her 3rd foul of the game. NB – K Johnson – 2 of 2 FTs for a 17-14 Lady Zebras lead.
46.4 – NB – Johnson – fouled – makes both FTs for a 6-0 Lady Zebras run and a 23-15 lead.
0.0 – NB – leads 23-15 at the half. Kennedy Johnson scored 4 points in the 2nd on a FG and 2 FTs. Johnson leads the Lady Zebras with 9 points.
Gwen Kalantis (8 points on 4-8 FGs) and Emma Kalantis (4 points on 2-2 FGs) have 12 of SA’s 15 points on 6-10 FGs.
Six different players have scored for New Brunswick.
New Brunswick almost has as many points in the first half in this year’s game than in the entire game a year ago.
Third Quarter
6:40 – NB – M Burditt scores on a drive down the left lane for a layup and the Lady Zebras 25-15 lead.
5:04 – After SA climbs back to single digits at 25-18, NB gets buckets from Burditt and Johnson for the Lady Zebras biggest lead of the game at 29-18.
0:00 – SA – ends qtr on a 10-0 run over the last 4:51 sparked by a three from the right wing by Sara McLaughlin. McLaughlin also added a putback for 5 points during the run. Gwen Kalantis and Ashley Moreira-Burgos added scores as well.
Fourth Quarter
7:20 – SA – now on an 11-0 run to tie the game at 29-29 after Sara McLaughlin makes an FT.
6:59 – SA – takes its first lead of the game at 32-29 on a three from the right wing by McLaughlin off a pass from Gwen Kalantis. Lady Guvs are on a 14-0 tear.
6:29 – NB – L Taylor gets through traffic and banks in a shot from the right wing to pull Lady Zebras within one at 32-31. NB’s first field goal and points in 6:35.
4:42 – SA – Gwen Kalantis fouls out – NB – missed both FTs – SA still leads 32-31.
4:29 – NB – steal for a layup by D Palaez gives Lady Zebras a 33-32 lead.
4:19 – SA – McLaughlin fouled – makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 33-33 tie.
3:50 – SA – Pearl Cintron fouled – makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 34-33 lead.
3:13 – SA – McLaughlin knocks down another triple from the right wing off a kickout from Moreira-Burgos for a 37-33 lead.
2:09 – SA – Emma Kalantis fouled on a putback attempt – made both FTs for a 39-33 lead.
0:00 – SA wins 42-34. Ends the game on a 24-5 surge over the final 12:51. Lady Guvs hold NB without a FG over the last 4:29.
- McLaughlin – 17 points – all in the 2nd half on 6 FGs including three treys and two FTs. Also had 10 boards including 6 offensive along with 2 steals and an assist.
- Gwen Kalantis – 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist.
- Emma Kalantis – 9 points and 15 rebounds along with 2 assists and 2 steals.