TOMS RIVER, NJ–For almost three quarters, two-time defending Group I State Champion, Asbury Park gave Plainfield all it could handle, but once again the third seeded and third ranked Cardinals proved it was the better team with a 15-2 tear over a span of 5:09 bridging the third and fourth quarters for a 54-40 lead, and they went on to win from there by the score of 68-53 in the finale of the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions quarterfinal round doubleheader at Pine Belt Arena. Below is the play-by-play from the contest as well as point totals at the half and at the end of the game.
First Quarter
7:30–PLFD–turnover.
7:22–AP–Anthony McNeil scores on layup off nice dish for a 2-0 lead.
7:00–PLFD–Jahmal Lane scores on layup for a 2-2 tie.
6:52–AP–scores on goaltend by Sears for a 4-2 lead.
6:10–AP–turnover.
5:45–PLFD–Sekou Harris drains three from right corner for a 5-4 lead.
5:38–AP–Thomond Hammary–fouled–makes both FTs for a 6-5 lead.
5:08–AP–Amir Conover–layup for an 8-5 lead.
4:32–PLFD–Sears fouled–misses both FTs.
4:17–AP–Armond Conover layup for a 10-5 lead.
4:02–PLFD–Harris fouled on the floor by Armond Conover.
3:37–PLFD–Dijon Allen-Jordan blocks shot from behind.
2:50–PLFD–#00–Taylor Plummer–fouled–misses both FTs.
2:10–AP–Amir Conover hits jumper for a 12-5 lead.
2:03–PLFD–turnover–calls timeout.
1:44–AP–Thomond Hammary scores on layup for a 14-5 lead.
1:28–AP–Amir Conover swipes steal and scores on floater for a 16-5 lead.
1:04–PLFD–Sears scores basket from right low block for a 16-7 AP lead.
23.0–PLFD–Lane scores on layup off steal for a 16-9 AP lead.
0.5–AP–Thomond Hammary draws charge on Harris.
Second Quarter
7:48–PLFD–Sears fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 16-10 AP lead.
7:44–AP–calls 30 sec timeout–after PLFD deflects pass out of bounds of 1-2-2 full court trap.
7:24–PLFD–Harris drains three from left wing for a 16-13 lead.
7:18–PLFD–Armond Conover for a layup and an 18-13 lead.
7:02–PLFD–Lane with score for an 18-15 lead.
6:54–AP–Amir Conover with score for a 20-15 lead.
6:30–PLFD–Harris nets three for a 20-18 AP lead.
5:45–AP–basket for a 22-18 lead.
5:07–PLFD–Allen-Jordan with basket from left low block for a 22-20 AP lead.
4:30–PLFD–Sears goes in for the dunk off steal for a 22-22 tie.
4:08–AP–Hammary scores on putback for a 24-22 lead.
3:50–PLFD–Lane sinks foul line jumper for a 24-24 tie.
3:28–AP–Armond Conover scores on floater for a 26-24 lead.
2:59–PLFD–Sears with a two handed jam off dish from Allen-Jordan for a 26-26 tie.
2:38–AP–Hammary–basket for a 28-26 lead.
2:32–PLFD–Allen Jordan thunders home two handed jam for a 28-28 tie.
2:15–PLFD–deflects ball out of bounds.
1:40–AP–layup for a 30-28 lead.
1:23–PLFD–Allen-Jordan scores from left low block for a 30-30 tie.
1:02–PLFD–Harris fouled–makes both FTs for a 32-30 lead.
6.5–PLFD–deflects ball out of bounds.
0.0–PLFD–Lane swipes steal, but is unable to get a shot off–PLFD leads 32-30 at the half.
AP scoring–Armond Conover–12 points, Thomond Hammary–8 points, Amir Conover–6 points, Anthony McNeil–2 points, Danron Morrisey–2 points
PLFD scoring–Sekou Harris–11 points, Dijon Allen-Jordan–8 points, Justin Sears–7 points, Jahmal Lane–6 points
Third Quarter
6:39–AP–McNeil scores on layup from Amir Conover for a 34-32 PLFD lead.
6:17–PLFD–Allen-Jordan throws down jam for a 36-32 lead.
5:45–AP–McNeil scores on layin for a 36-34 lead.
4:07–AP–Amir Conover slams one home for a 39-36 PLFD lead.
4:01–AP–Hammary–swipes steal and saves ball from going out of bounds to Amir Conover.
3:55–AP–turnover.
3:54–AP–Armond Conover deflects inbounds pass out of bounds.
3:39–PLFD–turnover.
2:58–AP–Amir Conover steals and passes ahead to Armond Conover for two handed jam and a 39-38 PLFD lead.
2:39–PLFD–Plummer scores for a 41-38 lead.
2:29–PLFD–30 sec timeout.
2:11–AP–Armond Conover fouled–makes both FTs for a 41-40 PLFD lead.
2:00–PLFD–Sears hits jumper for a 43-40 lead.
1:20–PLFD–called for offensive foul.
1:00–AP–30 sec timeout after Allen-Jordan score and foul–makes bonus FT for a 46-40 lead.
11.7–PLFD–Lane draws charge on Amir Conover–4th foul.
0.0–PLFD–Sears flushes home miss by Harris for a 48-40 lead–PLFD closes third with a 9-0 run.
Fourth Quarter
7:35–PLFD–Sears scores layin down low for a 50-40 lead
7:18–PLFD–Lane blocks shot by Armond Conover.
7:02–AP–turnover.
6:47–PLFD–timeout.
6:39–PLFD–turnover.
6:15–PLFD–Harris fouled–makes both FTs for a 52-40 lead.
6:03–AP–Amir Conover fouled, but misses both FTs.
5:30–PLFD–basket for a 54-40 lead.
4:29–AP–Amir Conover gets kind bounce on floater off steal for a 54-42 PLFD lead.
4:18–PLFD–Allen–Jordan flushes home follow of Plummer miss for a 56-42 lead.
3:50–PLFD–turnover.
3:38–AP–calls timeout after Amir Conover scores on floater for a 56-44 PLFD lead.
3:21–PLFD–Sears fouled–misses front end of one and one.
3:19–AP–fouled on rebound.–Sears 4th foul.
2:53–PLFD–Lane scores on reverse layup for a 58-44 lead.
2:39–PLFD–Lane scores off break for a 60-44 lead.
2:30–AP–Hammary drains triple from left wing for a 60-47 PLFD lead.
2:22–PLFD–Lane scores on layin for a 62-47 lead.
1:53–PLFD–Allen-Jordan with another dunk for a 64-47 lead.
1:45–AP–Hammary three pointer from left wing for a 64-50 PLFD Â lead.
1:30–PLFD–Lane with a layup for a 66-50 lead.
1:07–AP–Amir Conover scores on layup for a 66-52 lead.
54.0–PLFD–Lane scores on another layup for a 68-52 lead.
7.0–PLFD–Hammary fouled by Allen-Jordan–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 68-53 PLFD lead.
PLFD wins 68-53.
PLFD scoring
Lane–21 points, Sears–15 points, Allen-Jordan–17 points, Harris–13 points, Plummer–2 points.
AP scoring
Armond Conover–18 points, Amir Conover–14 points, Hammary–13 points, McNeil–6 points, Morrisey–2 points.