GMC Hoops Game Notes–#5 Ewing vs. #4 Atlantic City–NJSIAA Tournament Of Champions Quarterfinals–March 14, 2012

Clutch Three Pointers Late In 4th And OT Boost Vikings Past Ewing

TOMS RIVER, NJ–In a game that saw four lead changes and 11 ties, and neither team having a lead bigger than six points, it came down to clutch plays and Atlantic City made more of them. The Vikings nailed four clutch three points over the last 4:18 of the contest to not only force overtime, but win the game in the extra session over a Ewing team that had a four point lead with 25.5 seconds to go in regulation, and a five point lead with 1:30 remaining in overtime.

Kayshawn Dunston (23 points) hit three pointers with 1:20 left, and 32.7 seconds remaiining in overtime before Gabriel Chandler capped the decisive 8-0 run with two free throws with 23.4 seconds to go as Atlantic City advanced to play top ranked and top seeded St. Anthony’s in the Tournament of Champions semifinals on Friday night at Rutgers with a 68-65 victory over Group II State Champion, Ewing. Martel Johnson (8 points) struck for a three pointer from the left side of the key as time ran out in regulation to knot the game at 58-58.

However, all of these heroics wouldn’t have been possible had it not been for the three pointer from Dayshawn Reynolds (5 points) with 17.5 seconds to go. Reynolds trey from the left side pulled Atlantic City within a point, and after a Ron Valentine layup off a long pass from Dontate Jones (18 points) put the Blue Devils ahead 58-55 with five seconds to play in regulation, Johnson came down the floor in transition, took his time to set himself, and knocked in the game tying jumper as the buzzer sounded putting the Atlantic City faithful in attendance into a state of joyous frenzy.

Atlantic City had five threes in the game including three by Dunston. The Vikings also had the all out play by Jaleem Montague to be thankful for. Montague was all over the place, running the floor well, getting rebounds, blocking shots, and picking up steals. Montague ended up with a double-double of 10 points and 15 boards. Chandler also turned in a double-double effort with 10 points and 10 rebounds. Isaiah Graves attacked the basket for 9 points as well for the Vikings. AC’s depth proved also to be a big factor. The Vikes had eight different players score while Ewing only had 6. The Group IV state champion also outscored the Blue Devils by a margin of 15-0 in points scored from beyond the arc.

Ewing showed a lot of fight in this one though. With big man David Azoroh (21 points and 8 rebounds) and Jones leading the way, the Blue Devils overcame two six point deficits in the first half to take the lead. Ewing, which lost its starting point guard to injury during the football season this year, went on a 14-4 tear over a span of just 3:29 to turn a 16-10 deficit into a 24-20 lead. In the third quarter, Atlantic City went ahead again before Ewing rallied back to tie. Trailing 39-34 after a Dunston putback with 2:05 to go in the third, the Blue Devils showed great resiliency again with a 9-4 spurt over a span of 6:21 that included seven points from Jones and a bucket by Azoroh to tie the score again at 43-43.

The Vikings then scored 7 of the next 10 points to take a 50-46 lead with 2:32 remaining in the fourth, but once again Ewing battled back with a 10-2 spurt not only to tie the game, but take the four point, 56-52 lead with under a half minute to play. Isaiah York scored all seven of his points in the game during this stretch for Ewing while Azoroh added another bucket. This matchup lived up to the potential of being a great game like I thought it would. Atlantic City had battled back from deficits all throughout the state tournament while Ewing came into the T of C playing its best basketball of the season. I even thought Ewing could win it. It was another great chapter in New Jersey High School boys basketball this season.