GMC Hoops Play-By-Play–#3 Plainfield vs. #2 St. Joseph’s–NJSIAA Tournament of Champions Semifinals–March 14, 2012

PISCATAWAY, NJ–On Friday evening, the first of two semifinals took place in the 2012 NJSIAA Tournament of Champions at the Rutgers Athletic Center. Third seeded Plainfield played like it had something to prove as it took on second seeded St. Joseph’s for the right to play in the TOC Championship on Tuesday night at the Meadowlands. Leading 24-21 with 5:10 to play, the Cardinals finished the first half on a 13-2 tear, and never looked back in a 70-48 victory over a St. Joe’s team that entered the game with 28 straight wins. Jahmal Lane had 18 points in the first half for Plainfield, and ended up with 23 for the game. Danny Brix led St. Joe’s in a losing cause with 15 points including 13 in the 2nd half. Below is the play-by-play from the contest.

First Quarter

7:37–PLFD–Sekou Harris fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 1-0 lead…PLFD–offensive rebound.
7:25–PLFD–Jahmal Lane scores layup off inbounds play for a 3-0.
6:45–PLFD–Sears blocks shot by Brix.
6:31–STJ–30 sec timeout–follows steal for reverse layup by Justin Sears for a 5-0 lead.
6:04–STJ–Quenton DeCosey scores for a 5-2 PLFD lead.
5:53–PLFD–Christian Anderson scores on layup for  a 7-2 lead.
5:25–STJ–Jimbo Long three pointer for a 7-5 lead.
5:10–PLFD–Dijon Allen-Jordan puts in follow off miss by Sears off steal.
4:49–STJ–DeCosey hits three pointer for a 9-8 PLFD lead.
4:25–PLFD–Harris basket for an 11-8 lead.
4:00–STJ–Karim Awad scores for an 11-10 STJ lead.
3:30–PLFD–Lane with bucket for a 13-10 STJ lead.
3:10–STJ–DeCosey fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 13-11 PLFD lead.
2:57–STJ–DeCosey scores off steal for a 13-13 tie.
2:34–PLFD–Lane scores on layup for a 15-13 lead.
2:07–STJ–turnover.
1:48–PLFD–Sears hits floater over Karl Towns for a 17-13 lead.
1:32–PLFD–Lane scores on layup off steal for a 19-13 lead.
52.0–STJ–DeCosey hits jumper for a 19-15 PLFD lead.
30.0–STJ–Brix hits jumper for a 19-17 PLFD lead.
0.0–STJ–Awad heave hits iron as time expires.


Second Quarter

7:42–PLFD–Lane scores down low for a 21-17 lead.
7:17–PLFD–Taylor Plummer gets on the floor for steal.
6:32–PLFD–Allen-Jordan scores on jam for a 23-17 lead.
5:58–STJ–DeCosey drives in for a banker and a 23-19 PLFD lead.
5:53–PLFD–Allen-Jordan–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 24-19 lead.
5:10–STJ–Long gets among the trees for layup and a 24-21 PLFD lead.
4:57–PLFD–Lane scores basket for a 26-21 lead.
4:25–STJ–DeCosey hits fadeaway for a 26-23 STJ lead.
3:55–PLFD–Lane scores on layup for a 28-23 lead.
3:00–PLFD–Harris scores basket for a 30-23 lead.
2:18–STJ–Towns picks up 2nd foul–Allen-Jordan–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 31-23 lead.
1:58–STJ–Towns picks up 3rd foul–Allen-Jordan–makes both FTs for a 33-23 lead.
1:00–PLFD–Lane scores layup for a 35-23 lead.
45.0–PLFD–Lane scores another layup off steal for a 37-23 lead.
0.0–STJ–unable to score as Long missed three from right wing at buzzer.

PLFD–ends half with a 13-2 tear over last 5 minutes.


Third Quarter

7:32–STJ–Towns picks up 4th foul.
7:10–STJ–Awad scores on layup from Long for a 37-25 PLFD lead.
7:02–PLFD–Harris lob for Allen-Jordan dunk attempt just misses.
6:50–PLFD–Harris drives in for layup and a 39-25 lead.
5:41–PLFD–Harris scores on layup off steal for a 41-25 lead.
5:32–PLFD–Sears swats away layup attempt by DeCosey.
5:15–STJ–30 sec timeout after Long hits on floater.
4:59–PLFD–Allen-Jordan–fouled by DeCosey–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 42-27 led.
4:46–PLFD–Sears scores on putback after several offensive rebounds by Cards for a 44-27 lead.
4:03–STJ–Brix scores on layup off inbounds for a 44-29 PLFD lead.
3:29–STJ–Brix three pointer for a 44-32 PLFD lead.
3:22–PLFD–Allen-Jordan throws it down, and is fouled by Brix–makes bonus FT for a 47-32 lead.
3:07–STJ–DeCosey rambles in for layup and a 47-34 PLFD lead.
2:29–STJ–Brix knocks in three from left wing for a 47-37 PLFD lead.
2:20–PLFD–timeout.
1:48–STJ–DeCosey stopped down low by PLFD D.
1:25–PLFD–Lane connects on three pointer from left wing for a 50-37 lead.
11.8–PLFD–Allen-Jordan scores basket–Sears called for foul–basket counts for a 52-37 lead.
0.0–STJ–DeCosey is unable to get a shot off.  PLFD leads 52-37 after three.


Fourth Quarter

7:47–PLFD–Harris scores on drive for a 54-37 lead.
7:31–PLFD–Sears scores on dunk for a 56-37 lead.
6:13–STJ–Brix three pointer for a 56-40 STJ lead.
5:59–PLFD–Allen-Jordan fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 57-40 lead.
5:38–PLFD–Harris scores on layup for a 59-40 lead.
5:25–PLFD–intentional foul on DeCosey–5th foul–Harris makes both FTs for a 61-40 lead.
5:15–PLFD–Harris scores on drive for a 63-40 lead.
4:56–STJ–Brix connects on baseline jumper off dribble from left side for a 63-42 PLFD lead.
4:35–PLFD–Lane deflects ball out of bounds.
3:23–PLFD–Denzel Christian sinks jumper from right baseline for a 65-42 lead.
3:04–STJ–Jalen Gilmore sinks jumper from left side for a 65-44 PLFD lead.
2:55–PLFD–full timeout.
2:37–PLFD–Lane scores on drive to the basket for a 67-44 lead.
2:18–STJ–Towns–fouls out–Denzel Christian sinks 1 of 2 FTs for a 68-44 lead.
1:57–PLFD–Christian sinks jumper from right side for a 70-44 lead.
1:18–STJ–Awad scores on scoop shot layup for a 70-46 PLFD lead.
0:03–STJ–Gilmore scores on layup for a 70-48 PLFD lead.
0:00–PLFD wins 70-48.