Here is a slideshow of photos from the action in the 2015-16 Greater Middlesex Conference Red Division season opener between eighth ranked North Brunswick and second ranked East Brunswick at Churchill Junior High School in East Brunswick.
In the nightcap of the 2015 GMC Hoops Freshmen, JV, and Varsity season opening tripleheader, second ranked East Brunswick took on 8th ranked North Brunswick. The Bears took full advantage of the home cooking, especially the raucous Bears Den, which was in top form, to take a 16-2 first quarter lead as Mike Brizuela, Matt Ross, Addis Ralph, and Justin Sewnarine sank threes.
Following two NBTHS timeouts, the Raiders began to settle down as senior guard, Pranay Bhandare netted two threes while junior guard, Francis Omowole put together a nifty drive and spin move to the basket for a layup as he was fouled to highlight a 14-2 surge to end the period to trail 18-16. EB scored 7 of the first 9 points of the second for a 25-18 lead, but couldn’t shake North Brunswick, which battled back with a 7-3 burst capped by a three from Omowole for a 28-25 EB lead midway through the second.
East Brunswick took control again by scoring 8 of the next 9 points to take a 36-26 lead before North Brunswick ended the first half by scoring the last four points for a 36-30 EB lead at the intermission. The Bears opened the second half by scoring 6 of the first 10 points including a bucket by Addis Ralph for a 42-34 lead, but the Raiders continued to hang around, and managed to close the gap to 42-36 before sophomore guard, Joe Sampson sank a three from the left wing at the 2:32 mark for a 45-36 lead.
Sampson’s trey sparked an 8-2 EB run that was capped by a second three from the sophomore sharpshooter for a 50-38 lead after three quarters. Pranay Bhandare sank two threes early on in the fourth to get North Brunswick within single digits on a couple of occasions at 50-41 and 53-44, but the Raiders were unable to get any closer as East Brunswick finished off the opening night, 63-44 victory with a 10-0 run capped by Sampson’s fourth trey of the game.
Ross ended up with a game high 20 points to lead four different EB players in double figures. Fellow senior, Addis Ralph chipped in with 13, Sampson had 12, and Mike Brizuela added 10. Bhandare led North Brunswick with a team high 15 points while Omowole chipped in with 13, which all came in the first half.