Top Seeded Edison Takes on St. Joseph’s-Green for Title
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–On Wednesday afternoon, GMC Hoops will travel up to Perth Amboy High School to taken in both games of the final round of the 2016 Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament including the Championship Game between second seeded St. Joseph’s and top seeded Edison. Both teams are coming off hard fought victories in the semifinals.
In the first semifinal, Edison rallied from a 33-23 late third quarter deficit by scoring 21 of the last 29 points to defeat fourth seeded Piscataway, 44-41. Then, in the second semifinal, St. Joseph’s-Green trailed by seven at the half before outscoring Old Bridge by 15 in the second half to post a 48-40 victory. This will be the second time this season that GMC Hoops will be seeing both teams.
On January 7th, the site saw St. Joseph’s-Green roll past East Brunswick in the first meeting of the year between the two schools. Matt Crowley, Robert Benites, and Jack Hogarty led the way in a 60-33 victory. GMC Hoops saw Edison for the first time this season on Monday versus P-Way in the semifinals. Edison enters this game at 17-2 while St. Joseph’s-Green comes in at 19-2.
How Did They Get Here?
No. 2 St. Joseph’s-Green (19-2)
- Round of 16: Defeated 15th seeded Perth Amboy, 62-28
- Quarterfinals: Defeated 7th seeded J.P. Stevens, 57-44
- Semifinals: Defeated 3rd seeded Old Bridge, 48-40
No. 1 Edison (17-2
- Round of 16: Defeated 17th seeded North Brunswick, 62-26
- Quarterfinals: Defeated 9th seeded J.F. Kennedy, 55-37
- Semifinals: Defeated 4th seeded Piscataway, 44-41
Team Rosters
No. 2 St. Joseph’s-Green (19-2)
Head Coach: Eric Lemberakis
- #3 David Razzano
- #4 Matthew Cruz
- #5 Nathaniel Wyatt
- #11 Chris Carrera
- #12 Matt Crowley
- #13 Peter Demirjian
- #15 Jack Hogarty
- #23 Jalen Murray
- #25 Robert Benites
- #30 Duke McDuffie
DID YOU KNOW? Head Coach Eric Lemberakis graduated from St. Joseph’s in 2004. He was a member of the St. Joseph’s JV squad that won the 2002 East Brunswick/GMC JV Tournament over Cardinal McCarrick (46-39). Also played on the St. Joseph’s team that lost to McCarrick in the 2003 GMCT, and fell to South Plainfield in the 2004 GMCT Semifinals. Duke McDuffie is a standout wide receiver on the St. Joseph’s varsity football team.
No. 1 Edison (17-2)
Head Coach: Chris Banos
- #3 Franklyn Martinez
- #5 Kaymille Pryor
- Josiah Smith-Velez–injured
- #12 Jaymin Vakharia
- #15 Christian Biolsi
- #21 Nick Biolsi
- #23 Christian Wantong
- #24 Thomas Johnson
- #32 Franklyn Vega
- #45 Jayden Woods
DID YOU KNOW? Head Coach Chris Banos is a graduate of Edison High School. He previously coached varsity and freshman basketball at J.F. Kennedy. Banos coached the 2004-05 JFK Freshmen team that won the 2005 Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tourney as the 2nd seed. Those Freshmen Mustangs defeated 12th seeded South Brunswick in that year’s championship.
Christian Biolsi is also a standout baseball pitcher. Thomas Johnson is the son of former Edison standout and 2001 EHS graduate, Thomas Johnson, Sr, who went on to play at Felician. The elder Johnson, played with the likes of Tim Banos and Frankie Eckert, and were coached by current EHS varsity assistant Mike Meagher.
The 2000-01 squad was the last great Edison team and the best Eagles team during the GMC Hoops era (2000-present). Those 2000-01 Eagles’ signature win was an upset of previously undefeated and top ranked St. Joseph’s at the Frank Cangelosi Gymnasium. Those Falcons were then coached by current St. Benedict’s head coach, Mark Taylor, and were led the likes of Greg Kuchinski (Penn) and Preston Beverly (VMI).
The Game
OUTLOOK: Expect this to be an up and down game. St. Joseph’s and Edison like to get out and run. However, they are able to play in the half court as well if necessary. The Eagles struggled for much of their game against Piscataway in the semifinals on Monday largely because they settled for threes instead of attacking the basket. St. Joseph’s-Green win over EB on January 7th saw a lot of transition baskets although Crowley and Hogarty can shoot the three. Benites provides a solid low post presence. Edison got perimeter scoring from Jaymin Vakharia and Christian Biolsi in the win over P-Way while Christian Wantong and Thomas Johnson both crashed the boards for putbacks. Turnovers will be key, and whichever team can minimize them will have a good chance to win this contest.
PREDICTION: St. Joseph’s-Green wins, 55-50.