Hearns Leads Ramblers With Double-Double
NOTE: Eddie Kalegi of the MHS Pawdcast contributed to this report.
METUCHEN, NJ—Starrell Hearns started off his junior campaign with a double-double of 18 points and 10 rebounds as Carteret defeated Metuchen, 59-40 in a GMC Blue Division season opener at the Dawg Pound.
Hearns also collected 2 assists, 2 blocks, and a steal while senior Cam McCargo chipped in with 10 points, 8 boards, 2 steals, and an assist as the duo of returning starters from last year’s squad accounted for almost half of the No. 8 ranked Ramblers scoring in the contest.
Dominic Schiappa led the Bulldogs in defeat with 13 points and 6 rebounds while Jai Dreher added 9 points and 10 boards. For over the first half of the opening quarter, both teams struggled to get into a rhythm offensively as Carteret only had a 4-2 lead at the 3:39 mark.
Then, the Rambler defense kicked in by forcing three turnovers to spark as 9-0 run for a 13-2 lead late in the first. Carteret then added another score with a bucket in the closing minute for a 13 point lead after one, and led 17-5 in the second before Schiappa got his first points of the game to close the gap to ten at the 6:00 mark.
Schiappa’s bucket ignited a strong finish to the first half as the Bulldogs closed the second with an 11-9 run to make it a 26-18 score in favor of the Ramblers heading into the intermission. Unfortunately, Metuchen would not get any closer as Carteret took command in the third with a 23 point quarter sparked by a 6-0 run to open the second half capped by a Stearns dunk.
The Ramblers then finished the frame with 17 of the final 27 points of the period with Hearns contributing to much of the surge for a 49-28 advantage heading into the fourth. Metuchen then outscored the visitors by a 12-10 margin in the final frame to close out the contest. With the victory, Carteret commences the 2019-20 campaign with a 1-0 mark both overall and in the GMC Blue while Metuchen starts the season at 0-1 both overall and in divisional play.
Carteret returns to action on Saturday with a non-conference game at Plainfield of the Union County Conference at noon. The Cardinals are coming off a tough two overtime loss at a very talented conference foe, Union 73-72 in double overtime in the St. Jude Classic. Meanwhile, Metuchen will take the floor again on Saturday at noon against J.P. Stevens of the GMC Red before playing in its holiday tournament against Roselle and West Windsor-Plainsboro South.