COLONIA, NJ–On Wednesday night, July 9th, GMC Hoops traveled over to Colonia Middle School to catch action from the 2008 Colonia JV League for the first time this summer. The web site had hoped to come out, and catch some action last Wednesday, but due to a fire in Colonia High School, all the scheduled games last week were cancelled. Anyway, the site took in the 6:00 PM contest between Cardinal McCarrick II and Colonia II. According to previous notes on this league, Cardy Mac II was listed as one of the two freshmen teams in the league.
GMC Hoops joined the action in this one with 6:34 to go in the first half, and Cardinal McCarrick II holding a tenuous one point lead at 17-16. Thirty-four seconds later, the Little Eagles grabbed an offensive rebound off a block by a Colonia player, and put in the follow for a 19-16 edge with exactly six minutes to go before the intermission. Neither team would score for the next 2:22 before the Patriots got on the board with a pull-up jumper from the right wing for a 19-18 McCarrick II lead with 3:38 left in the half. Moments later, Colonia II got a stop, and came back down the floor to draw a foul. Unfortunately, the Junior Pats weren’t able to take advantage as a player missed the front end of the one and one with 3:22 to go in the period.
Cardinal McCarrick would eventually increase its edge to three again when Mike Lewis, the son of Joe Lewis, who will be entering his sophomore year this fall at McCarrick, netted two free throws that made the score, 21-18 at the 2:20 mark. Once again there would be a brief lull in the scoring until there was 41.5 seconds remaining in the first half. At that point, Colonia II got an offensive rebound, and converted the second chance opportunity with a jumper in the left low block to close the gap to one again at 21-20. The Junior Patriots had a chance to take the lead at halftime, but a jumper from the left wing at the buzzer went off the front of the rim, and the score remained, 21-20 going into the brief break.
The second half began with Cardinal McCarrick II getting on the board first to further its lead thanks to a floater from the left side for a 23-20 advantage at the 19:22 mark. The Little Eagles had a chance to go up by five when a player picked up a loose ball, and drove the length of the floor for a layup attempt, but it was blocked by Colonia II for a huge defensive stop at the 18:06 mark. A little more than a minute later, the Junior Patriots came up with a jumper from the right wing to pull themselves to within one at 23-22 with inside 17 minutes to play in regulation. Another minute or so went by before the next scoring opportunity, and that would be McCarrick’s as the Little Eagles tried to get on the board when a player drove in for a layup, and drew a foul. Unfortunately, Cardy Mac II couldn’t cash in as the player missed the one and one opportunity, and the score remained, 23-22 at the 15:54 mark.
Colonia would then continue its 7-0 run over a stretch of 3:40 with a layup in the left low block for a 24-23 lead with 15:08 remaining, and then after a scoring drought of 2:49, a three pointer from the left wing that made the score, 27-23 at the 12:19 mark. Cardinal McCarrick II then called for time at the 11:49 mark, and following the stoppage, the Junior Pats went back to work with a steal at mid court on the left side, and a drive for a layup for a 9-0 run, and a 29-23 lead at the 11:38 mark. The Little Eagles had a chance to end its long scoreless run with three offensive rebounds that resulted in a putback attempt and a foul, but they missed the free throw at the 10:16 mark. Cardy Mac II wouldn’t get on the board again until the 8:43 mark of the second half with a short jumper from the right side that not only closed the gap to four at 29-25, but also ended a stretch of 10:39 without a single point.
Despite the scoring difficulties for much of the first half, and the perilous predicament that the Little Eagles were in, they showed tremendous resolve and determination to get back into the game, and ultimately win it. Neither team would score for the next 1:32 before the Junior Pats of Colonia II got a field goal for a 31-25 lead with 7:11 left in regulation. McCarrick II would answer on its next possession with a drive from the right side for a layup, and a 31-27 Colonia II lead at the 6:41 mark. The game continued to vaciliate between a four and six point lead thanks to a layup by Colonia II for a 33-27 lead at the 6:17 mark. After a period of 1:33 without any scoring, McCarrick II’s Mike Lewis then got into the act with a nice dish for a layup, and a 33-29 Colonia II edge at the 4:44 mark. The Little Eagles then came up with a stop, and scored on a layup with 4:23 to play to pull within two at 33-31.
A little more than a half minute later, the Little Eagles were in position to tie thanks to a drive to the hoop that drew a foul. Unfortunately, Cardy Mac II couldn’t take advantage by missing a free throw at the 3:50 mark. However, a bit more than a minute after that, McCarrick II finally tied the game again with an offensive rebound and follow by Robert Nunez that made the score 33-33 with 2:46 to play in regulation. Thirty-eight seconds after that, Colonia drew a key charge that kept the score tied up at 33-33. The Little Eagles would still manage to take the lead though on a rebound and drive up the length of the court for a layup, and a 35-33 lead with 1:28 left in the second half. Moments later, Cardinal McCarrick’s II defense came up with a steal, but couldn’t convert it at the 1:21 mark. Colonia II then called for a timeout at the 57.2 second mark, and then after the stoppage, tied the score at 35-35 with an offensive rebound and putback of a missed layup attempt with 35.8 seconds remaining.
Despite McCarrick II getting an opportunity to win the game at the end, the Little Eagles weren’t able to get the victory just yet as Lewis’ shot attempt at the buzzer was off the mark, and the two teams went to overtime. In the extra session, Cardy Mac II pulled out the win with all six points. The first score occurred with nearly a full minute gone in the overtime as McCarrick II grabbed a rebound, and gave an outlet pass upcourt to Lewis on the left side for a layup, and a 37-35 lead at the 1:14 mark. Then, on a Colonia II possession, the Little Eagles fought for a loose ball, and got a steal that resulted in a layup for a 39-35 lead at the 33.2 second mark. Finally, Lewis sealed the win with a pair of free throws to close out the 41-35 victory.
| Team | 1 | 2 | OT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cardinal McCarrick II (1-2) | 21 | 14 | 6 | 41 |
| Colonia II (2-2) | 20 | 15 | 0 | 35 |