Dunellen’s Tyquan Fowler Was Bright Spot in a Difficult Year
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| Tyquan Fowler puts up a foul line jumper towards the end of the first half against Piscataway Tech in Piscataway on February 10th. Fowler, who scored 21 points in this game, averaged 17.3 points per game to earn GMC Hoops Best Kept Secret Award. |
SOUTH PLAINFIELD, NJ–The 2015-16 season was one of transition for the Dunellen Destroyers. With the departure of all time leading scorer, David Johnson, who is now playing NCAA Division II basketball at Kutztown University in Pennsylvania, and the stepping down of long time head coach, Bernie Buniak, there was a changing of the guard in Destroyer Country. While there were some returning players and new coach Howie Horowitz, who was moving up from the JV level, Dunellen still struggled as it finished 4-21.
Video: Watch Dunellen’s Tyquan Fowler in action against Piscataway Tech on February 10th.
There was, however, a bright spot that was consistently shining throughout the course of the 2015-16 campaign, and that was senior guard, Tyquan Fowler. Averaging 17.3 points per game, and netting 37 three pointers, Fowler led the way for Dunellen. Fowler, who played a key part in the supporting cast behind Johnson a year ago by making 93 field goals, 13 threes, and 51 foul shots for 276 points, or an average of 10.6 points per game in 2014-15, raised his game this past winter by making 114 field goals, 37 treys, and 60 foul shots for 398 points, or over 17 per contest, which ranked him 10th in the GMC in scoring.
One of his finest performances of the season came when GMC Hoops was in the building at Piscataway Tech on February 10th. In that contest, the Destroyers trailed P-Way Tech 34-19 late in the first half, but rallied in the second half with a 30-18 surge to pull within three at 55-52 with a little over two minutes to play. Piscataway Tech managed to hang on by scoring the last six points for a 61-52 victory, but Fowler made an impact with 21 points on four field goals, four threes, and a foul shot that converted a three point play. Fowler played in 23 of Dunellen’s 25 games, and scored in double figures in 20 of those 23 games played.
Earlier in the season, Fowler also shined in Dunellen’s first victory of the season over Hopatcong with 11 points on two field goals, two threes, and a free throw in the opening round of the 2015 Shello-Santy Holiday Tournament at the Faber. Fowler also stood out in the other three victories by the Destroyers. In a 58-48 victory over Timothy Christian on January 20th, Fowler led the way with 25 points on eight field goals, and nine foul shots. Against Highland Park on February 1st, Fowler recorded 22 points on 8 field goals, a three pointer, and three foul shots in a 49-47 victory. Then on February 11th, Fowler scored 24 points on 10 field goals, a three pointer, and a free throw in a 57-34 win over Central Jersey College Charter of Somerset.
Fowler, who scored a career high 36 points in another loss to Piscataway Tech back on January 15th, scored at least 20 points in 10 of his games. For his career, Fowler played in 49 games, and compiled 207 field goals, 50 three pointers, and 111 free throws for a career total of 674 points, or an average of 13.8 points per game. He scored in double figures 35 times, and tallied 20 points or more 11 times. Fowler represented Dunellen in the 2016 GMCBCA Senior All-Star Game at Woodbridge High School on March 22nd.