GMC Hoops Game Notes–#2 Colonia vs. #1 St. Joseph’s–GMCT Boys Championship–February 26, 2015

PISCATAWAY, NJ–On Thursday night, GMC Hoops traveled over to the Rutgers Athletic Center on the Livingston Campus of Rutgers University to take in the 2015 Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament Championship between 2nd seeded Colonia and top seeded St. Joseph’s. For the first time since 2010, there was a new champion in the GMC. Led by tourney MVP, J.J. Corbett, who scored a game high 20 points, the Patriots broke away from a tight contest in the first half that included 6 lead changes with a 8-2 run late in the second for a 24-19 lead at the break. From there, Colonia gradually pulled away with a 30-19 showing in the second half as they led by as many as 18 before winning, 54-38. Breein Tyree and Marcus Ashamole each shared team high for St. Joseph’s with 14 points. Colonia won its first GMCT Boys title since 2006 while Joes lost in the GMCT Final for the first time since 2009. The Falcons were making their 8th straight appearance in the Championship Game. Below are game notes from the contest:

First Quarter

6:06 left in the first quarter and Colonia jumps out to a 5-0 lead on a three and a Pat Naguib layup.

3:12 left in the first quarter and Joes pulls within one at 9-8 after on three off the dribble from the left wing by Branislav Vujadinovic.

1:47 left in the first quarter and Colonia leads 11-10 after this jumper by J.J. Corbett.

0:00–End of first quarter and Colonia leads 15-12 after a jumper in the paint just before the buzzer by J.J. Corbett.


Second Quarter

4:36 left in the first half and Colonia leads 17-14 despite a block by Marcus Ashamole. Both teams have only scored two points in the period thus far.

2:33 left in the first half and Joes pulls within one at 17-16 on a steal for layup by Ashamole.

0:00–Game has gone to the half with Colonia leading Joes 24-19. Pats end half on a 8-2 run including this score by Chase Barneys. Barneys converted two three point plays during the run. There were 6 lead changes in the first half. Four in first period and two in 2nd. Colonia has the largest lead of the game at 5.


Third Quarter

7:12 left in the third and Colonia now up 26-19 on a layup from the left side by Pat Naguib.

6:36 left in the third and Joes calls a 30 sec timeout after MARCUS Ashamole scores to close gap to 26-21.

3:35 left in the third and Colonia up 30-25 after J.J. Corbett scores on a second putback attempt from the left low block. Bree Tyree, who was knocked down on the play while going through the paint, hobbled off the court with an ankle injury.

2:05 remaining in the third, and Tyree has been trying to walk off the tweaked ankle and now is coming back in. Colonia now up 34-25 after a couple more scores.

1:42 left in the third and Joes calls timeout with Colonia leading 34-25.

0:00–End of third and Colonia up by 10, 35-25. Patriots add a free throw in the final 1:42 to go up by double digits for the first time in the game.


Fourth Quarter

4:53 left in the game and Colonia leads 41-30 as Brandon Haines scores from the right low block. Patriots have outscored the Falcons by a 6-5 margin so far in the frame.

3:11 left in the game and the Joes GMCT dynasty is in serious jeopardy. Colonia up 47-32 after scoring 6 of the last 8 points.

2:50 left in the game and Colonia calls time after getting a loose ball off a Tyree miss.

1:29 left and there will be a new GMCT Boys Champion for the first time since 2009. Colonia up 51-36 after a transition layin by reserve Trevor Bevacliqua.

0:30 Despite having to battle his ankle from the middle of the third quarter on, Tyree still manages to explode for a monster one handed slam to close the gap to 54-38.

0:00 Game over and Colonia ends the greatest championship run in MCT/GMCT history with a 54-38 victory over 5-time defending champion, St. Joseph’s. CHS Senior, J.J. Corbett, who scored 20 points, selected as GMCT MVP. Tyree and Marcus Ashamole each led Joes with 14.