GMC Hoops Game Notes–#2 Piscataway vs. #1 St. Joseph’s–East Brunswick/GMC JV Tournament Championship–February 28, 2017

EAST BRUNSWICK, NJ–While varsity boys and girls teams in Group I, Group 3, and Non-Public A were beginning their state tournament play, the 2017 East Brunswick/GMC JV Tournament concluded with the Boys Championship Game between top seeded St. Joseph’s and second seeded Piscataway.

Piscataway, which was last in the East Brunswick/GMC JV Tourney Championship Game in 2010 when it lost to Hillsborough (64-41), in had 10 different players score led by sophomore Sam Ezeonu, a GMC Hoops All Perth Amboy Freshmen Tournament Team selection a year ago, who had 16 points to defeat St. Joseph’s, 77-71.

Trailing 16-10 after one period, the Junior Chiefs outscored the Junior Falcons in each of the final three periods by a combined margin of 67-55 to come away with the six point victory. For the game, the JV Chiefs tallied its 77 points on 29 field goals, one three pointer, and a 16 of 25 effort from the foul line.

St. Joseph’s, on the other hand, had seven different players score including junior forward, Dan Young, who pumped in a game high 23 points while sophomore Matt Cruz chipped in with 10 points. For the game, the JV Falcons scored its 71 points on 18 field goals, 5 threes, and 20 of 29 from the foul line. Below is the box score and game notes from the contest:

Box Score

Piscataway (77): Omar Humphries 3-0-2-8, Marvin Randle 2-1-0-7, Angelo Manalaysay 2-0-3-7, Antonio Chandler 1-0-2-4, Daryl DeCohen 2-0-1-5, Andre Bates 1-0-4-6, Carlos Edmundo 3-0-0-6, Sam Ezeonu 7-0-2-16, Nadir Holdman 4-0-1-9, Josh Perez 4-0-1-1-9. Totals 29-1-16-77.

St. Joseph’s (71): Howard McBurnie 4-0-1-9, Matt Cruz 0-2-4-10, Jack Hogarty 1-0-2-4, Dan Young 7-1-6-23, Ryan Granito 4-0-1-9, Luke Fresco 0-2-1-7, Matt Crowley 2-0-5-9. Totals 18-5-20-71.

First Quarter

St. Joseph’s jumped out to a 16-10 lead as the JV Falcons had four different players score including Dan Young (5 points), Ryan Granito (4 points), Matt Cruz (4 points), and Luke Fresco (3 points). Piscataway also had four different players score in the period including Carlos Edmundo (4 points), Marvin Randle (2 points), Andre Bates (2 points), and Sam Ezeonu (2 points). St. Joseph’s tallied its 16 points on 4 FGs, 2 3s, and 2 of 6 FTs. Piscataway tallied its 10 points on 4 FGs and 2 of 2 FTs.


Second Quarter

Piscataway rallied with a 23-18 showing in the second quarter to trail by only one at the half, 34-33. Seven different players scored for the JV Chiefs including Sam Ezeonu (6 points), Nadir Holdman (5 points), Antonio Chandler (4 points), Omar Humphries (2 points), Marvin Randle (2 points), Daryl DeCohen (2 points), and Carlos Edmundo (2 points). Meanwhile, St. Joseph’s had four different players score including Howard McBurnie (scored all 9 of his points in the period), Dan Young (5 points), Jack Hogarty (2 points), and Matt Crowley (2 points). St. Joe’s tallied its 18 points on 5 FGs and a perfect 8 of 8 from the foul line. Piscataway tallied its 23 points on 10 FGs and 3 of 5 FTs.


Third Quarter

Piscataway then took the lead, 57-54 with a 24-20 showing in the third period. P-Way had seven different players score including Omar Humphries (6 points), Andre Bates (4 points), Nadir Holdman (4 points), Marvin Randle (3 points), Angelo Manalaysay (3 points), Sam Ezeonu (2 points), and Josh Perez (2 points). St. Joseph’s had six different players combine to score 20 points in the period including Dan Young (6 points), Luke Fresco (4 points), Ryan Granito (4 points), Jack Hogarty (2 points), Matt Crowley (2 points), Matt Cruz (2 points). Piscataway tallied its 24 points on 8 FGs, a three pointer, and 5 of 7 FTs. St. Joseph’s tallied its 20 points on 6 FGs, a three pointer, and 5 of 6 FTs.


Fourth Quarter

The JV Chiefs sealed the 77-71 win with a 20-17 showing in the fourth. Piscataway had four different players score including Josh Perez (7 points), Sam Ezeonu (6 points), Angelo Manalaysay (4 points), and Daryl DeCohen (3 points). Piscataway scored its 20 points on 7 FGs and 6 of 11 FTs. St. Joseph’s had four different players score including Dan Young (7 points), Matt Crowley (5 points), Matt Cruz (4 points), and Ryan Granito (1 point). The JV Falcons scored their 17 points on 3 FGs, 2 3s, and 5 of 8 FTs. For the game Piscataway scored its 77 points on 29 FGs, a three pointer, and 16 of 25 from the foul line. The Junior Chiefs had 10 different players score. St. Joseph’s scored its 71 points on 18 FGs, 5 threes, and 20 of 29 FTs. The JV Falcons had 7 different players score. This was only the third time since 2002 that Piscataway played in the East Brunswick/GMC JV Tourney Final. Prior to this year, P-Way played in the Championship in 2003 (lost to New Brunswick) and 2010 (lost to Hillsborough 64-41). St. Joseph’s made its third trip to the JV finals in the last four years.