NEPTUNE, NJ–On Monday night, GMC Hoops traveled down to the Hoop Group Headquarters for the final night of action in the 2016 HGHQ Fall League. The key matchup of the night was between Sayreville and Manasquan. The Bombers fell behind early as the Warriors jumped out to a 14-8 lead.
However, Xavier Townes sparked a 6-0 run with a layup while Jahsim Floyd added the first of his four dunks on the night to help tie the score at 14-14. After Manasquan went on a 7-2 run that included a three from the top of the key at the 11:28 mark, Sayreville battled back with a 7-0 run that included a trey by Townes, two free throws by Henny Mautes and a steal for a layin by Ryan O’Leary for a 23-21 lead with 5:10 to go in the first half.
Manasquan would finish the first half on a 12-3 tear that included a three and a couple layups for a 33-26 lead at the break. Sayreville opened the second half with the first seven points including a three by O’Leary and two dunks by Floyd to tie the score at 33-33, but then the Warriors from Monmouth County sank three treys during a 9-2 run for a 42-35 lead with 15:32 to play.
Then came the decisive period of the game as Sayreville embarked on a pivotal 18-0 surge over a span of 7:25 to take a 53-42 lead. Townes again sparked the tear with a trey from the left corner followed by a nice dish to Ope Olaloko for a layup and an O’Leary three . Zac Kaczmarek capped the run with a trey from the right wing for the 11 point lead at the 8:05 mark.
Manasquan rallied with a 10-2 run over the next 5:03 to pull within three at 55-52 before Floyd got his final dunk of the night at the 3:02 mark for a five point lead. The Warriors made a pair of free throws with 1:23 to play, and had several chances to score down the stretch, but Sayreville was able to hang on for a 57-54 win. Below are game notes from the action.
First Half
18:30–MAN–hits a three pointer to take a 5-4 lead.
16:00–MAN–on a 9-4 run including a layup for a 14-8 lead.
13:36–SAY–on a 6-0 run to tie the game at 14-14. Run includes a dunk by Jahsim Floyd, and a layup by Xavier Townes.
11:28–MAN–timeout after sinking a three pointer from the top of the key for a 17-14 lead.
11:11–SAY–pulls within one at 17-16 on a transition layup by Ope Olaloko.
6:52–SAY–closes within two at 21-19 on a three pointer by Townes to end a 4-0 MAN run.
5:10–SAY–takes a 23-21 lead on two free throws by Henny Mautes and a steal for a layin by Ryan O’Leary.
2:23–MAN–scores on a layup and a three from the right side during a 7-3 run to take a 28-26 lead.
0:00–MAN–scores last five points including a layup to take a 33-26 lead at the half.
Second Half
18:26–SAY–opens the second half on a 5-0 run including a three from the left wing by O’Leary and a fast break dunk by Floyd to close the gap to 33-31.
18:21–SAY–ties the game on another dunk by Floyd.
15:32–SAY–Townes sinks a three from the left corner to end a 9-2 MAN spurt for a 42-38 MAN lead. Olaloko scored the only SAY points during MAN run.
15:06–SAY–now on a 10-0 run consisting of a three and a layup by Townes, a layup by Olaloko, and a trey by O’Leary for a 45-42 lead.
8:05–SAY–now leads 53-42 after a three from the right wing by Zac Kaczmarek capped on 18-0 surge.
7:01–MAN–timeout after connecting on a jumper that ended an 18-0 SAY surge and pulled within single digits at 53-44.
4:40–MAN–now on an 8-2 run after a layup and a steal for a layin to pull within 55-50.
3:02–SAY–after an earlier MAN score, Floyd scores on his fourth dunk of the game that ended a 10-2 MAN spurt for a 57-52 SAY lead.
1:23–MAN–draws foul and makes a pair of free throws for a 57-54 SAY lead.
0:00–SAY–hangs on for a 57-54 victory. MAN had several chances to score down the stretch, but was unable to get a basket.