SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–In the nightcap of the GMC Hoops doubleheader at the Raritan Bay Summer League, there was another rematch from opening day between South River and the Heat in JV action.
Led by Hunter Nemeth, Silvio Cruz, Kenny Cross, Travis Thomas, Ishmael Abass-Shereef, South River, which lost to the Heat in the two teams season opener (29-28), jumped out to a 7-2 lead, and led 26-20 late in the first half before the Heat rallied with the final six points of the period to tie the game at the half at 26-26. The Heat, Facundo Olivera, then scored 4 of the first 6 points of the second half for a 30-28 lead.
The game continued to go back and forth with South River putting together a pivotal spurt by scoring 11 of the next 14 points including back to back threes for a 39-33 lead, and then extended its advantage to 43-36 after making two technical foul shots at the 2:17 mark, and a layup at the 1:21 mark.
The Heat fought back again though by scoring 7 of the next 8 points including a transition layup with under a minute to go, and a floater that got a kind bounce with 11.5 seconds remaining in regulation to tie the score at 44-44. South River would pull out the 46-44 win though by making two foul shots with 7.3 seconds remaining and the Heat missing a last second shot. Below are game notes from the action:
First Half
16:24–SR–starts game on a 7-2 spurt capped by a three point play by Travis Thomas. Hunter Nemeth opens scoring with a three and a transition layup.
16:00–HEAT–Facundo Olivera banks in a long three for a 7-5 SR lead.
15:33–SR–retakes lead at 9-7 on a steal for a layup by Travis Thomas.
13:59–HEAT–timeout after an SR score for an 11-8 lead.
7:15–SR–cashes in offensive rebound with a short jumper for an 18-15 lead
7:03–HEAT–three pointer ties game at 18-18.
3:23–SR–misses two free throws, but on a 6-2 run including two earlier foul shots by Kenny Cross for a 24-20 lead.
0:00–HEAT–despite having trouble making FTs, Heat end half on a 6-0 run to tie game at 26-26 going into the intermission.
Second Half
12:03–HEAT–timeout with a 30-28 lead after scoring 4 of the first six points of the half.
5:00–SR–goes on a 7-0 run including two huge threes by Ishmael Abass-Shereef to cap an 11-3 spurt for a 39-33 lead.
4:11–HEAT–fouled and makes one of two FTs for a 39-34 SR lead.
2:17–HEAT–tech foul–SR–two FTs for a 41-34 lead.
1:52–SR–turnover.
1:42–HEAT–basket to close within 41-38.
1:23–SR–drive for layup for a 43-38 lead.
1:15–HEAT–timeout–trailing 43-38.
43.2–SR–timeout after HEAT makes two FTs for a 43-40 SR lead.
11.5–HEAT–hits floater thanks to kind bounce for a 44-44 tie.
7.3–SR–fouled and make both FTs by Travis Thomas for a 46-44 lead.
5.8–HEAT–timeout.
0.0–HEAT–unable to get a shot off as time expired as SR wins 46-44.