Here are highlights from the action in Metuchen’s win over South River in an early season GMC Blue Division Clash.
GMC Hoops traveled over to the Dawg Pound at Metuchen High School to see the Bulldogs in action against South River in a GMC Blue Division clash. Early on, South River raced off to a fast start, but behind the three point shooting of Danny Flaherty and the inside play of Devin Miller, Metuchen gradually took over.
After the Rams, winners over arch rival, Spotswood on Monday night (79-48), took a 13-6 lead midway through the first, Flaherty, who scored 18 first half points, got going by swishing several more treys to help Metuchen close the gap to 28-24. The Bulldogs eventually took a 29-28 lead on a layin underneath by Miller at the 1:31 mark. Derrick Whitaker helped South River reclaim the lead the end the half.
Whitaker first netted a free throw, and then got hold of a loose ball that he took in for a layup in the closing seconds of the second period for a 31-30 lead at the half. Whitaker then opened the second half with a layup as well for a 33-30 South River advantage when the Bulldogs called for time with 7:17 to play in the third. Following the timeout, the Bulldogs took over the game for good.
With sophomore point guard, Ethan Leibovits superbly directing the offense, Metuchen executed to perfection in the half court by working the ball around, and making the extra pass, which often resulted in layups for Miller down low. The result was a 25-6 surge that included a Riley Watkins three from the left corner at the 5:22 mark for a 35-33 lead, and scores from Miller at the 3:14 mark, 24.9 second mark, and right before the buzzer for a 55-39 lead heading into the fourth.
The Bulldogs then scored 8 of the first 10 points of the fourth including two more scores from Miller for a 63-41 lead with 3:11 remaining. South River then closed the game on a 9-2 run that included two scores by sophomore point guard, Zac Rafano, and a late score by Matt Pietrzyk to close out Metuchen’s impressive 65-50 victory. Nine different players scored for Metuchen led by Flaherty, who ended up with 18 and Miller, who chipped in with 17.
South River, which had 7 different players score, were led by Whitaker, who finished the game with 15 points while Pietrzyk chipped in with 9, and freshman Jayvon Taylor added 8.