Hillsborough JV Summer League–July 13, 2011

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ–On Wednesday night, GMC Hoops finished up a long day of summer league coverage with a trip out to Hillsborough High School to see the finale of the sixth day of action from the 2011 Hillsborough JV Summer League. The game involved the lone GMC team, East Brunswick, which was taking on North Hunterdon. In a back and forth affair, the Junior Bears got a last second putback in regulation from soon to be sophomore Anthony Belgrave to force overtime, and then in the extra session, John McHenry connected on a three pointer with one second left to proper EB to a thrilling 54-51 victory over the Junior Lions.

Belgrave And McHenry Lift EB Past North Hunterdon In OT, 54-51

It was quite a contest to round out the day of action GMC Hoops had on Wednesday. It took a trip out to the Hillsborough JV Summer League to get it as East Brunswick and North Hunterdon locked up into quite a barnburner in the 8:00 finale at Hillsborough High School. The game not only went to overtime, but it was decided in the final seconds on a three pointer by East Brunswick’s John McHenry.

McHenry took a pass on the left side, and knocked in a trey with one second left to propel the Junior Bears to a hearstopping 54-51 victory over the Junior Lions. Over the final 35:30 of the contest, there were 10 lead changes and 6 ties while neither team had a lead bigger than six points. North Hunterdon had the lead for approximately 6:01 of the contest while the game was tied for 8:15. East Brunswick led for the rest of the contest including 21:14 of the final 35:30 of the game.

EB tallied its 54 points on 20 field goals including three treys and made 11 of 15 free throws. North Hunterdon compiled its 51 points on 22 field goals and made 7 of 13 foul shots. The Junior Bears outscored the Junior Lions by a 9-0 margin in points scored from beyond the arc while getting an 11-7 edge in points scored from the foul line. North Hunterdon had a 6-5 edge in second chance points while offensive rebounds were even. EBHS had a 4-2 edge in points off turnovers. The GMC squad had nine steals while the Skyland Conference foe had 4 blocks with most of them coming in the latter portion of the second half and overtime.

Anthony Belgrave, who forced overtime by putting back a missed free throw with five seconds remaining, ended up with a team high of 12 points on five field goals and 2 of 4 from the line while collecting four steals. Nick Gudali chipped in with 11 points on three field goals including a trey along with 4 of 5 from the foul line. Carl Taylor helped out with 9 points on four field goals and one of two from the line while picking up four rebounds. McHenry and Adam Rosa chipped in with 7 points apiece on three field goals including a trey while Rosa swiped three steals and handed out two assists.

East Brunswick had the largest lead of the game on four separate occasions only to have North Hunterdon battle back from being on the ropes to not only to tie the game, but also take the lead. Most notably, the Junior Bears had a 16-10 lead with 7:14 to go in the first quarter only to have the Junior Lions rally with an 8-0 spurt over a span of 3:34 to take an 18-16 lead with 3:40 to go in the first half. Then, East Brunswick had a 40-34 lead after a jumper at the 7:58 mark, but North Hunterdon battled back again with an 11-3 tear over a span of 6:08 to take a 45-43 lead with under two minutes remaining.

After the fourth quarter rally by the Junior Lions, the game went back and forth on just about every possession for the rest of the game. Rosa got his only three of the game on a trey from the right wing on EB’s very next possession for a 46-45 lead with 1:37 left. A little more than a half minute later, North Hunterdon drew a foul, and made two free throws for a 47-46 edge with just over a minute to go. Over the next 49 seconds, East Brunswick had four chances to take the lead back, but was unable to score.

Following a timeout by the Junior Lions, North Hunterdon made one of two from the foul line with six seconds left, the Junior Bears were able to draw a foul, and get to the line. The front end of the one and one was missed, but Belgrave battled for the offensive board, and put it back in as time ran out in regulation with a 48-48 tie. The opening tip in the extra session appeared to be set up for a North Hunterdon score as the Lions went right to the basket, but EB knocked the ball away. The Junior Bears would get on the board first in overtime when Belgrave showed great anticipation on a steal, and went the rest of the way for a layup, and a 50-48 lead with 3:12 to go.

Less than a half minute later, North Hunterdon responded with a nice entry pass for a layup from the right sde to tie the score at 50-50 with 2:48 to play. After Belgrave just missed getting another steal with 2:11 to go, the Junior Lions went ahead by the score of 51-50 when they drew a foul from Taylor, and made one of two from the line with 1:48 left. Just under a minute later, Belgrave got fouled on a rebound, and made one of two from the charity stripe to tie the game with 46 seconds to go. North Hunterdon tried to set up for a final shot, but Rosa scrapped with several Junior Lions on a loose ball to force a jump ball, and give the Junior Bears possession with 10 seconds remaining.

East Brunswick then pulled out the win on McHenry’s last second three.