LINDEN, NJ–On Wednesday afternoon, GMC Hoops traveled over to Linden High School to catch the two semifinal games from the playoffs in the 2010 Linden Summer League. Both games involved teams from the Greater Middlesex Conference as St. Joseph’s took on the host school, Linden in the 4:30 PM game while St. Patrick’s faced East Brunswick in the 5:30 PM game. It was the second time that GMC Hoops saw St. Joseph’s and the first time that the site saw East Brunswick in action this summer at Linden.
St. Joseph’s Overcomes Tough Start To Knock Off Linden To Reach Final, 61-58
In the first semifinal of the day, the host school, Linden took on St. Joseph’s. The Falcons had a tough start as they fell behind 18-7 in the first quarter. The Tigers scored 12 points off of nine St. Joe’s turnovers, and made 9 of 20 shots en route to the early lead. However, the Metuchen school chipped away at the lead over the next two periods with identical 15-9 showings to take a 37-36 lead heading into the fourth, and then in the final period, it outscored Linden by a 24-22 margin to hang on for the 61-58 victory. St. Joseph’s outscored LHS by a margin of 54-40 over the final three periods for the victory.
Jimbo Long led the way for the winners with a team high 17 points on 4 of 8 shooting from the floor including two of four from three point range while making 7 of 8 from the line. Long also collected 6 rebounds, 4 assists, a steal, and a blocked shot. Quenton DeCosey, who arrived just as the game was starting, also made 4 of 8 shots from the floor including 4 of 6 from three point range to chip in with 13 points, 6 rebounds, 2 assists, and a blocked shot. Kevin Mayce also contributed with 8 points on 4 of 6 shooting while pulling down 8 rebounds, handing out 2 assists, and picking up a steal. Albert Myers III (2 points, 4 rebounds, 2 steals, and an assist) and Jordan Tapia (3 points, 3 rebounds, and an assist) helped round out the scoring for the Falcons. Matthew Greene (2 assists) also played, but didn’t score.
The Falcons, which only had seven turnovers over the final 30 minutes of the game, made 21 of 44 shots from the field for 48 percent including a scorching 11 of 22 from beyond the arc while making 8 of 14 from the line. Meanwhile, the Tigers made 23 of 64 shots for 37 percent including 4 of 20 from beyond the arc. Linden was only 14 of 44 from the floor over the final three periods of the contest. LHS was also 8 of 12 from the foul line. In other statistical departments, Linden won the turnover battle (10-16), and had more points off of turnovers (17-9). On the glass, St. Joseph’s had a slight overall edge in rebounding (32-31), but Linden had more offensive rebounds (13-9) and second chance points (17-8).
The Falcons had more assists (16-10), but the Tigers had more steals (11-6) and blocks (3-2). St. Joe’s outscored Linden in three of the four periods played. LHS jumped out to an early lead with a 4-2 run over the first 3:15 including a basket and a foul at the 6:45 mark. The Green Birds took the lead back at 5-4 with a three pointer from the left side at the six minute mark. Linden went back out in front at 6-5 at the 5:35 mark with a jumper by 6’8″, 285 pound forward, Quadri Moore, who is already heralded as one of the top underclassmen in the state. Linden then made it a 4-0 run with a steal for a layup, and an 8-5 lead. Following a St. Joe’s score, the Tigers finished the period with a 10-0 run including three straight steals for layups in a span of just 1:03 for an 18-7 lead heading into the second period.
The second quarter saw St. Joseph’s make some headway in the second period even though it only shot 5 of 13 from the floor in the period. The Falcons made up for that with a 4 of 7 effort from beyond the arc in the frame while limiting Linden to just 3 of 10 shooting. St. Joe’s also took care of the basketball better with only three miscues in the quarter. Long got the Falcons going with a three pointer from the right wing off an assist by Greene at the 8:13 mark for an 18-10 LHS lead. DeCosey then followed with a three of his own on a shot from the left wing off another assist by Green to close the gap to 18-13 with 7:30 remaining in the first half. Long made it an 8-0 run with a layup off a pass from Mayce at the 6:21 mark for a 18-15 Tiger lead. Linden didn’t get its first points of the second quarter until the 3:33 mark when it connected for a three pointer from the left wing at the 3:33 mark to make the score 21-15.
Tapia replied with his only points of the game on a trey from the right wing off a pass from DeCosey to pull the Falcons within three again at 21-18 with 3:15 to go in the half. Linden made one of two from the line for a four point lead before DeCosey hit a three from the right wing to trim the deficit to one at 22-21 with 1:18 to go before halftime. Linden got an offensive rebound and follow at the 48 second mark before Long made one of two at the line for a 24-22 Tiger lead at the 48 second mark. Moore then connected on a three pointer from the left side as time was running out in the first half for a 27-22 lead going into the break. LHS only had three points off of St. Joe’s turnovers in the quarter, but had 15 for the half. The Falcons made it close though with a 15-6 edge in points off of threes.
The third quarter started out much like the second period did as Long connected for a three to open the scoring and pull the Green Birds within two at 27-25 with 9:45 remaining in the period. St. Joe’s closed within one on an offensive rebound and follow by Mayce, and then two foul shots by Long that made the score, 32-31 at the 5:45 mark. The Falcons then took the lead as they scored six of the next eight points including a three pointer from the left side off an assist by Long at the 2:01 mark that made the score 37-34. Moore came up with an tip-in on the follow at the 1:15 mark for a 37-36 St. Joseph’s lead after three periods. The Tigers opened the fourth with an offensive rebound and follow while being fouled, and then on the missed bonus free throw, got the board and put in the follow for a 40-37 lead with nine minutes to go.
The Falcons hung tough though as Mayce got an offensive rebound off a missed three and put in the follow for a 40-39 score at the 8:44 mark. Linden appeared to take control with a nice run for a 49-41 lead, but DeCosey made two threes to pull his team within two again at 49-47 with 5:59 left. The Falcon reserves made key contributions as well including a three pointer from the left side at the 3:50 mark for a 50-49 lead. Linden promptly responded with a trey of its own at the 3:42 mark for a 52-50 edge. Undaunted, the Falcons came back down on its next possession, and got another three to fall for a 53-52 lead with 3:15 to play. The Green Birds got the next score on a drive for a layup, and a 55-52 lead with 1:59 left. St. Joe’s then put Linden on the ropes with another drive for a layup at the 50 second mark for a 57-52 lead.
The Tigers wouldn’t give up easily though. They swiped a steal for a layup with 39 seconds to go for a 57-54 St. Joe’s lead. Long made two key foul shots at the 25 second mark for a 59-54 edge, but Linden wouldn’t go away. LHS got an offensive rebound and follow to pull within three again before calling for time at the 17 second mark. Fouling right away out of the timeout, the Tigers forced DeCosey to the line, and he missed both free throws. Linden got the ball, and drew a foul that produced two free throws, and a 59-58 lead with 13 seconds left. However, St. Joseph’s wouldn’t let the Tigers get any closer as Long made two more foul shots with 10 seconds left, and Myers got a steal in the waning moments to seal the victory. With the win, St. Joe’s advanced to the Championship Game on Thursday afternoon against St. Patrick’s, which defeated East Brunswick in the other semi.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Joseph’s | 7 | 15 | 15 | 24 | 61 |
| Linden | 18 | 9 | 9 | 22 | 58 |
Fourth Quarter Effort Helps St. Pat’s Advance Past EB, 53-42
In the second semifinal, another GMC team was going up against another state powerhouse. This time, it was the Bears of East Brunswick taking on St. Patrick’s for the right to play St. Joseph’s, a winner over Linden in the other semifinal. EB got off to a decent start with an 11-10 lead after one, and then put together a 20-16 showing in the third period to trail by only three at 39-36. However, in the fourth quarter, the Bears were outscored 14-6, and lost by a score of 53-42. The Celtics won the second and final periods by a combined margin of 27-11, and that was the difference in the game. St. Pat’s also forced 18 East Brunswick turnovers, and scored 13 points off of those miscues.
For the game, the Celtics shot 16 of 37 from the floor overall for 43 percent including 4 of 14 from long distance while making 17 of 30 from the foul line for 57 percent. Meanwhile, East Brunswick made 15 of 32 from the field for 48 percent including one of three from beyond the arc while making 11 of 18 from the line for 61 percent. St. Patrick’s won the turnover battle (11-18) and had more points of turnovers (13-6). The Elizabeth school had a 27-15 edge on the boards overall including an 11-3 advantage on the offensive glass. The Celtics also had more second chance points (6-2) and blocks (3-1). St. Pat’s had more steals (11-5), but EB had more charges (1-0). Both teams had ten assists.
Soon to be junior Mike Summerer led the way in a losing cause for EB as he made 4 of 10 shots from the floor, and 2 of 2 from the line for 10 points along with 3 rebounds. Rob Ukawuba chipped in with 7 points on 2 of 5 shots, and 3 of 6 from the foul line while also picking up 5 rebounds and 3 assists. Abu Bestawros contributed with 4 points, 2 rebounds, and an assist while Dan Sclafani added 3 points, 5 assists, 2 steals, and 2 rebounds. Bobby Fullem also helped round out the scoring for EB with 4 points and 3 rebounds. Amir Bell and other reserves pitched in by going 5 of 8 from the floor, and 4 of 6 from the foul line for 13 points along with two assists, two steals, and a charge. East Brunswick had seven players compete in the contest.
East Brunswick, which made 4 of 6 shots in the first period, got off to a fast start in this game by scoring the first nine points in a span of 3:50. Soon to be sophomore Ukawuba opened the scoring with two free throws at the 8:30 mark for a 2-0 lead. Sclafani netted a three pointer with 7:15 to go in the period after another EB score for a 7-0 lead. The Bears then capped the run when Sclafani dished to Ukawuba for a basket, and a 9-0 lead before St. Patrick’s got on the board by making one of two from the line at the 6:10 mark. From that point on, East Brunswick only got two points in the quarter while the Celtics rallied with a 10-2 quarter ending spurt. St. Pat’s, which made 3 of 7 from the floor, connected on two threes during the run with one coming at about the two minute mark, and the other coming with 38 seconds to go in the period on a jumper from the right side to make the score 11-10 heading into the second. The only points the Bears got during the stretch was on a bucket by Summerer off an assist by Sclafani at the 54 second mark.
The Celtics opened the second quarter with a nifty spin move for a layup to take their first lead of the game at 12-11 with 9:02 left in the first half. Fullem tied the game by making one of two from the line at the 8:13 mark. Bestawros then gave the Bears a 14-12 lead with a field goal as he was fouled at the 6:11 mark. St. Pat’s went back in front with a three pointer that made the score 15-14, but Ukawuba tied the game at 15-15 by making one of two from the line at the four minute mark. Following a timeout at the 2:51 mark, East Brunswick went back out in front at 16-15 as Bell made one of two from the line with 2:16, but St. Patrick’s then closed the half with an 8-0 run to take a 23-16 lead at halftime. The Bears were only one of six from the floor in the second while St. Pat’s went 3 of 10 from the field, but made 6 of 10 from the line. The Elizabeth school, only went 6 of 17 from the floor in the first half, but made 3 of 7 shots from beyond the arc.
The third quarter started with EB making a bit of inroads on the St. Patrick’s lead. The Bears scored five of the first nine points, and trailed 27-21 with a chance to get closer, but Ukawuba missed two free throws at the 6:16 mark. St. Pat’s got a score to go back up by eight, but East Brunswick came right back down for a basket as Sclafani dished a bounce pass to Summerer for a layup, and a 29-23 lead with 5:21 remaining in the quarter. Summerer then added a jumper that got the benefit of a kind bounce to pull EB within four at 29-25 with 4:35 left in the third. The Celtics came down a short time later for a three pointer to go up by seven before Fullem went to the line, and made one of two from the charity stripe for a 32-26 St. Pat’s lead with 3:36 to play in the period. The free throw sparked a 9-2 run capped by a steal for a layup by Bell as he was fouled for a three point play that tied the score at 34-34 with 1:15 left in the third.
The Celtics scored the next five points including a three point play at the 33 second mark, and two free throws with eight seconds left in the third for a 39-34 lead before Bestawros found Summerer for a basket as time ran out in the period for a 39-36 St. Pat’s lead heading into the fourth. The Elizabeth school opened the fourth with a 4-0 run that included a lob pass for a layup, and an offensive rebound and follow off a missed three pointer for a 43-36 lead with 8:41 left as EB called for time. Following the timeout, East Brunswick crept within five on an offensive rebound and follow by Ukawuba that made the score 43-38 with 6:46 to go in the game. After a St. Pat’s timeout, the Celtics went back up by seven on a drive for a layup, but Summerer got the Bears back within five on two free throws for a 45-40 Celts lead at the 5:09 mark. St. Patrick’s wouldn’t let the Bears get any closer though with an 8-2 finish to seal the win.
The Celtics started the run with one of two from the line at the 4:12 mark. Two minutes later, St. Pat’s was back at the line again, but missed both free throws. However, the Celts got the offensive rebound, and that led eventually to a dunk for a 48-40 advantage with 2:12 to go. East Brunswick got its final points of the game on a layup off a Sclafani pass before calling timeout with 1:37 left for a 48-42 St. Patrick’s lead. The Celtics then closed the game with the final five points including two free throws at the 1:21 mark for a 53-42 win. With the victory, St. Patrick’s advanced to play St. Joe’s in the final on Thursday.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| St. Patrick’s | 10 | 13 | 16 | 14 | 53 |
| East Brunswick | 11 | 5 | 20 | 6 | 42 |
GMC Hoops plans to be back out at Linden on Thursday for the Championship.