Falcons Reach Quarterfinals for the 2nd Time in 4 Years with 20th Win of Season
MONROE, NJ—The last time the Monroe Falcons won 20 games in a season was in 2009-10. It was also the same year that the Falcons reached the Greater Middlesex Conference Boys Basketball Tournament Championship Game. The 2021-22 season may be the year that they do both again. On Thursday night, Monroe defeated Old Bridge in the 2022 GMCT First Round, 64-54 to not only advance to the GMCT Elite Eight, but also notch its 20th victory this season.
Trailing 13th seeded Old Bridge, 7-6 after the first quarter on senior night, the fourth seeded Falcons exploded for 33 points in the second quarter including the last 12 points of the first half to take a seemingly commanding 39-17 lead heading into the intermission. The Purple Birds then increased that advantage to 26 at 51-25 with 12 seconds remaining in the third before the Knights battled back to make things interesting.
Over the ensuing 7:12, Old Bridge put together a 29-10 surge to pull within 7 points twice in the final two minutes of play. In the end though, it was too little, too late as Monroe closed out the game with three free throws for the double digit victory. Leading the way in the victory was senior Elijah Okocha, who scored a career high 30 points. Prior to this season, Eli Okocha only had 78 career points.
Elijah Okocha compiled his 30 point game on 7 two point field goals, 3 treys, and 7 more from the foul line. Okocha scored the last six points of the first half for Monroe with a conventional three point play followed by a buzzer beating three pointer from well beyond the top of the key to give the Falcons its 22 point lead at the break.
Jonathan Okocha chipped in with 13 points while Josh Okocha added 10 as the Okocha triplets accounted for 53 of Monroe’s 64 points, or 83 percent of the team’s scoring. Rounding out the Falcons’ scoring was Vansh Parikh with 5 points including a second quarter three for a 30-17 lead, Ryan Zurawiecki (4 points), and Myles Marabuto (2 points).
Freshman Krish Patel led Old Bridge in a losing cause with a team high 16 points including four three pointers. Junior Ryan Witte chipped in with 10 points. Classmate Adam Scire added 8 points while senior Jayden St. Rose contributed with 7. Rounding out the scoring for the Knights were Anthony Rahner (5 points), Brandon Medel (4 points), Noah Balbuena (2 points), and Arnesh Bhadauriya (2 points).
Both teams scored 24 points from within the arc while the Knights had a 24-21 edge in points scored from beyond the arc as the two GMC Red teams combined for 15 threes on the night. The big difference in the end was at the line as Monroe outscored Old Bridge from the charity stripe by a margin of 19-7 as both Eli and Josh Okocha each made seven free throws.
Each team outscored the other in two of the four quarters. Monroe outscored Old Bridge in the second and third by a combined margin of 45-21, but the Knights surged in the fourth to the tune of a 26-13 showing to make the game interesting again down the stretch. The Falcons had put together a 21-10 surge over the first 5 minutes or so of the second for a 27-17 lead.
Parikh then took a pass from Zurawiecki on the right side of the floor, and fired in a three for a 30-17. Jon Okocha then added a free throw to give the Falcons a 31-17 lead with 2:18 left in the first half. After another Monroe score, Eli Okocha then drew a foul on a layup for a traditional three point play and a 36-17 Falcon lead, and sank a three from the top of the arc as time ran out in the second for a 39-17 advantage at the break.
Old Bridge scored the first four points of the third period including a layup by St. Rose to narrow the deficit to 39-21 before Monroe embarked on a 12-4 spurt including a three pointer by Jon Okocha with a minute to go in the frame to take a 51-25 lead in the closing seconds. Scire knocked home a triple as time ran out to not only make the score 51-28 in favor of Monroe entering the fourth, but also get the Knights going again.
Monroe appeared to have become too comfortable with its large lead, and let up a bit. Old Bridge took advantage as it utilized its trademark perimeter shooting to climb back into the contest. Over the first 3:21 of the final stanza, the Knights scored 9 of the first 13 points including a Patel high arching three from the right wing at the 4:39 mark to close the gap to 55-37.
The Knights then scored 12 of the next 16 points including two scores from Medel to pull within ten at 59-49 with 1:08 to play. Old Bridge then added a three from the right wing to suddenly close within single digits at 59-52. The visitors had another opportunity to score, but turned the ball over. Monroe got possession drew a foul, and made both ends of the bonus for a 61-52 lead.
Patel then came back down the floor, drove right down the middle of the key, and flipped in a layup to bring the Knights within seven again at 61-54. Unfortunately, Old Bridge was unable to get any closer as Monroe finished the game by scoring three more from the line to wrap up the ten point, 64-54 victory. With the win, Monroe advanced to its 2nd GMCT Boys Elite Eight in the past four seasons.
The victory also improved Monroe’s overall record to 20-3 on the season including a 16-3 mark in conference play. The 2009-10 Falcons squad finished their season at 23-5. The best season Monroe ever had was with the A.J. Rudowitz led team of 2005-06, which reached the 2006 GMCT Final Four before losing to top seeded Metuchen and Marqus Blakely in overtime, and lost to Hamilton West (58-49) in the 2006 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 3 Championship to finish at 24-5.
Old Bridge fell to 8-13 overall on the season and 7-12 in the GMC with the loss. The Falcons and Knights are slated to play each other for a fourth time in the 2022 NJSIAA Central Jersey Group 4 State Tournament. Monroe, the 2nd seed in that tourney, is scheduled to host 15th seeded Old Bridge on Monday, February 28th at MTHS.