Raritan Bay Summer League–July 28, 2008

SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–On Monday night, GMC Hoops headed over to the Raritan Bay Summer League at the South Amboy Middle/High School after work to catch the nightcap game of the quadrupleheader in that league between Matawan and Sayreville. It also did manage to catch the very end of the third contest of the evening between South Amboy and the Scarlet Nets from the 5th and 6th Grade Division. As always, the web site was treated to the fine hospitality provided by both Gary Lange and Tom Reilly. We’re always treated to refreshments including the world class Lange Dogs, which can hold their own against the likes of Sabretts, Nathans, and those you may find at a Yankee or Met game.

South Amboy Edges Scarlet Nets In 5th And 6th Grade Action, 26-21

This game was a close one throughout with the Guvs taking a 13-8 lead at halftime, and both teams coming to a 13-13 draw in the second half for the 26-21 final score. For the game, South Amboy connected on 12 field goals as well as made 2 of 9 free throws for its 26 points. Meanwhile, the Scarlet Nets clicked on 8 field goals, and fared better at the line with a 5 of 12 showing for its 21 points. GMC Hoops arrived with 1:07 left in the game, and South Amboy clinging to just a three point lead at 24-21. The Guvs then closed out the scoring with a follow at the 13.8 second mark for the five point victory.

Team 1 2 Total
South Amboy 13 13 26
Scarlet Nets 8 13 21

Matawan Cruises Past Sayreville In 7th And 8th Grade Action, 52-33

This was the featured game of the evening. Both of these teams compete in the 7th and 8th Grade Division. Matawan, which features St. Anthony’s bound, Cory Soanes, has played well in games seen by the web site. Some of the players on the team including Soanes also do double duty by playing for the Monmouth Breakers. Sayreville on the other hand has enjoyed a bit of success this summer as well with an upset come from behind victory over Roselle back on May 29th. In this game, Matawan jumped out to a 25-14 first half lead, and was never really threatened after that with a 27-19 showing in the second half for a 52-33 victory. Sayreville got things going early with a pair of free throws at the 19:06 mark for a 2-0 lead, but Matawan would tie things up again with a field goal at the 18:13 mark.

Sayreville would take the lead for the last time in this one though with a field goal at the 18:08 mark. Soanes then started to percolate as Walt “Clyde” Frazier often says as a color analyst for the Knicks with a scoop shot for a layup, and a 4-4 tie with 17:49 to go in the first half. The Huskies then took the lead for good when Soanes got hold of a loose ball, led the break, and dished out an assist for a layup, and a 6-4 score at the 17:25 mark. Twenty five seconds later, Soanes spearheaded another break for a layup, and an 8-4 lead with 17 minutes to go. A minute later, Matawan was on the board again thanks to a hook shot in the key for a 10-4 lead with 16 minutes left in the half. Soanes then added two free throws at the 14:45 mark for a 12-4 lead, and then had a nice no look pass to his left for a layup that ended a 4-0 run by Sayreville, and made the score, 14-8 with 13:49 remaining before halftime.

After the Huskies called a 30 second timeout with 12:59 left in the half, both teams exchanged scores for a 16-10 Matawan lead, and then proceeded to miss on a couple of easy layup opportunities. Sayreville then missed two free throws at the 7:39 mark, and Matawan broke the scoring malaise with a basket at the seven minute mark for a 18-10 lead. The scoring drought would resume as neither team scored over the next four minutes including a fruitless appearance at the line for the Huskies with three minutes to go before the brief break. The offenses finally started to take the lid of their baskets as Sayreville got on the board with a kickout to the left side for a jumper for an 18-12 Matawan lead with 1:52 to go in the half. The Huskies then scored seven unanswered points including a three pointer at the 1:35 mark, a feed inside for a layup at the 1:08 mark, and then a score with 40 seconds left in the half for a 25-12 lead.

Sayreville would get a score before halftime, and Matawan went into the intermission with a 25-14 lead. At the half, Matawan connected on 11 field goals, and a three pointer while Sayreville made 6 field goals and two free throws in the opening half. In the second half, Sayreville began things just as it had for the game, with a bucket. The score was a bank shot at the 19:48 mark for a 25-16 Matawan lead. However, the Huskies went back into game face mode with seven straight points including a three pointer from the left of the top of the key for a 28-16 lead at the 19:07 mark, a layup at the 18:45 mark, and an offensive rebound and putback with 15:51 left in the contest for a 32-16 lead. Over the next 3:47, Sayreville would score 8 of the next 11 points before Soanes came up with an offensive rebound and putback for a 37-24 lead at the 12:04 mark.

Matawan would follow that up with another score at the 11:39 mark for a 39-24 lead as Sayreville called timeout. Following the stoppage, the Huskies scored four of the next six points over the next four minutes for a 43-27 lead at the 7:39 mark, and eventually won the game, 52-33.

Team 1 2 Total
Matawan 25 27 52
Sayreville 14 19 33