NEW BRUNSWICK, NJ–The final day of the regular season took place at the 2008 Star-Ledger College Summer League over at the College Avenue Barn on the main campus of Rutgers University. As always, there was a doubleheader of action from this league with the opener at 6:30 PM and the nightcap at 8:15 PM. Once again, due to scheduling conflicts, GMC Hoops was unable to attend any of the action from this league. However, Jay Gomes from NJ Hoops was kind enough to provide information on the contests played.
In the first game, VP Builders won its second straight contest to enhance its position in the final standings, and the playoffs with a 102-95 victory over the Scarlet Fever. St. Augustine Prep’s own Anthony Farmer, who now stars at Rutgers, collected a team high 20 points for the winners while former St. Joseph’s standout, Sean Baptiste (FDU) tallied a game high 33 in a losing cause for the Fever. In the rebounding department, recent graduate, and 7-footer Ian Chiles (12 points, 11 rebounds, and 5 blocks) of Paterson Catholic pulled down a team high 11 rebounds while Jamil Goodwin of Bloomfield (26 points and 16 boards), and soon to be Notre Dame Prep, collected a game high 16. Rob Delaney dished out a game high 7 assists for the losers while Rashod Calloway (Tampa) passed out six for the winners. Other notable efforts from the game were by Jonathan Jones of Kean, who picked up 18 points and 6 rebounds, and Sayreville’s Kofi Genfi, who compiled a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds.
In the finale, Nelligan Sports Marketing kept pace with VP Builders thanks to a surprising 98-89 decision over Bignell Planning, which had once been the league leaders, and now limped into the playoffs with five losses in its final six games. Sharpshooting guard, Pedro Burgos (Mercer County College) led Nelligan with a game high 27 points while Jheryl Wilson (NJIT) had a team high 18 points for Bignell. Paul Nelson (12 points and 21 rebounds), who has collected a whopping 112 rebounds in his past 6 games for an average of 18.7 per game for Nelligan, pulled down another 21 on this night for a game high yet again. Rodland Pierre of Kean collected double digit boards with 10 for Bignell. Former St. Joseph’s player and Plainfield standout, Anthony Nelson (Niagara) handed out five assists while Colin Aldridge passed out three for Bignell. Other notable efforts were from Linden’s own Daryl Lampley (St. Peter’s) with 17 points and 4 rebounds, Eric Wilkins (Miami) with 14 points and 7 rebounds, and Charles Funchess with 11 points and 8 rebounds.
GMC Hoops plans to be back out at the Barn on Sunday night for the finale of the opening round Playoff Doubleheader.