Highland Park’s Evangelos Kambitsis (18 points) and New Brunswick’s Michai Coffee (15 points) were GMC Hoops selections for Players of the Game in the contest between the Owls and Zebras on December 17th.
HIGHLAND PARK, NJ – On Wednesday evening, GMC Hoops traveled down to Highland Park to take in the Greater Middlesex Conference Blue American Division contest between the Owls and New Brunswick. It was the first time these two old neighborhood rivals played each other in a regular-season game since 2004.
Behind the hot shooting of Evangelos Kambitsis and Cooper Ballentine, Highland Park took a 20-2 lead early in the second, but New Brunswick rallied to within a possession midway through the third behind the efforts of Michai Coffee and Jose Encarnecion. The Owls didn’t let the Zebras get any closer as they finished the game on a 20-11 run for the 53-41 win. Take a look at the selections for Players of the Game from both teams.
Highland Park: Evangelos Kambitsis
The senior guard led the Owls to a 53-41 victory over New Brunswick with a game-high 18 points on five total field goals, including four threes, while also netting 4 of 6 from the line. Kambitsis also collected 4 assists, 2 rebounds, and 2 steals. Kambitsis combined with senior backcourt-mate, Cooper Ballentine, for four first-quarter threes to help give Highland Park a 20-2 lead early in the second period. Through his first three games, Kambitsis is averaging 14.7 points, 2.7 assists, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 steals per contest.
New Brunswick: Michai Coffee
The 5’11 senior guard/forward helped give the Zebras a fighting chance against Highland Park. Combining with junior forward Jose Encarnecion to score 29 of New Brunswick’s 43 points in the contest, Coffee nearly brought the Zebras all the way back. Trailing by 18 at the 7:30 mark of the second, New Brunswick rallied to pull within three at 33-30 midway through the third quarter before Highland Park pulled away. Coffee scored his 15 on six two-point field goals and 3 of 4 from the line, while grabbing six rebounds and swiping 4 steals. Through the first three games, Coffee is averaging 10.3 points, 3.3 rebounds, 1.7 steals, and 1.3 assists.