Championship Matchup

On Friday, February 24, 2012, the Championship Game of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament will take place between the top seeded St. Joseph's Falcons and the second seeded North Brunswick. This is the first time that St. Joseph's and North Brunswick are facing each other for the GMCT title since the Raiders defeated the Falcons in the 1997 Championship. St. Joe's will return to win two straight championships in 1998 and 1999. The Falcons, winners of five tourney titles all time, are looking to become the first team since the St. Peter's Cardinals teams of 1983, 1984, and 1985 to repeat as MCT/GMCT Champion three straight years.

St. Joseph's have already equaled the mark for most consecutive MCT/GMCT finals appearances with five. Perth Amboy teams from 1972 to 1976 also set that mark. Meanwhile, North Brunswick is making its first finals appearance since winning it all in 1997. The Raiders come into the game with 18 straight wins while St. Joseph's enter the matchup with 23 straight victories. Both teams last lost during the first full week of the boys basketball season. Both Dave Turco and Ed Breheney won their 300th games of the season while each squad has at least one 1,000 point scorer. St. Joe's is led by the dynamic duo of Quenton DeCosey (1,475 points) and Danny Brix (1,121 points) while North Brunswick's attack is spearheaded by Dion Rogers with 1,411 points.

The Raiders have a solid group behind Rogers with the likes of All GMC White selection Chance Gadsden as well as junior guard, Iverson Fleming. Shaliek Short is another senior that has been a solid contributor for NBTHS the past several seasons. North Brunswick also has the likes of Dennis Ford, Jr., Khai Blackwell, Keon Rankins, and Jordan Gonzalez coming off the bench. Meanwhile, St. Joe's is not that deep on its bench, but still has three formidable starters in its supporting cast with 6'10" freshman, Karl Towns, who is averaging a double-double every game while also blocking his share of shots. Karim Awad and Jimbo Long are often overlooked, but both have the ability to score as well as rebound, hustle, handle the ball well, and defend. Jalen Gilmore is a key player off the Falcon bench.

2012 GMCT Championship

#2 North Brunswick (20-2) vs. #1 St. Joseph's (24-1)

Where: Rutgers Athletic Center
When: Friday at 8:00 PM

Outlook: Both teams have proven that they can win games either way. Whether it is up-temp, or a halfcourt matchup. St. Joseph's is probably better in the halfcourt than North Brunswick while the Raiders excel more in transition. East Brunswick was able to put together a key 12-0 run in the second half of its semifinal game against North Brunswick by playing a zone defense that stagnated the high octane offense fueled by Rogers and Fleming.

The key to this game will be how well North Brunswick's offense can handle St. Joseph's defense in the halfcourt. It is not likely that the Falcons will go zone. Dave Turco's teams have been known for its suffocating man-to-man defense going back to the days when he was coaching at Carteret. North Brunswick will need to get as many transition opportunities as possible, and make many of them.

Like McCarrick did on Wednesday night, the Raiders will need to attack the basket, and get either Karl Towns, or Quenton DeCosey or better yet both of them into foul trouble. More importantly though, North Brunswick will need to take advantage of the time that either Towns or DeCosey is off the floor. Cardinal McCarrick didn't really do that against St. Joe's when Towns went to the bench, especially in the fourth quarter.

Chance Gadsden will be an X-factor in this game. He along with Khai Blackwell, Dennis Ford, Jr., and Keon Rankins will have to play big on the interior against Towns and DeCosey. They will all need to clear the paint so that both Rogers and Fleming can get to the basket with impunity. For St. Joseph's, another big game from DeCosey and Brix will help immensely along with some timely threes from Long. Towns has the ability to hit the trey, but will need to stay disciplined and not get overanxious, especially at the game's outset.

The Falcons are a strong favorite to win, but there have been many big upsets on this big stage. J.F. Kennedy's win over Perth Amboy in 1990 comes to mind off the top of my head as well as South Brunswick's win over a talented Amboy squad in the 1993 semifinals.

GMC Hoops Pick: St. Joseph's.

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