Outlook: This is an interesting matchup with two very deep teams going against each other. McCarrick is up tempo with Ahmid Williams running the point while senior guards, Charlie Gorman and Jeremy Cruz can stick the perimeter shot. Gorman has had some struggles recently, but as he showed with in both the win and loss to North Brunswick, he can hit the three when it is needed.

Marques Townes is a newcomer that is a top candidate for GMC Hoops Freshman of the year. He can score inside and outside. The question will be his energy level. Against North Brunswick on February 10th, he looked lethargic, particularly in the second half. East Brunswick counters with a top freshman in Amir Bell, who is not shy about making big plays for the Bears. He has stepped in rather well in the absence of Joe Ross, who hasn't played since the holidays due to a collapsed lung.

EB figures to have the edge on the inside with the size and strength of both sophomore Robert Ukawuba and juniors Mike Summerer and Abu Bestawros. McCarrick will have to keep Ukawuba not only off the boards, but also away from the line, where he has had a tendency to be nearly perfect. Ukawuba also thrives to play in these big games. He showed that in the very first meeting against St. Joe's by taking the ball right to the rack, and showing not fear of the likes of Quenton DeCosey. Not to be overlooked are EB's guards.

Dan Sclafani is a fine playmaker, who can bury the three while Anthony Guisti is a hard worker that can also knock down the outside shot. John Genco is another player that has given the Bears good minutes off the bench. He nailed to huge threes in the victory over St. Joe's back on December 23rd. Will Thomas, Jumanne McDaniel, John Appiah, and Mohammed Alli are also not to be overlooked down low. Both Appiah and Alli, football standouts in the fall for the Eagles, are solid although they lack height. Appiah is not afraid to bang around dow low. Thomas is capable of putting up double-double numbers like in the win over North Brunswick on January 31st.

East Brunswick has the hotter hand of these two teams though. The Bears come into this matchup with seven straight victories since losing to St. Joseph's on January 25th. McCarrick has gone 8-5 since getting off to a 9-1 start. McCarrick will need to play more defense while remaining up tempo. EB will need to slow things down, and be more methodical, but still strike for some easy baskets.

GMC Hoops Pick: East Brunswick.

Outlook: This is the first of three rematches in the GMCT Elite Eight this year. All three games have teams that have won the previous two games including St. Joe's here. However, the Panthers have tested the Falcons both times with a 66-56 loss at Amboy back on January 6th, and a more recent 57-49 OT loss at the Bird Cage.

Amboy is fielding perhaps its best team since 2003 and 2004 when Jermaine Clark (now playing in Europe) roamed the school. The Panthers have a lot of depth, a good blend of youth and experience, and have had moments where they've played very well like on January 4th against Piscataway. However, after a 6-1 start, Perth Amboy has gone 7-9 so they have limped into the tourney.

A good things done going into the tournament was getting rest. Prior to playing Piscataway Tech on Thursday, the Panthers had not played a game since defeating Old Bridge on February 8th. The rest must have paid off since they soundly defeated P-Way Tech (67-40). The Falcons are looking to get another solid performance from Quenton DeCosey. A big game from Danny Brix like the one against East Brunswick will help also. Having both those players scoring at the same time will make life easier for the Falcons.

If you're Amboy, you're going to want to stop or contain one of the two, and take your chances letting someone else beat you. St. Joe's can also get scoring from Jimbo Long, Kevin Mayce, and Brandon Dolan, who was 4 of 4 from three against Pennington Prep in the Prime Time Shootout. Yoelbin Sanchez will need to play a solid game down low for the Panthers while others will need to contribute. A solid team effort all around like against P-Way on January 4th would be a big help. Hamilton Capellan and Kearny Canela need to make big shots from the perimeter while Victor Verdecia will need to do it all for the Panthers.

Jonathan Rodriguez has done a solid job at point for the Panthers. He is a solid playmaker that can also hit big shots as South Brunswick can attest to. Rodriguez is also athletic, and make big plays on the defensive end as well. Speaking of big defensive plays. Watch Brix, who drew several charges against EB back on January 25th. Nick Straughn hasn't put up big scoring numbers, but he always seems to make a nice pass, set a good screen, or make an athletic play for the Falcons. James Ziemba gives the Falcons more size and depth.

Going to go with the Falcons here, but Amboy will give a good fight.

GMC Hoops Pick: St. Joseph's

Outlook: Bishop Ahr won the two previous meetings in Blue Division play between these two schools, but Kennedy made a better representaton of themselves in the last meeting on February 7th. In that game, the Trojans led 40-31 with 1:55 to go in the third quarter before Kennedy rallied back with a 20-13 surge over the next 7:50 to pull within a bucket at 53-51 with just over two minutes to go. The Mustangs also had several opportunities down the stretch, but couldn't convert in the 54-51 loss.

A couple pluses for Kennedy coming into this game. One is that Josh Kamenas is healthy, and back in the lineup. Two, the Mustangs are riding a tremendous wave of confidence after stunning fourth seeded North Brunswick in the Round of 16 on Thursday night. Head coach, Chris Banos did a tremendous job of settling the kids down, and getting them to play their game in the win over the Raiders. Banos also did a fine job keeping the team focused while it struggled through a stretch of playing only three games in 25 days.

A lot is said about the scoring and athletic ability of senior guard, Daishon Robinson. He is definitely a player that can put up big numbers such as the 34 points against Highland Park on February 9th. However, he only scored 9 in the recent loss at Ahr. Is he ready to do it on the big stage? Another key will be the play of point guard Jordan Toczynski. In the three games GMC Hoops has seen JFK play in (all on the road), Toczynski has done a fine job running the offense, and getting the ball to the Robinsons and Pichalski's of the world. He also has a knack for knocking down the perimeter shot from time to time like the two threes he hit against Ahr in the fourth quarter two weeks ago.

A.J. Pichalski has become a solid candidate for GMC Hoops Most Improved Player of the Year. He has always been an active an energetic player down low. However, this year, he has learned to finish, and has a better shooting touch. Shabas Clarke and Vik Pawar picked up the slack in Kamenas' absence down low while Steve Alvarez has begun to show some confidence in shooting the basketball and scoring. Will it be enough to be Ahr this time though? The Trojans have knocked on the door of the GMCT Final Four for the past five years. After last year's disappointment in the Round of 16, there should be more incentive this time to break through.

The addition of Dillon Salva, a transfer from North Brunswick, gives Ahr more depth down low, which allows the likes of Rashad Adams and Pat Widdos to be rested more often. So they have fresher legs late in the game. Roger Kilgore and Kenny Virden are athletic juniors with the younger Kilgore really coming into his own this season offensively. He came up with big scoring nights at Cardinal McCarrick and in the last regular season meeting against Carteret. Ryan Blakely runs the point, and can hit the perimeter shot for BGA. Scoring punch from him in these next few rounds can prove to be a big key.

Reserves Kevin Douyan and Chris Abood also have made good contributions for the Trojans, which have beaten McCarrick and Colonia in crossover games while losing recently at EB by nine. JFK will need to prevent Ahr from getting off to a hot shooting start while BGA will need to avoid getting stagnant like it did at times in the fourth in the last meeting.

We tentatively give the Trojans the edge here. Kennedy has a lot of momentum and confidence. Plus they've played BGA twice including that recent close loss to learn from.

GMC Hoops Pick: Bishop Ahr