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GMC Hoops Summaries--January 12, 2010
Week Four--White Division Showdown

Monroe Defeats McCarrick To Gain Breathing Room In GMC White, 64-61

By Greg Machos
January 12, 2010

MONROE, NJ--It was another close game in the GMC White although it didn't start out that way. Prior to the start of the season, this game was circled on the calendar by both teams since both were near the top of the rankings. In addition, each team made it to the GMCT Final Four with McCarrick falling to St. Joseph's and Monroe losing to eventual champion, Piscataway in the semifinals. Both teams have had some dogfights so far this season as the GMC White Division continues to be the toughest division to play in from top to bottom on a nightly basis. This contest was no exception with wide swings in momentum throughout.

On Tuesday night, the Monroe Falcons jumped out to a 23-5 first quarter lead against Cardinal McCarrick. However, the Eagles responded with a 24-4 second quarter to take a 29-27 advantage into the intermission. McCarrick maintained that lead until about midway through the period when the pendulum swung again as the Falcons finished the period with an 11-3 spurt for an 18-10 showing that gave them a 45-39 lead heading into the fourth. The Purple Birds opened the final frame with an 8-5 effort to take a 53-44 lead with 4:21 to go. The Eagles fought back with a 9-0 spurt to tie at 53-53, but Monroe got the final momentum shift with a decisive 9-3 run to take a 62-56 lead, and eventually went on to win, 64-61.

Each team won two quarters in the game, and neither had a lead bigger than nine points over the final 12:36 of the contest. For the game, Monroe made 18 field goals, five threes, and 13 foul shots while McCarrick connected on 16 field goals, eight threes, but only five free throws. The Purple Birds were 8 of 11 from the charity stripe in the fourth quarter while McCarrick was only 2 of 3. Timmy Brix led four Monroe players in double figures with 15 points while Zach Batchelor chipped in with 14 points, Kenny Pace added 13, and sophomore Danny Brix contributed with 12. Ahmid Williams scored six including the go ahead basket with 2:03 to go while football standout, Blake Bascom rounded out the Purple Birds scoring with four.

For McCarrick, Mo Isaac turned in another solid effort with a game high 16 points on seven field goals and two foul shots. Junior guard, Jeremy Cruz and senior guard Craig Thomas chipped in with 12 points each as Cruz made three field goals and two threes while Thomas made two field goals, two threes, and two foul shots. Charlie Gorman and Dana Raysor each added 8 points. Mike Lewis (3 points) and John Appiah (2 points) rounded out the Eagles scoring. Cardy Mac had seven players break into the scoring column while Monroe had 6. The Falcons did a solid job on Raysor, who has had some big games this season including a 30 point performance against Orange in the Joe Silver Holiday Tournament.

The Falcons appeared to be well on their way to a surprisingly easy victory after its strong first quarter. However, McCarrick is too good a team to keep down for too long. The Eagles, which have lost all three games this season by a combined total of 8 points including a one point loss at Sayreville on January 6th, fought back by outscoring Monroe by 20 in the second to take a two point lead. Cardy Mac maintained that two point edge for the first 3:24 of the period. However, the Falcons scored 11 of the next 14 points including a three pointer by Batchelor at the 3:21 mark, a three by Pace at the 2:42 mark, a jumper by Pace off a kickout by Danny Brix with 2:10 to go in the period, and a three by Timmy Brix to round out the score for a 45-39 lead heading into the fourth.

Despite Pace missing a one and one at the 5:10 mark, the Purple Birds increased their lead to 49-41 by scoring four of the first six points of the period before Charlie Gorman fired in a three pointer from the left wing at the 4:57 mark for a 49-44 Falcons lead. Timmy Brix then netted two foul shots at the 4:41 mark, and Pace added a layup to give the Purple Birds a nine point cushion with 4:21 to play. On the ropes, the Eagles battled back again with nine unanswered points. Isaac sparked the run with a three point play with 4:04 left. Cruz, who scored the first McCarrick points of the period with a layup, added another to make the score 53-49 before Isaac drew a charge on Pace at the 3:21 mark.

Following the turnover, Thomas fed Isaac for a two handed layup that made the score, 53-51. Thomas then forced another turnover by swiping a steal off Williams for a layup to tie the game at 53-53. However, moments later, Williams took the inbounds on the left side of the floor, and streaked upcourt for a layup that put Monroe up for good at 55-53 with 2:03 left as a timeout was called. The Falcons then got a stop on the defensive end, and on its next time down, Williams kicked out to Batchelor in the right corner for a three pointer that made the score 58-53 with less than a minute and a half remaining. McCarrick responded again with three straight points including a one of two showing at the line by Isaac with 1:10 left, and a jumper by Gorman off an inbounds by Thomas to make the score 58-56 with 1:03 remaining.

MTHS held on to the lead though as Danny Brix netted two foul shots with 50.3 seconds remaining, and Timmy Brix added two of his own with 35.5 left for a 62-56 lead. Not giving up though, McCarrick fought to pull within two as Lewis got his only points of the game on a three, and after Timmy Brix made one of two at the line with 23 seconds left, Raysor connected on an off-balanced jumper that went for two to make the score, 63-61 with 11 seconds to play. Fouling right away, the Eagles put Danny Brix back on the line, which resulted in one of two by the sophomore for a 64-61 lead. Cardy Mac still had a chance to tie, but Thomas' three attempt from the right side hit off iron as time ran out.

With the victory, Monroe has now won four straight since losing to New Brunswick on January 2nd. The Falcons are now 8-2 overall including a 5-1 mark in the GMC White for sole possession of first place by a game and a half. Meanwhile, Cardinal McCarrick had a two game winning streak snapped, and fell to 7-3 overall and 3-3 in divisional play. The Purple Birds are now 6-1 in conference play while the Eagles are 4-3. Read the notes and view video highlights on this game as well as analysis of all of Tuesday's games in the GMC Hoops Blogosphere.

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