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GMC Hoops Summaries--December 20, 2011
Week One--Red Division Clash

McDaniel Fires Colonia Past Amboy, 50-35

By Greg Machos
December 20, 2011

PERTH AMBOY, NJ--With a talented trio of guards graduating after last season, Colonia, which finished its first year in the GMC Red on a solid note, looked to Jordan McDaniel to pick up the slack in the 2011-12 season. Through the first two games, the senior forward hasn't disappointed. Filling the void left behind by C.J. Gray, Dave Cole, and Matt Wagner has not been difficult for McDaniel, who opened the season with a game high 28 points in a 62-51 loss at home to St. Joseph's.

McDaniel followed that up with another solid performance tonight as he registered another game high of 22 points to pace the Patriots to a 50-35 victory over Perth Amboy. Through two games, the senior is averaging 25 points per game. McDaniel scored the first eight points of the game as Colonia jumped out to a 12-5 first quarter lead. The Pats then extended that led to 24-13 at the half thanks to a 12-8 showing in the second. CHS limited Amboy to single digit scoring in each of the first three periods.

Despite the Panthers holding McDaniel to just two points for nearly two and a half quarters, Colonia was able to take a 31-17 lead late into the third period thanks to a 7-4 run to open the second half. McDaniel then took over again. After allowing the Panthers to pull within 31-20 on a conventional three point play by David Rogers at the 2:04 mark, McDaniel started outside and then went inside to score 12 straight points for the Patriots over a span of 3:17 from the end of the third to the beginning of the fourth as CHS took a commanding 43-23 lead with under six minutes to go.

Freshman guard, James Corbett chipped in with 10 points for the winners while Rogers (also had a nice block in the second half), Angel Torres, and freshman guard, Marquise Irizarry each had 7 points in a losing cause for Perth Amboy. McDaniel started his second half scoring binge when he connected on a three pointer from the right corner at the 1:02 mark of the third for a 34-20 lead. The score remained that way until ten seconds into the fourth when McDaniel posted up inside for a conventional three point play, and a 37-20 advantage. After stopping Amboy again, Colonia again went to McDaniel down low on the right side for a layup and a 39-20 edge with just under seven and a half minutes to play.

The Panthers ended a scoring drought of nearly three minutes when they connected on a three pointe from the right corner to narrow the deficit to 39-23, but McDaniel helped Colonia increase the lead to 20 points with baskets at the 6:53 and 5:45 marks respectively. The Panthers finished the game with a 12-7 run including one of two from the line by Rogers as well as a three pointer and bank shot by Irizarry. Through its first two games, Colonia has averaged 50.5 points per game, and McDaniel has accounted for 50 percent of the offense. Meanwhile, Amboy, which scored only 30 in its opening night loss to East Brunswick, is averaging just 32.5 points after two games.

AMBOY NOTES: After the game, GMC Hoops had a chance to meet up with recent Perth Amboy graduate, Victor Verdecia, who is now at Northeastern Oklahoma Junior College. Verdecia, who helped lead Amboy to its first GMCT Elite Eight appearance since 2003 last year, is redshirting this season. Other 2011 Amboy graduates playing college ball include Kearny Canela, who played a key role in Middlesex County College's overtime victory over Bergen County Community College last week.

In other news, freshman point guard, Marquise Irizarry has impressed with his playmaking ability. The diminutive guard has made the most of the opportunity presented to him with the transfer of Jonathan Rodriguez to Cardinal McCarrick. However, his younger sister could be even better. Only in sixth grade, the younger Irizarry not only earned a spot on the 7th and 8th grade team, but has drawn a great deal of attention from opposing team defenses. She recently had 15 points in the first half of a game despite drawing box and one coverage.

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