Summaries section to be updated with 2011-12 game articles soon.

GMC Hoops Summaries--December 22, 2011
Freshmen Game Of The Week--Week One

McHenry Leads Balanced Attack As EB Defeats St. Joe's-White, 49-34

By Greg Machos
December 22, 2011

METUCHEN, NJ--The opener of the GMC Hoops Freshmen, JV, and Varsity tripleheader between East Brunswick and St. Joseph's at the Bird Cage was a matchup between freshmen squads that have dominated the GMC at that level for the past five years.

Over the past five years, either St. Joseph's-Green or St. Joseph's-White has reached the final of the Perth Amboy/GMC Freshmen Tournament every year, and won it three times. Meanwhile, EB has reached the Elite Eight of the tourney each of the last five years with two final four appearances and one finals appearance. The two programs went head to head on Thursday, but EB's freshmen made a strong statement with a balanced attack and solid defense in a 49-34 victory.

After St. Joseph's-White jumped out to a 6-2 lead at the 6:40 mark on three pointers from P.J. Strahm and Brandon Goldy, the Bear Cubs surged with a 16-4 finish to end the quarter for an 18-10 lead they would never relinquish. Eight different players scored for EB including three in double figures as John McHenry connected on four threes for 12 points and Adam Rosa added 10 points and 6 steals. Kevin Donovan played a solid game off the bench with 10 points, 4 rebounds, 2 blocks, an assist, and a steal while fellow frontcourt mate, Tyler McNamara had 5 points, 7 rebounds, 2 blocks, 2 assists, and a steal). Nick Fudali also contributed with 6 points, 2 rebounds, and an assist.

Leading the charge for St. Joseph's in a losing cause was Mike Horn with 11 points including 9 in the second half along with three steals and a block. P.J. Strahm chipped in with 7 points and 3 steals while Brenden Wash and Brandon Goldy added 5 points and Daniel Gamboa contributed with 4 points. The difference in the game was the surge by EB to end the first quarter. McHenry had two threes for 6 points while Rosa and Fudali each added four, and Perel chipped in with two to highlight the tear. Rosa sparked the run with a layup at the 6:33 mark while Fudali connected on a jumper from the left elbow at the 5:08 mark, and Perel scored on a transition layup following a steal by Rosa at the 4:47 mark.

After Fudali connected on another jumper at the 4:20 mark, and Wash scored for St. Joe's-White, McHenry hit triples at the three minute mark, and 45.5 second mark to give the Bear Cubs a 16-10 lead. Donovan then closed out the first period scoring with a putback off a miss by Rosa for the eight point lead heading into the second. The Little Falcons played much better in the second period with a 10-8 showing to narrow the deficit to 26-20 at the intermission. Strahm made two free throws at the 7:53 mark to open the period while Daniel Gamboa scored on a putback at the 6:29 mark, and Horn swiped a steal at midcourt, and went the rest of the way for a layup to pull St. Joe's-White within two at 18-16. However, EB finished the half with an 8-4 run as Donovan scored four points while McNamara and Rosa added baskets as well.

The third period was also a backbreaker for the Falcons. EB pulled away with a strong 14-5 showing in the frame as McHenry connected on two more threes at the 5:41 and 4:25 marks for a 32-20 lead, and Rosa also had six points along with three steals. Fudali ended the quarter with a shot from just behind the foul line that banked in for a 40-25 lead heading into the fourth. Horn scored all five points for St. Joe's-White. The fourth quarter was even as EB led by as many as 17 before winning 49-34. Four different players got into the scoring column in the fourth for East Brunswick including Donovan, who scored four points. Horn had two late steals for layups to help shape the final score.

Both teams will be in action over the holidays as East Brunswick will be competing in the Brunswick Classic holiday tournament while St. Joseph's-White will be participating in the Monsignor Farrell Christmas Tournament on Staten Island.

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