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GMC Hoops Summaries--January 30, 2010
Week Six--GMC Blue/White Crossover

Second Half Tear Propels Colonia To Victory Over JFK, 47-31

By Greg Machos
January 30, 2010

COLONIA, NJ--So far in the 2009-10 season, it has been a game of role reversals for J.F. Kennedy and Colonia. Usually around this time, the Patriots are in contention for a GMC White Division crown while the Mustangs are thinking about next year. Not this season. Although JFK is not in contention to win the GMC Blue, it has racked up its second 10 win season in three years, and has a very good chance of making the state tournament for the first time since the 2001-02 season. Meanwhile, Colonia has struggled with a 2-11 record although the Pats have been competitive in a good number of those losses.

Not only losing the likes of standout guard J.J. D'Amico has stung a bit, but the graduation of forwards Nnamdi Usuwa (Stockton) and Mike Nweme has left Colonia undersized this season. Justin Williams has played admirably down low for the Patriots, but there is still a void there. Despite the fact that the Pats are down this season, they have played a tough schedule including the usual GMC White foes in Monroe, McCarrick, Sayreville, North Brunswick, and an improved New Brunswick, but also St. Anthony's, Hillsborough (top seed in this year's Somerset County Tournament), Ridge, and Rutgers Prep.

Of the eleven CHS losses, five were by six points or less. More importantly, the Pats have plenty coming back next season when it moves up into the GMC Red. With the additions of Geoff Fairbanks, Trent Barneys, and Manny Onukwugh, the Pats have ten players on the varsity that will be coming back next season. Meanwhile, Kennedy was coming off a victory at Timothy Christian on Friday night (61-44). The Mustangs have a solid trio in Joe Marciano, Rasheed Howard, and Dashion Robinson while A.J. Pichalski has been putting up good numbers lately. In this neighborhood rivalry game, Colonia jumped out to a 9-6 first quarter lead, and expanded it to six at the break with a 16-13 showing in the second for a 25-19 score.

JFK scored the first four points of the second half to pull within two, but then the Patriots put together a decisive 18-2 tear over a span of about ten minutes for a 43-25 lead. From there, Kennedy outscored the home team by a 6-4 margin, but by then, it didn't matter as CHS came away with the 47-31 win. Leading the way for the Pats was junior guard/forward C.J. Gray, who had a team high 13 points on five field goals and a three pointer. Senior guard, Luka Zeimaitis chipped in with double digit scoring as he picked up 10 points on three field goals, a trey, and a foul shot. Both Gray and Zeimaitis got their threes during the decisive run. Moumoud Seleman also contributed with all six of his points to ignite the run in the early third.

Meanwhile, for the Mustangs, nobody scored in double figures as Howard finished with a team high nine points on four field goals and a foul shot. Marciano (two field goals and two free throws) and Nick Spoganetz (a field goal and four foul shots) each chipped in with 6 points each. For the game, Colonia scored its 47 on 17 field goals, two threes, and seven foul shots while Kennedy got its 31 on ten field goals and 11 free throws. The Patriots outscored the Mustangs in every quarter in this ccontest. CHS had a 23-15 lead late in the first half when Howard scored a basket while being fouled at the 35.23 second mark. Although Howard missed the bonus free throw, JFK was within six at 23-17.

On that missed foul shot, Fairbanks grabbed the rebound and was fouled with 34.66 seconds left before halftime. The freshman then sank two free throws for a 25-17 lead. Marciano responded with a jumper at the 22.9 second mark for a 25-19 Colonia lead, which is how the first half ended. The second half began with a Kennedy flurry as the Mustangs scored four points right out of the gate including a steal for a dunk by Howard to pull within two at 25-23 with less than two minutes gone by in the third. Unfortunately, the Mustangs wouldn't get any closer. Seleman scored three straight times down the floor for Colonia to give the Patriots a 31-23 lead as J.F. Kennedy head coach, Chris Banos called for time at the 3:23 mark.

Following the timeout, the Pats maintained the lead for the next two minutes or so until Zeimaitis struck for a three pointer from the right wing to make it an eleven point lead at 34-23 with 1:15 left in the third. Howard got the final Mustang points of the period with a drive for a field goal at the one minute mark, but Dave Cole (a field goal and two free throws for 4 points) closed out the third quarter with a drive for a short jumper that made the score 36-25 heading into the fourth and final period. Colonia then opened up the fourth with seven straight points in a span of 4:05 including a three by Gray from the top of the key for a commanding 43-25 advantage with just under four minutes left.

Donald Pollard (four points) and Shabas Clarke (two points) helped J.F. Kennedy close out the game with a 6-4 run, but the Patriots came away with the 47-31 win. With the victory, Colonia improved to 3-11 overall on the season including a 3-7 in conference play while the Mustangs fell to 10-7 overall including a 6-7 mark in the GMC. The White Division is now 16-6 in crossover games this season while the GMC Blue is 15-2. Analysis on this game is forthcoming. In the meantime though, you can view video highlights from this game in the blog.

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