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GMC Hoops Summaries--February 12, 2010
Week Eight--Prime Time Shootout

St. Benedict's Rolls Past Lakewood Behind Kabongo, 82-38

By Greg Machos
February 12, 2010

UNION, NJ--Following the game played between Monroe and Ridge that opened things up at the 2010 Prime Time Shootout, Lakewood of Ocean County and the Shore Conference, took on a big challenge when it faced St. Benedict's Prep of Newark, one of the top programs in the nation. With the likes of Temple bound Aaron Brown and Texas bound Myck Kabongo, the Grey Bees are just getting started. Then, there are big men such as Gil Biruta and J.P. Kambola with a combination of finesse and power. The Piners have a talented player in junior Jarrod Davis, who has gotten interest from schools in the SEC, but they were no match for St. Benedict's.

The Grey Bees jumped out to a 14-2 lead within the first 3:12 of the contest as four different players connected from beyond the arc, and never really looked back in a 82-38 rout. St. Benedict's, which is ranked sixth in the USA Today and fifth on Rivals.com, outscored Lakewood in each of the four periods played including a 30-7 pummeling in the third period for a 68-29 lead. Four players scored in double figures for St. Benny's including Kabongo, who was team MVP for the game with 20 points on seven field goals, a three pointer, and three foul shots. He also handed out eight assists while swiping steals.

Brown also contributed for the winners with 20 points on seven field goals and two threes. Biruta added 13 points on two field goals and three treys while Mike Poole chipped in with 12 points on three field goals and two threes. Davis earned team MVP honors in the game for Lakewood with 15 points on six field goals and a three pointer. Anthony Walker chipped in with 8 points on two field goals, a three, and a foul shot while Jameer Jones also had 8 points on two threes and two foul shots. For the game, the Grey Bees scored its 82 points on 26 field goals, eight threes, and six foul shots while Lakewood got its points on 10 field goals, five threes, and three foul shots.

St. Benedict's took a 21-6 lead after one period, but Lakewood made things interesting with a three point play, and a three pointer from the right wing by Walker to start the second to close within nine at 21-12. However, the Grey Bees closed the first half with a 17-10 run for a 38-22 lead at the intermission, and then began the second half with a 26-2 barrage that put the game out of reach at 64-24 with 2:35 to play in the third. St. Benny's then closed the game with an 18-14 run for an 82-38 final score. Lakewood entered the game with a notable victory over Monsignor Donovan and losses to Plainfield and Freehold Boro. The Piners compete in the Shore Conference's Class B South Division. They had won six straight games before suffering this defeat.

The Grey Bees went to work right away with threes by Kabongo and Biruta for a 6-2 lead at the 5:44 mark. Following a St. Benny's 30 second timeout, the Grey Bees then got threes from Poole and Brown before the latter got a basket while being fouled for a 14-2 advantage at the 4:48 mark. Brown then added another field goal along with Xavier Munford (8 points on three field goals and two free throws) in a 6-4 run for a 20-6 lead at the 1:01 mark. Munford then added one of two from the line for the 21-6 advantage after one period. The second quarter started with some promise for Lakewood as Walker got a traditional three point play at the 7:33 mark, and then a trey from the right wing at the 6:43 mark to close the gap to 21-12. However, the Piners wouldn't get any closer after that.

Biruta connected for his second three of the game for a 24-12 Grey Bees lead at the 5:32 mark. Poole added an offensive rebound and follow and Brown scored on a fast break layup for a 28-12 lead with 4:40 to play in the first half. St. Benedict's then added three more points for a 31-14 lead before Lakewood got four unanswered points to pull within 31-18 at the three minute mark. The Grey Bees then squashed that uprising with great passing that resulted in a two handed dunk by Kambola. Davis then clicked on his only three of the game for a 33-21 St. Benedict's lead, but Kabongo made a traditional three point play, and the Grey Bees got another two points to lead 38-22 at the intermission.

St. Benedict's then put the game away in the third by scoring 26 of the first 28 points over a span of 5:25 for a 40 point lead. Biruta began the outburst with a three pointer and an alleyoop dunk for a 43-22 lead at the 7:09 mark. Following a Lakewood timeout, the Grey Bees scored eight of the next ten points including a field goal by Brown at the 5:24 mark for a 51-24 lead as the Piners again called for time. The stoppage couldn't stop the onslaught though as St. Benny's scored 13 unanswered points including a three pointer by Poole, dunks by Biruta and Brown, and a layup by Kabongo for a commanding 64-24 advantage with a little more than two and a half minutes to go in the third.

From there, it was a mere formality as St. Benedict's closed the game with a 18-14 showing over the last 10:35 for the 44 point victory. With the win, the Grey Bees improved to 19-1 overall on the season while Lakewood dropped to 11-7. Video highlights and analysis will be forthcoming in the blog.

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