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Young
And Inexperienced Old Bridge Falters |
By Greg Machos
December 23, 2007TOMS RIVER, NJ—On Sunday, GMC Hoops took its first ever visit to the Ritacco Center in Toms River to cover the WOBM Classic for the first time in five years. In this first round 2007 WOBM Classic matchup, Old Bridge, the only GMC team participating in this annual holiday showcase, and the fourteen seed, was taking on third seeded Toms River North. The Mariners entered the game with wins in two of their first three contests while Old Bridge was still seeking its first win after three tries. The Knights lost quite a bit to graduation last season including the likes of 6'7" center, Lance Rogers, forward Elvis Obi, and Justin Zimmerlink, the son of former E.B. Tech standout, John Zimmerlink. In addition, the GMC Red team, which reached its fifth straight GMCT Elite Eight despite finishing with a subpar 7-17 record, lost GMC Hoops All Freshmen Team member, Joe Reyes, the younger brother of Ray Reyes, who decided to focus more on soccer according to the 2007-08 Hoops Preview in the Home News-Tribune. As a result, the Knights come in to the young season with a rather young and inexperienced team. Outside of three seniors: Quinten Crawford, Davis Obi, and Resean Pardon, Old Bridge has four juniors that saw very little, if any time last season, and five sophomores.
However, several of those sophomores have some promise. Jimmy Gaffigan, for example, had a nice performance late in the season, in a GMC Hoops featured Freshmen Game of the Week against St. Joseph's Green Team at the Bird Cage in Metuchen. Gaffigan scored 15 points including 13 in the first half of that particular contest to lead the Little Knights past the Little Falcons by a score of 49-39 on February 7th. Now, sophomore forward, Stuart Luciow, also chipped in for the winners that day with four points in a 16-14 first quarter showing that helped Old Bridge take the early lead, and ultimately win the game. Other newcomers such as Nick Perez, Tyler Abad, Femi Adeleye (a three pointer in the second quarter in the win over St. Joe's Green), and Andrew Tomlin also show some promise. Meanwhile, Toms River North, a combatant in Ocean County, and the Class A South Division of the Shore Conference, began the season with an opening day loss to crosstown rival, Toms River South (51-47) before winning two straight over another crosstown rival, Toms River East (40-36), a team coached by former South Brunswick head coach, Tom Carpenter, and Jackson Memorial (53-41). Last season, the Mariners, which went 11-13 overall, and 7-8 in divisional play, qualified for the 2007 South Jersey Group IV State Tournament as the 16th seed, and lost to top seeded Winslow Township, 75-57.
Winslow eventually went on to play in the Championship, and lost to a Cherokee squad that was defeated by South Brunswick in the state semifinals as the Vikings made their first state finals appearance since the 1968 season. In this contest, the Knights started things off on the right foot with an 11-7 showing in the first quarter, but in the second only shot 3 of 12 from the floor including 1 of 5 from three point range while Toms River North rallied with 3 of 8 field goals, and 5 of 9 from the foul line to put together an 11-7 showing of their own to tie things p at the intermission at 18-18. In a tightly played contest that saw neither team have a lead bigger than six points, and both squads combining for four lead changes and a tie over the game's final 24 minutes, the Mariners didn't take their first lead after my arrival until the 2:25 mark of the first half. However, after falling behind by a point early in the third quarter, the Ocean County School, which outscored the Knights by a 31-28 margin in the second half, took the lead for good at the 6:22 mark of the third, and then increased it to six with a 6-1 run midway through the period for a 30-24 lead after a 23-13 surge over a span of 12:45. Old Bridge was able to fight back, and pull within two and three points on several occasions, but four missed layups in the second half as well as an 8 of 19 performance at the foul line for 42.1 percent over the final three quarters of the game, proved to be too much as Toms River North, which showed great discipline on offense, and sank 16 of 25 foul shots for 64 percent in the last 24 minutes, won 49-46.
Leading the way for the winners was 6'2" junior Steve Nyisztor, who scored a team high 16 points on four field goals, a three pointer, and five foul shots while 5'10" senior, Travis Chainey chipped in with three field goals, and two foul shots for 8 points. Junior 5'9" guard, Kyle Kermick also contributed by adding 7 points on two field goals, and three free throws. Meanwhile, for Old Bridge, Crawford led the way with a game high 17 points on four field goals, a three pointer, and six from the charity stripe while fellow senior, Obi had five field goals including a couple putbacks, and two free throws for 12 points. Perez also helped out in the losing effort with 9 points on two field goals, a three pointer, and two free throws. You can see the rest of the Old Bridge player stats in the game stats page for this contest in the GMC Hoops Game Statistics section. Note: The stats in the game stats section are from the second quarter on with the exception of field goals made, three pointers made, free throws made, and points scored. Other shooting statistics including attempts are just guesses. Unfortunately, I arrived late to the game, and didn't catch almost the entire first period of play. See my blog entry concerning my first ever trip to the Ritacco Center for more details. Looking at the team stat comparisons over the final 24 minutes of play, Toms River North shot 12 of 25 from the field for 48 percent including 11 of 15 from two point range for 73.3 percent. Meanwhile, Old Bridge went 15 of 41 overall from the floor for 36.6 percent including 3 of 14 from downtown for 21.4 percent.
For the last three quarters of the game, Old Bridge went roughly 13 of 23 at the foul line for 56.5 percent while the Mariners made about 18 of 27 from the charity stripe for 66.7 percent including 8 of 12 over the final 5:29 of the game. In other statistical areas, the Knights held edges in turnovers (10-18), and steals (11-7), but Toms River North had advantages in rebounds (19-16), offensive rebounds (5-4), assists (11-6), and blocks (1-0) while neither team drew a charge from the second quarter on. Neither team couldn't really take advantage of the other's miscues although the Mariners did a better job scoring six points off Old Bridge turnovers while the Knights missed several breakaway layup opportunities down the stretch after making big defensive plays on steals at the other end. Moreover, TRN didn't get many second chance points with only four in the final 24 minutes of action, but the points came at huge moments in the game. First, midway through the third quarter, Toms River North got an offensive rebound and putback while drawing a foul (missed the bonus free throw) at the 3:15 mark to cap a 6-1 run for a 30-24 lead. Then, perhaps the biggest play down the stretch was with 1:01 remaining when the Mariners first made one of two at the line, and then on the missed second foul shot, grabbed the offensive board, and drew another foul that resulted in another pair of charity shots for a more unconventional three point play, and an insurmountable, 44-38 lead.
Arriving late to the Ritacco Center on Sunday afternoon, GMC Hoops entered the Toms River North Gymnasium portion of the facility with 26.3 seconds to go in the first quarter, and Old Bridge nursing an 11-7 edge. The Knights held for the last shot, and with about five seconds left Tomlin let go a three pointer that went in and out, and the score remained showing Old Bridge in front by four going into the second. In the next frame, both teams combined for 15 turnovers, made just 6 of 20 field goals including 1 of 8 from beyond the arc, and 5 of 13 shots from the foul line as the game continued to be an offensive quagmire. Toms River North began the period with two of its four fast break points scored over the final 24 minutes by getting a layup on the break to close within two at 11-9, and then followed that up with one of two from the foul line for an 11-10 Old Bridge lead at the 6:47 mark. On the very next Knight possession, the Middlesex County team got on the board as Perez made a nice entry pass to Obi for a layin that gave Old Bridge some breathing room at 13-10 with 6:27 to go before intermission. Moments later though, the Knights went into the bonus by picking up their seventh foul of the half, and the Mariners cashed in with a pair of foul shots to trim the deficit to one again at 13-12 with 6:23 left in the second. Over the next 1:40, Old Bridge pushed its margin back up to three as Davis went to work inside again with an offensive rebound and putback that made the score, 15-12. However, the senior forward failed to cash in on a later scoring opportunity as he missed two free throws at the 4:43 mark.
Toms River North managed to get closer in the contest with a steal that it converted into its final fast break points of the game on a layup with about three minutes remaining in the half for a 15-14 Old Bridge lead. Seconds later, Crawford was forced to call a timeout on the left baseline to prevent another Knights turnover at the 2:53 mark. However, the Mariners would eventually get the ball back, and take its first lead since my arrival at the 2:25 mark on a mid-range jumper from the right wing that made the score, 16-15. Quickly responding, the Knights took the lead back on its very next possession as Abad made his only trifecta of the game on a shot from the left corner at the 2:17 mark to put his team ahead again at 18-16. Both teams traded missed front ends of one and ones over the next half minute as Obi missed a free throw at the 1:58 mark followed by a Mariner player miss with 1:49 left. Thirty seconds after that, Old Bridge turned the ball over, and Toms River North eventually made the Knights pay by drawing a foul, and then making both free throws at the 46.3 mark to knot things up at 18-18. On the next Knights' possession, Toms River North swiped another steal, and went in for a layup before being fouled at the 30.8 second mark. However, the Mariners missed both charity shots, and the two teams went into their respective locker rooms tied at 18-18. In the second half, both teams offenses picked up the pace a little bit as they combined for 59 second half points including 30 in the third quarter. TRN would get the bulk of those points by outscoring the Knights, 17-13 to take a 35-31 advantage into the final period.
After both teams failed to get on the board for the first 1:23 of the new half, Perez fought to rip the ball away from a Toms River North player for a steal, and drove in for a layup attempt that drew a foul. The junior guard then made one of two at the line for a 19-18 Old Bridge lead with 6:37 to play in the period. Unfortunately for Knights fans that would be the last time the team would hold the lead in the contest. That is because on the very next Mariner possession, the home team scored on a nice over the head pass from the right wing to a cutting teammate for a layup on the left side for a 20-19 lead at the 6:22 mark. Nearly a minute and fifteen seconds later, Abad picked up his third personal foul, and a Toms River North player cashed in with a one of two showing at the line for a 21-19 edge with 5:08 to go in the third. Old Bridge would tie things up at 21-21 with a score, but TRN went right back ahead with a three pointer from the left wing for a 24-21 advantage with 4:32 remaining in the period. Moments later, the Knights responded with a layup from Crawford at the 4:22 mark to pull within one at 24-23. But, the Mariners maintained control with a key run by scoring six of the next seven points over a 1:08 span for a 30-24 lead with 3:15 to go in the stanza. Highlighting the burst was a drive for a layup at the 4:02 mark, and a offensive rebound and putback at the 3:15 mark. The only point scored by Old Bridge was on a one of two showing at the foul line by Luciaw at the 3:57 mark.
Old Bridge would score seven of the next nine points of the frame including a one of two effort from the line at the 2:27 mark, a jumper from the left wing at the 1:52 mark, and two free throws by Crawford to pull within one possession at 32-29 with 1:14 left. However, after another Knight score to close the gap to one, Toms River North came up with a big play. With time winding down in the third, the Mariners got a layup from the left side while drawing a foul for a three point play to take a 35-31 advantage into the fourth and final quarter of the contest. In the fourth, the Knights outscored TRN by a slight 15-14 margin, but it wasn't enough. OBHS went to work early on in the period as Obi scored a layup to pull within two at 35-33 with 7:15 left. Then, it forced Toms River North head coach, Robert Nastase, to call for time at the 6:48 mark in order to avoid a five second call. Following the timeout, Gaffigan pressed a bit on the defensive end, and tried to force a steal on a couple occasions, and picked up two quick reach-in fouls by the 5:59 mark. By this time, the Mariners began to become more disciplined offensively as it took time off the clock while looking for high percentage shots, or foul shots. Toms River North stepped up to the charity stripe with 5:29 left, and made two free throws for a 37-33 lead, and maintained that tenuous edge after Crawford drew a foul on a hand check, and missed the front end of a one and one at the 5:13 mark.
Continuing to stay in striking distance despite its struggles, Old Bridge pulled within a field goal as Obi got another offensive rebound and putback off a Tomlin miss at the 4:45 mark for a 37-35 Toms River North lead. Following a Mariner timeout at the 4:28 mark, the home team began to slow things down in earnest. Using the clock as its friend, TRN spread the floor, and scored a layup on a nicely set up play for a 39-35 lead with 3:50 remaining. The Knights crept back within three with one of two at the line by Crawford for a 39-36 Mariner lead at the 3:19 mark. But, the game was starting to slip away from the visitors as Perez missed a key layup following a steal, and Toms River North got another score on a layup underneath in the right low block for a 41-36 lead at the 2:34 mark. Tomlin kept the Knights' hopes up by making two free throws at the 2:27 mark to close the gap to three again at 41-38, but Old Bridge couldn't get any closer despite forcing a turnover with 2:01 to play. Then, the backbreaking play of the game occurred when the Mariners made one of two at the line with 1:01 left, and then on the second miss, pulled down a huge offensive board, and drew another foul that resulted in a pair of free throws for a 44-38 lead. Refusing to give up though, the Knights from up North in GMC country, immediately cut the deficit in half as Perez netted his only trey of the game from the left wing at the 49.2 mark that made the score, 44-41. Fouling immediately, OBHS forced TRN to go to the line again, but the tactic didn't work as the Mariners connected on two more free throws for a 46-41 lead with 43.1 remaining.
Old Bridge made it a one possession game again as Perez scored once more on a layup from the right side to make the score, 46-43 with just 25 seconds to play. With time on their side, and solid foul shooting, Toms River North continued to keep the Knights as arm's length with another pair of free throws for a 48-43 advantage with 17.9 to go. Perez was a contributor on another Knight score as he drove to the hoop, and dished to Obi for a layup to pull within a single possession again at 48-45 with eight seconds left. After being fouled, the Mariners stepped up to the line, and connected on one of two for a two score, 49-45 lead with only 4.9 seconds left. OBHS still had one more last ditch chance to tie it. At the 2.8 second mark, Perez drew a foul, and went to the line. Now, if Perez made the first, and missed the second, Old Bridge could grab the offensive rebound, and perhaps have enough time to kick the ball out to a shooter on the perimeter for a three pointer to tie the game. However, Perez missed the first, and made the second, and despite an 0 of 2 showing from the charity stripe by the Mariners with one second to play, they still came away with the 49-46 victory.
With the win, Toms River North moves up to 3-1 overall on the season, and advance to the Quarterfinals on December 27th, where they will take on 11th seeded Toms River South. The Indians defeated Jackson in their first round game, 47-31 to advance. Meanwhile, Old Bridge drops to 0-4 overall on the young season, and will face Jackson at 11:00 AM in the Poland Springs Arena portion of the Ritacco Center in a Consolation game on Thursday.
Team |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Toms River North (3-1) |
7 | 11 | 17 | 14 | 49 |
Old Bridge (0-4) |
11 | 7 | 13 | 15 | 46 |
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