 |
Sanborn
Puts Vikings Away Late To Lift Bucs To Championship, 46-40 |
By Greg Machos
December 30, 2007LITTLE SILVER, NJ—As much as South Brunswick struggled in the Championship Game of the 2007 Buc Classic against the host school, Red Bank Regional, the Vikings actually still had a chance to pull the game out. After scoring just three points in the second quarter, and trailing by ten entering the fourth period of play, South Brunswick rallied with a 19-10 showing over the first 7:20 or so of the period to close within one at 41-40, and actually had the ball with a chance to go ahead. However, with 26.6 seconds to play, Red Bank's standout player and tournament MVP, Will Sanborn came to the rescue of his team by leaping into the air and grabbing an errant pass by Mohammed Sanu, and streaking upcourt for a layup as he was fouled by Troy Confessore for a pivotal three point play, and five point swing that made the score, 44-40. Moments later, Jordan Teicher drove into the key for a straight on bank shot that wouldn't fall, and the Bucs rebounded the pumpkin, and got it in the hands of Sanborn again for a slam dunk that drew a roar from the hometown crowd, and provided an exclamation point to a 46-40 victory. Sanborn's late heroics put a damper on what would have been a miraculous comeback by the Vikes.
To put in perspective how big a rally South Brunswick had put together, consider this: In the second quarter, SBHS was just 1 of 11 from the floor on a three pointer from Wilson at the 2:44 mark of the period that ended an 11-0 Red Bank Regional run. Throughout the game, the Vikings looked tentative against the various zone defenses thrown at them by the Bucs. The Vikes, other than Arman Wilson, who ended up with a team high 17 points and 9 rebounds, didn't seem to want to attack the zone at all. Even Wilson, in all fairness, wasn't totally beyond reproach. The senior swingman managed to only go 8 of 25 from the floor for 32 percent including 7 of 17 from inside the arc while attempting no foul shots. South Brunswick seemed content to just take shots from the outside, and beyond the arc rather than knifing into the gaps in the zone, working the ball around, and trying to get something going in the key. The result was a 17 of 53 shooting effort overall for 32.1 percent including a 4 of 19 showing from long range for 21.1 percent. Conversely, Red Bank Regional shot 20 of 49 overall from the field for 40.8 percent including just 2 of 11 from long distance for 18.2 percent. The Bucs had similar woes at the foul line only making 4 of 10 from the charity stripe, but because of its passive approach to the Red Bank zone, South Brunswick only made three attempts from the foul line, which were all courtesy of Confessore, who went 2 of 3 for two of his four points on the game.
Breaking down the Viking tale of woe from the perimeter, Wilson and Teicher were each just 1 of 8 from three point land while Sanu made one of two attempts, and sixth man, Chris Weir sank his only attempt for all three of his points in the contest. Teicher ended up with only four points in the game, but did a splendid job defending Red Bank's big men in the paint, and rebounding, where it pulled down ten boards in the contest. In addition to his scoring and rebounding, Wilson, who was given the Sportsmanship Award, also collected four steals, and three assists. Meanwhile, for Red Bank, forward Matt Pebole provided assistance with 14 points on seven field goals along with a team high nine rebounds in the victory while teammate, Matt Pignataro also contributed with 8 points and 8 rebounds. To view the complete breakdown of South Brunswick's statistics, take a look at the contest's stat page in the GMC Hoops Game Stat section. Looking at more of the game statistics, Red Bank also took advantage of South Brunswick in other ways by scoring 11 points off 11 Viking turnovers, six of which came in the first half. In addition, the Bucs grabbed 14 offensive rebounds, which they turned into 13 second chance points. Red Bank also converted six fast break points including the four at the very end by Sanborn. The Northern Monmouth County school held an advantage in rebounding (33-26) and blocks (5-2), but South Brunswick garnered advantages in assists (10-9), steals (9-8), charges (3-0), and turnovers (11-19). Red Bank Regional outscored the Vikes in two of the four periods while the third ended in an 8-8 tie. It wasn't until the fourth quarter that South Brunswick scored an edge.
In the opening period, the Vikings, which were awarded the tourney's top seed, went toe to toe with Red Bank, the second seed. South Brunswick made 4 of 10 field goals including one of three from downtown while making one of two at the line, and just committing two turnovers. Wilson scored six of his team's ten points in the stanza on 3 of 5 shooting from the outside while also swiping two steals. South Brunswick's senior swingman opened the scoring with a steal for a layup just thirty seconds into the game. Ron Dukes then knotted the game up at 2-2 with an offensive rebound and putback at the 6:45 mark, and then Sanborn put the Bucs in front for good with a three pointer from the left wing that made the score, 5-2 with 5:10 left in the first. Sanu then had his only trey of the game from the left wing at the 4:05 mark that tied the score at 5-5 before Grant struck for the only other trey Red Bank had in the game to put the Bucs back on top at 8-5 with 3:45 to go in the first. Wilson then drove into the paint to take a bank shot that was true, and trim the deficit to one at 8-7 at the 2:05 mark, but Sanborn replied with a field goal of his own that gave the Bucs breathing room at 10-7 with 1:45 to go in the period. Confessore then made one of two at the foul line for a 10-8 Buc lead at the 1:22 mark before Sanborn, who had seven of his team's points in the frame, connected on an off balanced fadeaway shot from the left baseline that made the score, 12-8 at exactly the one minute mark. SBHS rounded out the first period scoring on a layup by Wilson off an assist by Sanu for a 12-10 RBRHS lead entering the second.
The second quarter was the one that put South Brunswick in a big hole the rest of the way. The Vikings only managed to get three points on a trifectas from Wilson from the right corner off an assist by Sean Lease at the 2:44 as the team missed ten other shot attempts in the frame while making five turnovers. Red Bank took full advantage with an 11-3 tear in the period that gave it a 23-13 halftime lead. A minute and fifteen seconds into the period, Red Bank Regional got a field goal to open the scoring, and take a 14-10 lead. After stopping South Brunswick on its next possession, the Bucs had an opportunity to increase its lead even more, but Lease came up with a key charge at the 6:23 mark to thwart the home team temporarily. Red Bank Regional would eventually go up by six on a score, and then get a steal off Confessore that turned into a scoring opportunity for Sanborn as he was fouled on a layup attempt. Making one of two free throws, the senior Buc swingman, gave his team a seven point, 17-10 lead at the 5:17 mark. Twenty-four seconds later, the Bucs were on the board again as Pebole grabbed an offensive rebound, and scored on the putback for a 7-0 run, and a 19-10 lead as SBHS head coach, Joe Hoehman called for time at the 4:53 mark. Despite the timeout, South Brunswick's second quarter futility would continue. With nearly four minutes to go in the half, Wilson picked up a steal, and got the ball ahead to Confessore, who headed downcourt with Sanborn on his tail.
Going in for a layup, Confessore had his shot blocked by Sanborn, who brought the ball back up the other way to set up another Buc score for a crucial four point swing, and a 21-10 lead at the 4:03 mark. The Vikes would commit their fifth turnover of the stanza at the 3:24 mark before Wilson ended the five plus minute long drought with his three pointer that made the score 23-13 in favor of Red Bank. The score would remain that way as both teams headed into their respective locker rooms. Looking at the South Brunswick scoring at the break, Wilson led the way with 9 of the team's 13 points on 4 of 11 shooting including 1 of 4 from beyond the arc. The senior guard/forward also had three steals, and two rebounds. As a team, the Vikings went just 5 of 21 from the floor including 2 of 8 from beyond the arc. Adding to the difficulties was the fact that SBHS only took two free throws the entire half. In addition, the Vikes committed seven turnovers, which were converted into nine Red Bank points. The Bucs also grabbed four offensive rebounds, which they converted into two other scores for four points. The Monmouth County team, which competes in the Class A Central Division of the Shore Conference, made 10 of 24 shots for 41.7 percent including 2 of 7 from three point land for 28.6 percent. Like South Brunswick though, the Bucs didn't have many free throw attempts, going only 1 of 3. In other statistical areas, the Vikings acutally held advantages in turnovers (7-9), rebounds (12-10), and charges (1-0) while steals were even. Red Bank held the edge in assists (4-3) and blocks (3-1).
The third period began much like the second had gone with Red Bank picking up right where it left off. The Bucs took their biggest lead of the game just fifteen seconds into the new half as they got a score down low off a nice entry pass that made the score, 25-13. Moments later, Red Bank Regional had the ball again with a chance to score as they got the ball to Dukes, who drew a foul, but misfired on both free throws as the score remained 25-13 at the 7:04 mark. Wilson continued to keep the Vikings afloat with a jumper from the right wing for a 25-15 lead at the 6:50 mark. A little more than a minute later, Lease scored on an offensive rebound and follow off a Teicher miss that made it an eight point game at 25-17 with 5:39 left in the third. However, the Bucs stifiled the growing momentum for the Vikes by closing out the frame with six of the last ten points for a 31-21 lead heading into the fourth. The combination of Wilson picking up his third foul in the Red Bank backcourt at the 1:41 mark, the combination of 3-2 and 2-3 zones deployed by the Bucs, and five more second chance points by Red Bank off three offensive rebounds, kept the hometown fans happy with a double digit lead. The fourth would see that lead evaporate as South Brunswick showed life after all. The Vikings scored the first four points to open the final period to cut the deficit to six at 31-25 before Red Bank Regional scored on an offensive rebound and follow at the 6:40 mark for a 33-25 lead. On the next SBHS possession, Teicher struck for a three pointer that closed the gap to 33-28 at the 6:23 mark. Red Bank answered though with another offensive rebound and putback for a 35-28 advantage with exactly six minutes remaining.
Thirty seconds later, South Brunswick continued to stay within striking distance as Wilson grabbed an offensive rebound off a blocked Lease shot for a follow that made it a 35-30 Buc lead at the 5:30 mark. However, the Bucs responded with four quick points in a 43 second span that put another road block in the way of the Vikings with a 39-30 lead as SBHS called a timeout at the 4:47 mark. Regrouping during the stoppage, the Vikes showed determination with a 10-2 run over the next 3:31 including a 5-0 spurt that consisted on a three pointer, and then a layup as Wilson dished to a cutting Teicher for the score at the 2:37 mark for a 39-35 Buc lead. Hopes rose even further as Red Bank Regional turned the ball over at the 2:25 mark, but despite two offensive rebounds (one by Teicher and one by Wilson), the visitors from Southern Middlesex County were turned away at the 1:50 mark, and then Sanborn made two charity shots at the 1:45 mark for a 41-35 lead. Sensing the urgency, South Brunswick put together another rally as Wilson fed Lease underneath for a score that made it 41-37 as the Vikings called for time at the 1:34 mark, and then following the timeout, Confessore came up with a steal and a layup as he was fouled for a three point play. Suddenly, the Vikings, a team that appeared asleep for much of the game, was within a point, and after Red Bank missed the front end of a one and one with 1:10 left, they had a shot to actually pull this one out. After SBHS called a timeout at the 48.8 second mark, the Vikes brought the ball into the frontcourt looking to take their first lead since 2-0.
Working the ball around the right side, South Brunswick got the ball into the hands of Sanu, who looked to pass back up top to Confessore. Unfortunately, Sanu's pass was a lollipop of a lob pass that Sanborn leaped up for, grabbed, and darted the other way with for a backbreaking three point play as he was fouled by Confessore with 26.6 left. Trailing now by four at 44-40, the Vikings were looking for a quick score, and got the ball into Teicher, who drove to his right into the key for a higher percentage shot off the glass. However, his bank shot would come off the rim into the hands of the Bucs, who sent an outlet pass upcourt to Sanborn for a thunderous dunk the put the game away, and set off a mass celebration as Red Bank had escaped with a 46-40 victory. With the win, Red Bank Regional improved to 5-1 overall on the season while South Brunswick fell to .500 overall at 3-3, and 2-1 against non-conference competition.
Team |
1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
Red Bank Regional (5-1) |
12 | 11 | 8 | 15 | 46 |
South Brunswick (3-3) |
10 | 3 | 8 | 19 | 40 |
RETURN TO THE GMC HOOPS HOME PAGE
If you are finished viewing the GMC Hoops Summaries, and would like to see other parts of the website. Click below to return to the GMC Home Page.
Return to the GMC Hoops Home Page
If you have any questions about, or any suggestions for this website, please feel free to either fill out our guestbook, or contact me at gmachos@gmchoops.com.