Welcome to the GMC Hoops Notebook section on the Rebounds Spring League. This is a continuing feature that we are presenting here on our web site in response to all the team camps and summer leagues that are being run. This is basically going to be a section, where we'll talk about some of the goings on in the league as well as some games or players that have stood out during the course of the season.

GMC HOOPS NOTEBOOK: MAY 14, 2009--REBOUNDS SPRING LEAGUE

For the fourth straight year, the GMC Hoops web site is devoting some sort of coverage to the Rebounds Spring League, which is actually now known as the Hoop Group Headquarters High School Boys Spring League. It is the third straight spring that the web site has actually gone down to the Rebounds facility to watch some of the action from there. For the fourth consecutive spring, the Greater Middlesex Conference has at least one team competing in the league. This year, Monroe, a late entry, is taking part after Red Bank Catholic pulled out. According to Joe Stein, the League Director, Spotswood also inquired about the league, but decided not to join.

Speaking of teams, there are 16 in all, which is down from the 20 that competed last spring. Included are 11 teams from the Shore Conference, 3 AAU, 1 GMC, and 1 independent. Like in previous years, there will be eight weeks of action with games played on Monday nights at 8:00 PM and 9:00 PM. The 16 teams are divided into two divisions. So far, GMC Hoops has been down every week, and plans to continue coverage for the rest of the spring including showcase games that will be held on June 10th.

Returning to the Monroe Falcons, the Purple Birds from the GMC's White Division had to forefeit their first game of the season against Manchester Township due to their late entry. However, in the three weeks that they've played, the Falcons have won two of three with all three contests decided by three points or less. Monroe is averaging 51.7 points per game while allowing 50.7 points per contest. The Purple Birds, which finished 21-7 overall for the second best finish in school history, have defeated both Asbury Park (56-53) and St. John Vianney (46-45) while losing in the final seconds to Manasquan (54-53). In the loss to the Big Blue of Manasquan, the Falcons went a very uncharacteristic 21 of 23 from the foul line while making 4 of 12 from long range.

Around the league, there is only one undefeated team in either division, and that is Neptune, which has been a fixture in all of the Rebounds/Hoop Group Leagues over the years. So far this spring, the Scarlet Fliers, which went 24-6 this past basketball season, and earned a berth in the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions before losing to Lenape in the first round, is 4-0 already in the stronger Division A. While not scoring in high numbers with an average of just 48.3 points per game, Neptune has relied mostly on its defense by only allowing 36 points per contest, which as of now, is tops in the league ahead of Toms River East. Right behind Neptune is Manchester Township of Ocean County, and Asbury Park, which have posted 3-1 records so far. Asbury Park, which went 22-4 overall, and won the Central Jersey Group I title this past season, still is yet to play both Manchester and Neptune.

A team that might be one to watch out for this spring is Manasquan. The 2009 Central Jersey Group II Champions, which posted a 22-5 record overall before losing in the Group II State Semifinals to historic basketball power, Camden, has a solid ball club. After losing two tough games early on this spring to Neptune (49-41) and St. John Vianney (53-44), the Big Blue have stormed back with their one point win over Monroe, and then a 65-39 shelling of G-Force Gold. In the victory over G-Force, the Big Blue finished strong with a 23-3 surge that pulled them away from a 42-36 lead with 7:41 left to play. Manasquan has fine talent led by Asbury Park Press' All Shore Conference First Team selection, Matt Vadas, who can shoot the ball well, and also has some athletic ability, which he demonstrated with a dunk against Monroe. In addition to Vadas, the Big Blue has some size, and good perimeter shooting from other sources as well.

Here's something for all in the Greater Middlesex Conference to think about. This past season, four teams from the Shore Conference claimed sectional titles including: Asbury Park (CJ Group I), Manasquan (CJ Group II), Neptune (CJ Group III), and Christian Brothers Academy (Non-Public A South). Neptune went on to win the Group III title by defeating Teaneck (74-52), and CBA reached the state final before losing to Immaculata (61-50) of Somerset County. The GMC didn't have any. Since GMC Hoops has been posting links to brackets on its site in 2002, the Shore Conference has won 15 sectional crowns while the GMC has won only 9. Speaking of the Shore, let's move on to what's happening in Division B.

In Division B, there is a great deal more competition, and a lot less separation between the teams. Seven of the eight teams are either tied, or within a game of first place. Toms River East leads the division along with Second Baptist Church with 3-1 records. The Raiders, which finished the regular season at 13-11 overall, lead the league in offense and point differential while are only second to Neptune in scoring defense. Behiind TR East and Second Baptist are five teams that are tied for third place at 2-2 including G-Force Black, Academy Charter, Ocean Township, Mater Dei, and Lacey. G-Force Black actually started the spring at 2-0 including a victory over Second Baptist Church on opening night, but since then, they have faltered with losses to both Ocean Township (61-41) and Lacey (51-42).

There are only two teams that are winless in the league at this point, and they are: Toms River North in Division A (0-4) and Jackson Liberty in Division B (0-4). Two other teams that are under .500 at the moment reside in Division A including St. John Vianney (1-3) and G-Force Gold (1-3), which has lost three straight since winning their opener over Toms River North (45-28).

Well, that is all for know. There will be more information in this section during the course of the season. So, keep your eyes peeled for it.

Greg Machos
Webmaster/President
GMC Hoops

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