Boys Basketball Wednesday Scoreboard, 12/28/16

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Albert E. Martin Buc Holiday Classic

At Red Bank

Semifinals

(1) Mater Dei Prep 61, (4) Central 37

Junior Yasin Pretlow scored 16 points and senior Elijah Barnes added 12 points, eight rebounds and three blocks as the Serpahs handled the Golden Eagles to advance to the Buc Classic final against Sayreville.

Mater Dei held Central without a field goal for the first 18:44 of the game before senior Maks Gruszecki hit a three as he was fouled with 5:16 left in the third quarter. Gruszecki scored 12 points to lead Central, which kept the score respectable by shooting 16-for-20 from the free-throw line in the first half.

(3) Sayreville 65, (2) Middletown North 64

Jahsim Floyd scored on a pass from Xavier Townes with 15 seconds left and the Bombers held on to beat the Lions in a wild Buc Classic semifinal.

Middletown North had two chances to win the game on its final possession, but sophomore Rob Higgins missed two free throws with 4.7 seconds left and senior John Tomassetti's three-pointer rimmed out just before time expired.

Higgins led the Lions with 19 points, while senior Marc Cerbo added 17 and junior Sky Cherry poured in 15 off the bench. Higgins scored 15 points in the first half and Cerbo netted 11 in the third quarter.

Cherry hit two key shots down the stretch for Middletown North - the first with a layup to break a 60-60 tie with three minutes left and later a jumper to put the Lions up 64-63 with just under two minutes to play.

Ryan O'Leary led Sayreville with a game-high 27 points, including five three-pointers.

Both teams had a double-digit lead at one point in the game before the action tightened up in the final minutes. Middletown North led 32-22 midway through the second quarter before Sayreville unleashed a 11-0 run to take the lead.

The Lions scored the final four points of the second quarter to take a 36-33 lead to the break, but Sayreville burst out of the halftime locker room with 13 unanswered points to take a 46-36 lead.

The Bombers built the lead to 51-40 before Middletown North countered with its biggest punch. The Lions erased the 11-point deficit with a 13-2 run to close the third and scored the first seven points of the fourth to make it a 20-2 run that gave Middletown North a 60-53 lead with 6:32 left in the game. Sayreville then scored seven straight points to tie the game at 60 before the teams traded baskets over the final three minutes.

Consolation

(5) Red Bank 64, (8) Freehold Boro 49

Junior Devin Cooper scored a game-high 22 points and the Bucs beat the Colonials in a consolation game. Senior Nasir Williams added 14 points and senior Connor McLoone poured in 10 for Red Bank.

Senior Chris Cassandra scored 13 points and junior Ashante Worthy added 11 for Freehold Boro.

(6) St. John Vianney 47, (7) Shore 38

Senior Dan Dinneny scored 14 points and junior Chris Mikos added 11 to lead the Lancers to a win over the Blue Devils. Sophomore Chris Panduri led Shore with 14 points.

Neptune Holiday Jubilee

Semifinals

(7) St. Joseph Metuchen 55, (3) Lakewood 35

Junior Zyheir Jones scored a team-high nine points, but the Piners were no match for the unbeaten Falcons, who will play for the Jubilee title Friday against top-seeded Seton Hall Prep.

(1) Seton Hall Prep 75, (4) Bloomfield Tech 70

Consolation

(2) Ewing 75, (6) Long Branch 31

(5) Neptune 82, (8) Asbury Park 45

Junior Jared Kimbrough led a balanced offensive effort with 12 points and six rebounds and the Scarlet Fliers rolled through the Blue Bishops. Seniors Seth Harrington and Jules Calhoun each added 11 points for Neptune.

Senior Josmere Taylor led Asbury Park with a game-high 17 points, while junior Ja'King Agostini and sophomore Kaysaun Rice each scored 10 in the loss.

Husky Holiday Classic

At Matawan

Semifinals

Ocean 69, Matawan 66 (2 OT)

Senior Darius Brown scored a career-high 30 points and junior Andrew Seager set a career-high with 21 of his own as the Spartans survived a second-half comeback by the Huskies to advance to the Husky Classic Final Friday against Old Bridge. Seager also grabbed eight rebounds in the win.

Ocean took a 27-17 lead into the second half and a 39-32 advantage into the fourth quarter, but Matawan rallied behind a 29-point effort from junior Michael Dunne. Junior Reggie Tawiah also added 13 points and eight rebounds in defeat.

Consolation

Manalapan 47, Edison 46

Senior John Lugo scored 19 points and the Braves pulled out their first win over the season by clipping the Eagles. Junior Justin Lynch and senior Rocky Garretson each added 11 points in the win.

Score at the Shore

At Southern

Semifinals

(1) Notre Dame 66, (4) Mainland 50

(2) Holy Spirit 45, (3) Montclair 33

Consolation

(10) Monmouth 49, (8) Jackson Liberty 45

(9) Hammonton 64, Howell 57

(6) St. Joseph Hammonton 61, (7) Southern 59

Junior Jake DuBois scored 20 points but the Rams could not hold off the Wildcats, who were led by 33 points from Ron Gaskins.

Junior Thomas Foster added 14 points and eight rebounds for Southern while senior Mark Valeriani pitched in 12 in the loss.

Bulldawg Classic

At Rumson-Fair Haven

Rumson-Fair Haven 86, Fort Hamilton (N.Y.) 53

Junior Teddy Sourlis scored 18 points on six three-pointers and the Bulldogs cruised to a win over Fort Hamilton while burying 17 total three-pointers as a team. Junior Jack Solano added 12 points and sophomore Ian O'Connor chipped in 11 in the win. Senior Tyler Pierson also had 13 rebounds and five blocks.

Admiral Holiday Tournament

Championship

Keansburg 46, South Amboy 40

Junior Paul Eckleberry scored 17 points to go with 11 rebounds and three assists and the Titans edged the Governors to win the tournament title. Eckleberry was named tournament MVP, while junior Danny Vital earned all-tournament honors after scoring 14 points in Wednesday's win.

Consolation

South River 82, Henry Hudson 58

Senior Tom Fennell scored a game-high 19 points, but the Admirals could not contain the Rams, who had five players reach double-figure scoring. Senior Matt Going also scored 16 points for Henry Hudson.

Roselle Park Holiday Tournament

Championship

Roselle Park 56, Keyport 55

Junior Brendan O'Brien scored a game-high 25 points, but the Red Raiders came up a point short against the host team in the championship game. Senior Cody Young and junior Colin Fernandez each added 10 points in the loss.