Boys Basketball Friday Scoreboard, 3/7/14

Sectional Semifinals
Central Jersey Group III

(6) Red Bank 42, (2) Long Branch 30

No Red Bank player reached double-figure scoring, but it did not matter as the Bucs shut down the Green Wave offense and advanced to their first sectional final since 2004. Sophomore Sadiq Palmer led Red Bank with nine points off the bench, eight of which came in the second half.

For the second straight game, the Bucs defense hounded one of the Shore's top scorers into a poor shooting night. One game after Neptune's Shakeem Richardson shot 1-for-20 against the Bucs, Red Bank held Green Wave senior Terrel Cox to 10 points on 2-for-19 shooting Friday. Cox and Foster each scored 10 points to lead Long Branch.

Red Bank senior Johnny Dengler added eight points for Red Bank and hit three from the win late in the second quarter to end a stretch of 7:40 without a field goal. Senior Corey Martin also knocked down two second-half threes and finished with seven points.

Red Bank will play at top-seeded Ewing Monday in the Central Jersey Group III final.

Central Jersey Group I

(1) Point Beach 69, (4) Florence 43

Senior Matt Farrell scored 26 points and the Garnet Gulls outscored the Flashes 54-28 after an even first quarter to secure a spot in Monday's sectional final against No. 2 Shore. The sectional final appearance will be the third in five years for Point Beach, which won Group I last season.

Senior Noah Yates added 17 points for Point Beach while junior Mike Frauenheim poured in 16 in the win.

(2) Shore 90, (6) South River 54

Kevin Bloodgood scored 16 of his game-high 28 points in the first quarter and the Blue Devils once again rode a red-hot-shooting first quarter, this time to a win over the Rams. Shore outscored South River 33-16 in the first quarter, a similar offensive outburst to the 35-5 first quarter the Blue Devils had in a round-one win over Manville.

Junior Dan Largey poured in 20 points, senior Dan Pillari netted 14 and junior Jack Byrne chipped in 10 points for Shore. The Blue Devils will take on No. 1 Point Beach in Point Pleasant on Monday.

South Jersey Group III

(1) Mainland 51, (12) Central 39

Junior Evan Lang led a balanced scoring effort with 11 points, but that scoring effort was not enough for the Golden Eagles against the top-seeded Mustangs, who were led by 20 points from senior Darius Jerkins.

Sectional Quarterfinals
South Jersey, Non-Public A

(5) Bishop Eustace 67, (4) Red Bank Catholic 63 (2 OT)

Sophomore Eddie Hahn scored nine of his 18 points in the final three minutes of the fourth quarter to send the game into overtime, but the Crusaders pulled out the win over the Caseys in double-overtime.

Red Bank Catholic trailed 46-35 with 3:36 left in the fourth quarter and finished regulation on an 12-1 run thanks to Hahn's three triples. He capped the stretch with a 28-foot shot from straight away to tie the game at 47 with 21 seconds left.

Hahn also hit a go-ahead three inside of two minutes left in the second overtime, putting RBC ahead, 63-61. Hahn, however, rushed a running shot on the next possession with the Caseys up two and less than a minute left. Isaiha Wingfield drilled a three-pointer on the other end to give Bishop Eustace a one-point lead with 43 seconds left.

Evan Madigan and Liam Byrne each hit big threes in he first overtime to put RBC ahead two, but Brandon Cazan knocked down the tying free-throws with 32 seconds left. Junior Joe Montano got a clean look from 16 feet out on the baseline, but his shot was just long, bounding off the back of the iron as time expired.

Flo Silva led Bishop Eustace with a game-high 30 points. Senior Quenton Nelson added 15 points for Red Bank Catholic before fouling out early in the second overtime.

(3) Paul VI 44, (6) CBA 41

Senior Chima Ekekeugbor scored 11 points and CBA had a chance to tie the game in the final second, but came up short in a loss to the Eagles. Senior Louie Pillari stole the ball with 10 seconds left, but missed a jumper that would have cut the lead to one. After a missed free-throw, senior Rob Kennedy's desperation heave missed as time expired.

Sophomore Pat Andree also scored 10 points for CBA, while junior Jack Laffey added eight in defeat.