Trenton caps incredible rally with OT victory

FLEMINGTON » It was both a comeback for the ages and a page right out of the playbook from the glory days of Trenton High School basketball.

When in doubt unleash defensive hell and that’s just what Trenton did in a fourth-quarter 17-point comeback that had to be seen to be believed Thursday night.

The result was Trenton was able to storm back for a 63-58 overtime victory against Hunterdon Central in a game that surely seemed lost and advance into the Central Jersey Group IV semifinals on Saturday at Hightstown.

“I told our kids never ever, ever, ever give up,’’ said Trenton coach Darryl Young as he emerged from a wild celebration at midcourt in the Hunterdon Central Fieldhouse. “It’s a life lesson we teach. There are no excuses.’’

To set the stage, after a fairly even first half defending sectional champion Hunterdon Central appeared to have this game locked up as it outscored the Tornadoes by 11 points in the third quarter to take a 53-36 lead into the fourth.

Through the first three quarters Central kept firing up three pointers with great success and consistently burned Trenton with back-door layups. While all of this was going on, Trenton struggled mightily from outside against the Red Devils’ zone.

Suddenly and seemingly from out of nowhere all of that changed.

The Hunterdon Central layups now became blocked shots and the Tornadoes started forcing turnovers. Trenton also finally heated up behind a monster fourth quarter by Reggie James.

First, James drove for a layup and converted the free throw to get the comeback underway. From there, he made two free throws, drained a three-point bomb and threw home a slam to draw Trenton to within 5351,

Hunterdon Central came back with its only three points of the entire fourth quarter, but James (21 points) had the answer for that with another threepointer to tie the score at 56-all,

After blocking a shot and getting the ball back, Trenton then held the ball with :46 remaining as Hunterdon Central continued to sit back in its zone. A Trenton shot with :05 remaining misfired and a Central heave down court clanged off the iron, but there was no doubt the momentum was now with the visitors heading into overtime.

Sure enough, Trenton dominated the overtime behind three free throws by James and two by Nichus Jackson (15 points) while holding Central to one basket.

How tenacious was the Trenton defense down the stretch? Consider Hunterdon Central scored exactly five points in the final 13 minutes.

“We kept telling the kids to not overplay,’’ replied Young when asked to explain the defensive turnaround. “Reggie then hit some threes and we made our free throws. It didn’t look good, but our kids refused to quit.’’

Brown 4-0-9, Jackson 5-4-14, James 6-7-21, McMillan 3-3-12, Vereen 1-0-2, Whitmore 1-0-3, Williams 1-0-2.

21-14-63.

Totals —

Bridenbaugh 3-0-6, Johansson 3-1-8, Johnson 4-2-10, MacKnight 1-0-3, Migliore 1-0-2, Oberman 7-0-18, Sperrazza 4-0-9.

23-3-58.

Totals — Trenton (20-7) 14 HuntCent (16-11) 14 3-point goals —

Brown, James 2, McMillan 3, Whitmore (T). Johansson, MacKnight, Oberman 4, Sperrazza (HC).

NON-PUBLIC B SOUTH TCA 69,

ST. JOSEPH HAMMONTON 56 HAMMONTON » Quashawn Lane scored 16 points, Rodrique Massanet had 14 and the fifth-seeded Iron Mikes knocked off the fourthseeded Wildcats.

Evans 3-1-8, Battle 4-0-10, Massanet 5-1-14, Reid 3-2-8, Lane 5-5-16, Ryland 4-3-11, Wright 1-0-2, Diamond 0-0-0, Burgess 0-0-0.

25-12-69.

Totals —

Ross 3-0-8, Blackwell 3-2-8, Benson 3-0-8, Blount 1-0-3, Griffin 2-0-4, Brown 1-0-2, Enwerji 0-2-2, Gonzales 10-1-21, Holman 0-0-0, Morris 0-0-0, Umoscila 0-0-0.

Totals — TCA (19-9) StJoe (20-7) 3-point goals — 16 — 23 —

Evans, Battle 2, Massanet 3, Lane (TCA). Ross 2, Benson 2, Blount (SJH).

63 58 69 56

CENTRAL GROUP II BORDENTOWN 81,

NEW PROVIDENCE 76 BORDENTOWN » Jacquey Mendez finished with 20 points to lead five Scotties in double figures and fourth-seeded Bordentown advanced to the semifinals to meet top-seeded Rumson-Fair Haven.

Bedder 4-11-19, Dillon 5-1-11, Kelly 7-0-14, Meyers 6-4-19, Trezza 4-2-11, Wawzycki 1-0-2.

Totals —

Burnett 6-1-13, Harris-Morales 3-1-7, Martin 4-1-12, Mendez 7-3-20, Sheehan 3-4-10, Shiver 4-2-14, Urena 1-0-3, Van Kline 1-0-2

29-12-81.

Totals —

23-5-56.

15 15

27-18-76.

NewProv (23-5) 15 Brdntown (19-9) 23 13 19 22 10 12 22 9 20 7 — 20 3 2— 16 8 19 20 30 — 16 — 76 81

3-point goals — Meyers 3, Trezza (NP). Martin 3, Mendez 3, Shiver 4, Urena (B).