The Colonia Patriots came into Monroe High looking to claim their first County Championship since 2015, which was the last time a public school won the GMC Title. They used toughness and poise down the stretch to break the streak and claim their first title in almost a decade after they defeated St Thomas Aquinas 55-45.
Colonia jumped out to an early lead at 8-2 but by the midway point of the quarter, St Thomas had brought the game back to one possession. Colonia restored a two possession lead after a pair of free throws from promising 6’6” Sophomore Aiden Derkack. A plot twist on the next possession came when Colonia’s top post player, James Curet, picked up his second foul of the opening quarter.
The teams traded triples to start the second quarter but it was the Trojans ahead 20-15 after an Aiden Ur floater as the quarter approached its midway point. St Thomas took a slender 27-25 lead into the break.
The teams continued to trade baskets in a tight third quarter and easy baskets were at a premium as both teams ratcheted up the on-ball defense, with the scored tied at 32-32 midway through. With the score tied at 36 inside the final minute of the quarter, Rion Ahmetaj was fouled going to the basket and hit both to give St Thomas a 38-36 lead with under twenty seconds to go. Ahmetaj stole the inbounds and found a streaking Ur to make it 40-36 after 3.
Colonia responded with the first two baskets of the fourth quarter and tied the game at 40 apiece after a strong take to the rim by Derkack. The teams continued the cat-and-mouse game as the fourth ticked away, with the game tied at 44 with 3:00 to go. Derkack was able to bait Ur into a foul, sending him to the line. The sophomore stepped up to hit both free throws and give Colonia a 46-44 lead with 2:43 to play in the game. After a Jaeden Jones bucket and Derkack free throw, Colonia extended its lead to 51-44 with under a minute to go. The Patriots sealed the win on the free throw line and walked out of Monroe High as GMC Champions with a 55-45 win.
