Both RBC and Colts Neck began their seasons with victories and turned their eyes upon each other for a Shore Conference showdown on Tuesday afternoon in Colts Neck. RBC came into the gym with Tyler Burnam sidelined for today's game and shuffled their roster accordingly.
The Caseys fired the opening salvo, jumping out to a 5-0 lead behind a pair of buckets from 6’4’ junior Ryan Prior and 6’3” senior wing Pasquale Sabino. Colts Neck responded with a set of buckets and after a set of Michael Belcher free throws, found themselves in the game, trailing 7-6 with 2:15 to go in the first. Colts Neck briefly took the lead but RBC leveled the game after 1 when the senior backcourt of RBC connected, with Luke Iasparro found a cutting Colin Cavanaugh to tie the game at 9 after a quarter.
The Cougars scored the first two baskets of the second to take a 13-9 lead. Colts Neck surged ahead in the middle of the quarter behind several buckets from Belcher, forcing a timeout from RBC with the Cougars up 19-11 midway through the quarter. The Caseys cut the run as Iasparro came up with a steal and dish to Sabino,giving them a much needed boost, but Vova answered with a triple to push the lead to 22-13 for Colts Neck with 2:30 to go in the opening half. Iasparro would come up with another dish to Sabino as the half wound down but it was the Cougars who went to the locker room with the lead, 26-19.
Trotsko buried a three to start the third and the Cougars were rolling with a double digit lead. Belcher finished a patient set on their next trip and after a steal and putback by Dillon Younger, RBC found themselves in a fifteen point hole, down 33-19 with 6:26 to go in the third. Colts Neck put the pedal to the floor to open the game up, expanding their lead to 42-22 after a Vova layup with two minutes left in the third. They expanded their lead after a pair of technical fouls to 50-24 after three quarters.
The fourth quarter saw both teams empty their benches gradually and Colts Neck cruised to a dominant 57-26 victory.
Case Agency Player Of The Game:
Michael Belcher, Colts Neck
Belcher was the best player on the floor for either team at both ends of the floor. He attacked the basket confidently and creatively, got his points, involved his teammates and delivered the goods with lockdown defense. The Misericordia bound senior ended the contest with a game high 16 points.
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