Colonia takes home GMCT crown
BY MIKE McDONALD
Staff Writer

Above, Metuchen’s Marqus Blakely tries to beat the defense of Colonia’s Chiseme Usuwa during the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament championshipgame at Rutgers University on Thursday. At left, Metuchen’s Nick Storts takes the ball to the rim.

The Colonia High School boys basketball team (22-3) beat Metuchen, 55-46, at Rutgers University’s Louis Brown Athletic Center in Piscataway to win the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament on Thursday.

Colonia’s head coach, Ken Pace, has talked all year about doing the little things that in the end lead to victories. On Thursday, it was indeed the little things that led Colonia to victory.

“We always work hard to make ourselves better. Hard work leads to victories,” Pace said.

Colonia, who last won a GMCT title in 2001, prepared well for the Bulldogs and were able to keep the Metuchen players on their heels the entire game with an aggressive, attacking approach. Colonia led from the beginning of the game and never relinquished the lead.

PHOTOS BY MIGUEL JUAREZ staff

“We knew it was important to grab momentum right from the start, and we were able to do that,” Pace said.

Colonia jumped out to a 15-7 lead and led 21-19 at the half.

The third quarter ended with Colonia leading by five, 38-33. This would be the closest the score would be for the rest of the game, as Colonia’s defense would take over.

Colonia was able to jump-start its offense with great defensive play. Metuchen was never able to get into any offensive rhythm, as Colonia forced 21 turnovers.

Offensively, Colonia was led by senior Jeff Totin, who was named the tournament’s Most Valuable Player, as he played a well-rounded game, collecting 16 points, dishing out six assists and making four steals.

Sophomore point guard Brandon Hall finished with 11 points and four assists — not bad numbers for someone who was expected to back up Zach Rosen this season.

Rosen, who was supposed to be the team’s starting point guard, has been sidelined all year with a broken elbow.

Nick Allan, who was the catalyst to Colonia’s success all season, struggled a bit against Metuchen, but like championship teams do, Colonia was able to find offense from another source. Vinny Darpino gave scored 10 points off the bench, including a key three-pointer.

The newly crowned GMCT champs don’t have much time to celebrate their title. The Patriots are seeded first in the NJSIAA North II, Group III bracket and will face the winner of the Warren Hills-Scotch Plains first-round game tomorrow.

As they look ahead to the state tournament, the Pats have every reason to be confident.

“At this point the only thing stopping us from getting wins is ourselves,” Pace said. “We need to all play on the same page, and only worry about Colonia.”

If they do that, there may be more trophies on the way.