Boys Basketball: South Brunswick cruises behind its top inside/outside duo
PERTH AMBOY — After splitting a pair of two-point decisions in its last two outings, South Brunswick was hoping for an easier time of things on Thursday.
In a slumping, youthful Perth Amboy squad, they faced an opponent that reluctantly obliged.
South Brunswick (11-5), ranked eighth in the Home News Tribune area Top 10, scored the first seven points and never trailed in posting an 83-42 pounding of the 10th-ranked Panthers (8-8).
The Vikings boast one of the area’s premier inside/outside duos in Harmehar Chhabra and Kalani Antoine, respectfully, and the dynamic duo did not disappoint before each sat out the final quarter. Antoine dropped a game-high 24 points and added five rebounds, five assists and four steals. Chhabra contributed 11 points, all in the first half, 11 boards and three blocks to the cause.
As significant as their efforts were, it was the play of their teammates long before the game entered garbage time that bodes well for the Vikings as they approach the post season.
After spotting South Brunswick the game’s first seven points, Perth Amboy rallied to within 10-9 behind six of Lorenzo Perez’s team-leading 10 points. The Vikings broke the game open with a 10-0 run, the last three baskets coming from junior forward Dan Swirad. Jayden Muniz hopped off the bench and splashed a pair of 3s to ignite another 10-0 spurt that left South Brunswick with an insurmountable 37-13 advantage.
Perth Amboy has now dropped five of its last six contests after a five-game winning streak improved it to 7-3.
What it means
This was a non-divisional game in the Greater Middlesex Conference. South Brunswick finished 5-3 in the Red Division, while Colonia is 7-5 in the White Division.
Key play
With Perth Amboy on a 9-3 tear to reduce the margin to 10-9, Chhabra converted off an inbounds pass from Arshvir Singh to ignite the 10-0 run that put the margin in double digits for good.
By the numbers
South Brunswick scored 22, 24 and 22 points over the first three quarters to forge a 68-31 advantage.
Other key contributors for the Vikings include Bruce Muniz (10 points, three assists) and Johnny Rappocio (five boards).
Ariel Perez had five assists and five steals for Perth Amboy, while Angel Rosario claimed six caroms and two blocks along with seven points.
The Vikings are 1-4 in games decided by five points or less and all four losses are to ranked teams: North Brunswick, St. Joseph and Colonia (twice).
Game balls
Antoine and Chhabra nearly outscored Perth Amboy by themselves. Their complementary games provide matchups nightmares for most opponents.
They said it
“We won a close game on the road the other day (38-36 at J.P. Stevens) which felt great to kind of close one of those out. Any time you have a chance to get everybody on the floor a little bit that’s good because, in those close games, not everybody plays,” South Brunswick coach Joe Hoehman said. “Today, the ball was going in, we knocked down a bunch of threes and with our big guy down low it makes for a tough matchup. In tonight’s game, we needed to defend the ball. We have a lot of quick guards and when they’re shooting well you can’t sag off.”
Antoine explained, when asked about South Brunswick’s approach coming in, “Defensive stops and pushing the ball. When we slow the ball down we don’t get as many transition points so we executed throughout the game and got our points up. A lot of our guys don’t get much playing time but, when they get playing time, they show up. We love our guys and we have a lot of guys who can play on our team.”
Up next
South Brunswick has a week off until it hosts East Brunswick, who it defeated 67-41 earlier this month, next Thursday. Perth Amboy tries to snap out its funk at Immaculata on Saturday.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: Boys Basketball: South Brunswick cruises over Perth Amboy
