Middletown South Storms Past Long Branch For Key B North Win

Photos by Tom Smith: #15 David Gervase, #32 Nick Unrath, #11 Matt Laudisi, #22 Ryan Purcell

MIDDLETOWN – Seniors David Gervase and Nick Unrath sparked a second-half attack after a lackluster first half left the Eagles trailing Long Branch 24-20 at the half.

Gervase scored all 10 of his points, including seven in a decisive third quarter, and Unrath scored 13 of his team-high 16 points in the second half as the Eagles outscored the Green Wave 43-19 in the second half and rolled to a 63-43 win over Long Branch Thursday in Middletown.

“We had rough first half and we came out fighting in the second half and the shots started falling,” Gervase said of his team’s second-half intensity. “I didn’t play great in the first half and I started to kick the ball out and it got me some more open looks in the second half.”

Five times in the second half Gervase kicked the ball out to Unrath who then knocked down three three-pointers and two-two’s off Gervase assists. Gervase finished with a team-high seven assists to go along with his team-high seven rebounds while Unrath's 16 points included four three-pointers - three in the second half.

“Nick had a huge game for us, he really stepped up,” Gervase said of teammates big night. “I knew he was going to knock them down because of how hot he was.”

Long Branch held South’s high-scoring guard Ryan Purcell to 14 points - six through three-plus quarters - collapsing their defense around him so it was up the rest of the team to step up. Purcell averages 19 points a game this season after putting up 17 a game last season when he was an All-Division selection.

“Teams are definitely going to play up on the line against him, you’d be crazy not to,” said Eagles head coach Jim Anderson, who’s in his first year back with the Eagles after coaching them from 1994 to 2001. “We need that third or fourth scorer; today we had four guys in double figures - which was huge.

“Gervase did not play well in the first half and we had a little talk at halftime,” Anderson added. “He’s as athletic a kid as there is in the Shore Conference and when he can get himself settled down he can be really good and Unrath had a good game too. He’s a three-year starter who had his best game of the year tonight, which is great to see. He’s worked hard at it and I’m really proud of him”

Trailing 24-20 at the start of the second half, senior Matt Laudisi knocked down a three-point shot out of the gate to pull the Eagles to within one then stole the ball and scored on a layup to give South a 25-24 lead a minute and a half into the third quarter.

Laudisi finished with 13 points, including three three’s, four rebounds and two steals.

Long Branch then took a 28-27 lead but Gervase’s three-point play gave the lead back to Middletown South for good and Gervase and Unrath then combined for 14 points to close out the third quarter giving the Eagles a 41-34 lead after three quarters.

Another Gervase three-point play and a Unrath three-pointer pushed the Eagles lead to 47-34 at the 6:20 mark of the fourth quarter as the Eagles began to pull away for good.

Long Branch was held scoreless in the fourth until Matt Clarke scored on a layup with just 3:10 left in the game but by then the score was already 58-34.

Seniors Tryree Morris (13 pts.) and Kamar Mimes (11 pts.) and junior Marc Dennis (7 pts.) led Long Branch's scoring attack.

South lost to Long Branch 41-31 on opening night so not only was the game a payback but it bumps the Eagles (7-5, 5-2) into sole possession of second place in the B North. South has now won two in a row and four of five games, including Tuesday’s 57-45 win over B North rival Ocean Township – ranked eighth in the Shore Conference.

“We’ve just grown so much. I’m back as a first year coach and they’ve gotten used to the system and everything that we’re running,” said Anderson when asked about his team’s turnaround. “You can see, when we play well we’re tough. We’re making shots, it may sound simple but coaches look good when guys make shots. We’ve work so much on shooting the ball and the fruits and labors are starting to come through for us.”

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