SP-F Boys Basketball Beats New Providence to Advance in County Tournament

Scotch Plains-Fanwood found a way to overcome a 16-rebound deficit and a monster game by New Providence post man Jack Cole in the preliminary round of the Union County Tournament: Make every shot.

While it may not be a formula for long-term success, it worked out well for the Raiders on Sunday afternoon at Rahway in a 65-60 victory over the Pioneers.

Scotch Plains knocked down all eight of its shots in the final period, including three three-pointers apiece by Charles Oliver and Patrick Dougher, and rallied twice from eight points down to improve to 6-13. Oliver, who hit five threes, scored 27 points, with three steals and five assists.

Dougher added five threes to finish with 19 points and three assists.

"We do shoot the ball well when we get to playing well," said Raider head coach Dan Doherty. "But we tend to live and die on it. Fortunately we have Chuck and Patrick. They're our two leading scorers and they're the ones looking to get hot for us."

The two put on a show in the final period when their torrid shooting allowed the Raiders to overcome a four-point deficit heading into the final period. That New Providence advantage was achieved with two late buckets inside by 6-8 post man Jack Cole, who led the Pioneers with 18 points and also blocked five shots.

"Cole is a very talented player," Doherty said. "We wanted to pressure the guards more because 30 points is way too many points to give up in the first half. So we picked the defense up a little in the second half. It's playing hard consistently. We're a young team and that's the hardest thing for us to do."

Trailing 43-40 two minutes into the final period, Scotch Plains began its sharp-shooting surge with a pair of three-pointers by Dougher, the second of which put the Raiders on top for good. Oliver's three from the right wing with 4:50 left in the game gave Scotch Plains its biggest lead to that point at 49-43.

After a New Providence basket narrowed the margin to four, Oliver delivered a dagger with yet another three from the left corner while he was being fouled. He completed the four-point play to extend the lead to 53-45.

But New Providence was far from done, and Cole got a stickback and a free throw to keep the Pioneers within striking distance at 53-48.

Oliver kept firing away… and kept hitting his target. Another three with 3:18 remaining pushed the lead back to eight. Doran Nelson collected a rebound at the other end and fired a court-length pass to Oliver for a breakaway basket to make the lead 10 at the 3:02 mark.

But just when it looked like the Raiders were on cruise control, the wheels began to come off as New Providence took advantage of a missed free throw and two turnovers to cut the lead to 58-56 after an 8-0 run over a one-minute, 47-second span.

"Two different teams," Doherty said with a wry grin. "The team that took the 10-point lead and the team that gave eight points back in 30 seconds."

But Dougher rained in another three-pointer with 33 seconds left, and New Providence misfired on the other end. The Raiders made 2 of 3 free throws, though Joe Meyers gave the Pioneers hope with an end-to-end dash for a lay-up that made it 62-58 with 15 seconds left. A rebound basket with four seconds remaining gave the Pioneers one final hope, but Oliver delivered a court-length inbounds pass to Alfredo Pawid for a basket at the buzzer to set the final margin.

Things got off to a rough start for Scotch Plains, which trailed 14-5 after three straight Cole buckets. Oliver kept the Raiders close with a three and a fast-break bucket off a Pawid steal. Dougher then scored eight straight points on a pair of threes and a steal and lay-up as Scotch Plains surged into the lead at 18-15 a minute into the second period.

But New Providence went on its own surge, turning a 20-17 deficit into a 28-20 lead with an 11-0 run. Oliver's runner stopped the run. His three-pointer and Nelson's rebound basket sent the Raiders into the locker room down only 30-28.

Two Nelson free throws 21 seconds into the second half knotted the game, though after Cole hit a pair of free throws 40 seconds later, the Raiders trailed until Dougher hit a three to tie it at 43 eight minutes later, and put them in front for good with another three with 5:30 left in the game.

Nelson finished with five points, seven rebounds and four assists. Matt Manns had four points – the first four of the game for Scotch Plains – five rebounds and a blocked shot. Scotch Plains, thanks to a perfect fourth period, shot 50 percent for the game at 23 of 46 overall, 11 of 22 from three.

New Providence out-rebounded the Raiders 39-23, but made only 1 of 9 from deep, 24 of 56 overall.

"We haven't been in the preliminary round in years," Doherty said. "We've always had a much higher seed. The county is very good. (New Providence) is a very good 18 seed. They struggled early and they've come on."

Scotch Plains takes on second seed Plainfield in the first round at Rahway at 7:30 p.m. on Wednesday.