St. Joe’s wins 1st Bergen County Jamboree Basketball title since 2005

St Joe’s won its first Jamboree title in over 10 years.

The combination of St. Joseph’s senior Nate Garvey and junior Chauncey Hawkins proved to be too much to handle for Don Bosco Prep in the Bergen County Jamboree championship game at the Rothman Center on the campus of Fairleigh Dickinson University as the duo scored 20 points apiece lifting the Green Knights to their first Jamboree title in 11 years 69-54. Junior Joe Radi chipped in with 13 points while junior Isaac Hippolyte added 12 points.

“By far the best and most complete game we have played this season,” said St. Joseph Head Coach Michael Doherty. “Our kids had to play with composure and they did,” added Doherty. “I’m really proud of these kids and they have grown tremendously.

“Being able to execute and come through on such a big stage is a real credit to our guys” “The last couple of game we hit our free throws and played great defense” “a simple formula, if you keep it to double digits, get one or two stops, hit free throws, and don’t turn the ball over however it happens good things will happen”

Trailing 17-16 with 4:17 remaining in the second quarter, St. Joseph’s defense turned out to be the game changer not allowing a single Ironmen point the rest of the period. Offensively, the Green Knights went on a 9-0 run with Garvey punctuating the run hitting a jumper with 2.4 seconds left.

“We made big plays to get that eight point lead when it was 17-16” said Michael Doherty. “You know they were going to make a run and some shots but our defense and on the other end took care of the ball, limited turnovers and made big buckets to keep that distance,” added Doherty.

In the 3rd quarter, Hawkins canned a trey bumping the lead up to 32-22 with 4:55 left. Garvey took over scoring six points as the lead grew to 40-28. Don Bosco answered closing the quarter on a 7-2 run trimming the deficit to 42-35.

Garvey knocked down a trifecta 18 seconds into the fourth quarter expanding the advantage to 45-35. With 7:25 left, the Green Knights erupted for a 12-5 widening the margin to 57-43 with 2:53 remaining on the clock. Down the stretch, St. Joe’s hit 6 of 10 free throws to maintain their lead.

“It’s great to have, wanted it since my freshman year and we haven’t won in 11 years” said Nate Garvey. “A lot of motivation coming into this game and wanting to play out hearts out and made sure we got the win” added Garvey. “We have a motto, Stop Bucket, Stop Bucket which we did to get the lead”

Sophomore Marcellus Earlington led Don Bosco in scoring with 13 points while senior Brandon Anderson netted 12 points.
“Omar just hit a three that put us up by one and they went on a 9-0 run, obviously a big part in the game but they did that all game” said Don Bosco Prep Head Coach Kevin Diverio. “Every time we cut into the lead they hit a big shot” added Diverio. “Hats off to them, they played a great game, we have to regroup and get ready for the state’s” “We definitely had trouble finishing around the rim and they did a nice job rebounding the ball, played well on both ends of the floor and outplayed us tonight”