Razorbacks, Jammers Score Wins During YMCA 30+ Men's Second Game

Week two action in the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA 30+ men's basketball league saw the Jammers open their season 2-0 and the Razorbacks level their record at 1 and 1.

In game No. 1 Sunday morning at the Y, the Razorbacks defeated the Clippers, 56-44.

The 'Backs jumped out 16-6 after the first quarter behind six points and seven rebounds from Joe Negley. Using low-post power moves, 'Back's newcomer Jason Holley chipped in seven points and three rebounds in the second quarter giving his team a 12 point lead. But two late buckets by Kevin "the Commish" Adams and one by Dave Berger closed the halftime margin to 30-24.

Quick second-half buckets by the Clip's Dave Berger and Gene Tavera cut the Razorback's lead to 30-28. 

Reverting to their low-post power game, 'Back's Joe Negley powered his way to ten points and Jason Holley added five to close the 3rd quarter leading 46-34 while holding the Clippers to only four points. The Clippers managed to score 10 points in the fourth quarter but were unable to hold off the Razorbacks as they also scored 10 points in the final stanza to complete the scoring.

The Razorbacks were led by Joe Negley's 18 points and 16 rebounds. Jason Holley added 22 points and nine glass cleaners, while Kevin Adams led the Clippers with 10 points. Pete Donahue and Gene Tavera grabbed seven rebounds each for the Clippers.

The Razorbacks evened their record at 1-1 while the Clippers fell to 0-2 for the season.

Later that morning, the Jersey Jammers edged the X-Men 48-42 in the second game of the day's two-game schedule.

Steve Filler, Eric Halpin and Adam Mertz scored four points each in the first quarter for the Jammers as they closed the first leading 14-10.

Finding his shooting touch, X-Men Jamal Berry tossed in seven second quarter points to close out the half, pulling his team to within one, 24-23.   

A fast-paced second half, with the X-Men and Jammers mostly trading baskets, left the game tied at 37 with four minutes left to go. 

Jammer's Ananias Battle and X-Men's Berry took matters in their own hands for their respective teams, trading basket after basket before the Jammers balanced team attack let them pull away late in the fourth quarter with a 7-2 run to complete the scoring.

Ananias Battle scored 11 points and grabbed seven rebounds, while Eric Halpin and Adam Mertz chipped in 10 points. each for the Jammers. The X-Men were led by Berry's 27 points and 10 rebounds. Jammers improved to 2-0 while the X-Men evened their record at 1-1.

Week three games are slated for the FSPY Martine Avenue gym this Sunday, March 14. Admission is free to the first 200 fans. The Clippers face the Jammers  at 10 a.m., while the Razorbacks take on the X-Men at 11 a.m. 

For more information about the league, contact the Fanwood-Scotch Plains YMCA at 908-889-8880.

League stats thru two games:

Top 5 Scoring (Minimum 2 games played)
1. Jamal Berry (XMEN), 24.5
2. Kevin Adams (Clippers), 14.0
3. Joseph Negley (Razorbacks), 13.5
4. Jason Shann (Razorbacks), Dave Berger (Clippers), Steve Filler (Jersey Jammers), 12.0
5. Jason Shann (Razorbacks), Dave Berger (Clippers), Steve Filler (Jersey Jammers), 12.0

Top 5 Rebounding (Minimum 2 games played)
1. Jamal Berry (XMEN), 14.0
2. Gene Tavara (Clippers), 8.0
3. Eric Halpin (Jersey Jammers), Jason Shann (Razorbacks), Joseph Negley (Razorbacks), Sid Jackson Jr. (XMEN), 8.0
4. Eric Halpin (Jersey Jammers), Jason Shann (Razorbacks), Joseph Negley (Razorbacks), Sid Jackson Jr. (XMEN), 8.0
5. Eric Halpin (Jersey Jammers), Jason Shann (Razorbacks), Joseph Negley (Razorbacks), Sid Jackson Jr. (XMEN), 8.0

Week 2 Standings:
Team     W     L     PCT      GB      PF     PA     Diff
Jammers  2     0     1.000    0.0     112    80     32
X-MEN    1     1     .500     1.0     98     87     11
'backs   1     1     .500     1.0     94     108    (-14)
Clips    0     2     .000     2.0     83     112    (-29)