Boys Basketball: Colonia tops Woodbridge, advances in GMCT

WOODBRIDGE - The Colonia High School boys basketball team likes this view of the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament a lot better than last year's. 

Last season, the Patriots as the No. 17 seed fell in the preliminary round to 16th-seeded Edison by one point. On Thursday night, Colonia advanced to the quarterfinals for the first time since the 2015-16 season with a 51-35 victory over 10th-seeded Woodbridge (12-10). 

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"It's always a big rivalry to play against Woodbridge, the team is always hyped to play against them, every year," Colonia's Luke Valeriano said. "We know all the players on their team, and we just want to go out there and, of course, get the win."

The seventh-seeded Patriots (13-8) earned a double-bye into the first round after finishing the regular season second in the White Division at 9-3. Compared to where they were at this point last year, Colonia second-year head coach Brandon Hall couldn't be happier with his team's performance. 

"It feels awesome, this is my second year, last year we were done already," Hall said. "I told these kids last week, we were talking in practice, and I said at this time you were handing your uniforms in to me. It feels awesome, this is my first time coaching in (the quarterfinals). I've played in it plenty of times, and I got to experience three or four straight quarterfinal experiences with Woodbridge when I was Matt (Gigliello's) assistant, so I'm excited to get there."

Colonia, which split the regular-season series with Woodbridge, trailed 9-7 at the end of the first quarter, but started to gain momentum in the second quarter, which saw three ties and three lead changes. 

Kyree Henry gave Woodbridge a 13-11 lead after hitting two free throws with 6:12 left, but that would be the last lead the Barrons would hold. The Patriots' Chad Baker scored eight-straight points, including two 3-pointers, to put Colonia ahead 19-13 with 3:36 left in the half. Henry scored again to cut the lead to 19-15, but another basket from Baker put the Patriots up 21-15. 

Kemari Persol connected on a 3-point play to pull Woodbridge to within 21-18 with 2:02 left, but Baker hit his third 3 of the game with 2.5 seconds left to give Colonia a 24-18 advantage at the half. 

In the third quarter both teams only scored nine points, but the Patriots mustered 18 points in the fourth quarter while holding Woodbridge to only eight. Leading 33-27 after three, Colonia went on a 10-0 run to take a 43-27 lead with 3:37 left in the game. The Barrons didn't score a point in the final quarter until Persol hit a 3-pointer with 3:24 remaining. 

"We just needed to pick it up, defensively they were getting second and third opportunities and offensively we were shooting the ball way too soon, we had to get through our sets and just play our basketball," Colonia's Frank Lehmann said of the second half. "We picked up our energy and got it done."

Baker led Colonia with 16 points, and Valeriano finished with 15 points. Kristian Chapmann chipped in eight points, while Connor Bevilacqua led with seven rebounds. Lehmann and Chris Sica each pulled down five rebounds. 

For Woodbridge, which was playing without Curtis Nesbit and Kesean Glover, Henry and Persol each scored 15 points. 

"Curtis Nesbit was out tonight, and they have a few other guys who are out for other reasons," Hall said. "I think it would have been a tough game with them, but those kids fought tonight, all the credit to those kids. To lose two starters in the span of a month and to still come in here and play the seven seed, and I think we're a very good team, and they hung tough. They had a lead at one point, they didn't fold at all."

Hall and his players credit team chemistry and experience for the Patriots' turnaround this season after finishing 7-15 last year. Colonia only lost three players to graduation and returned nine varsity players, which was pretty much the same starting lineup from last year. 

"I have the same team back, we added Chad Baker, he falls into our lap and that's something you can't really teach, that 6-5 height, but we're just playing hard," Hall said. "We have a deeper bench, last year I was playing six kids and it was hard. I asked the kids to do some different things this year and everything I've asked them they've gone above and beyond, so I'm just happy with them staying the course."

Luckily for Colonia, its playing some of its best basketball of the season at just the right time. The Patriots now move into the GMC Tournamemnt quarterfinals on Sunday riding a five-game win streak and will face second-seeded Piscataway. The Chiefs defeated No. 15 Spotswood 71-48 on Thursday night. 

Piscataway (20-2), the only GMC team to defeat top-seeded St. Joseph (Met.) this season, has won its last seven games. 

"This is a county tournament I think this year more than ever that is wide open, anybody can play with anybody, and I think the way we defend, we can match up with anybody," Hall said. "It's going to be hard, we don't score a ton, but if we come out and put our best foot forward defensively I think we can hang with anybody. We definitely have a big test in front of us, but we do well as the underdog and I'm looking forward to the challenge." 

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego