There’s a bit of a Native American flavor to this matchup, as we have Piscataway, whose nickname is the Chiefs, facing Cherokee. The game will be a battle, as it involves two high-quality Garden State public school teams. Wayne Newsom ’10 and Tristan Benjamin ’09 lead Piscataway, while Cherokee is comprised of some lesser-known, but talented ball players. The game just started, and again, I only have numbers, so I apologize for that.

3:12pm- We’re four minutes into the game and it’s tied up at four.

3:13pm- Wayne Newsom made a nice pass to #1, who converted on the fast break, giving Piscataway an early two-point advantage.

3:15pm- A nice play from #44 on Cherokee to grab a board and put in an awkward shot down low.

3:17pm- We’re not even eight minutes into the game and Tristan Benjamin already has three fouls. He is being left in after a Piscataway timeout though.

3:22pm- A jumper from #14 has put Cherokee on top 13-12 with about 7:30 to play in the first half.

3:23pm- Back-to-back baskets from Newsom has put Piscataway ahead 16-13.

3:27pm- #4 on Piscataway has just scored with about four minutes to go, pushing the Chiefs’ lead to five points, 18-13.

3:29pm- I just found out that one of Piscataway’s top players, Aaron Hush ’09 (a football star), is not here today.

3:30pm- Piscataway is ahead 20-16 with one minute to go.

3:31pm- #13 on Cherokee drained a trey with 7.2 seconds left to cut the Chiefs’ lead to one point. At the other end, Piscataway’s #20 had a runner in the lane go in and out, sending it to halftime with Piscataway up 20-19.

3:32pm- Newsom, Benjamin, and #4 all have six points for Piscataway. For Cherokee, #22  is the top scorer, also with a half dozen points.

3:35pm- Piscataway has scored two quick baskets in the first 50 seconds of the second half, and now leads 24-19.

3:36pm- A basket by Cherokee has stopped Piscataway little run before they start to get too much momentum.

3:37pm- #22 on Cherokee now has three fouls and was taken out as a result.

3:38pm- Wayne Newsom got the ball and passed it to #12, who went up, double pumped, and banked it off the glass from about five feet. The Chiefs are up 26-21 with just over 17 minutes to play.

3:39pm- Cherokee was called for a 10-second violation in the backcourt after some nice pressure defense by Newsom and one of his teammates.

3:40pm- Newsom, who is having a great game, banged in two shots from the line to stretch Piscataway’s lead to seven, 28-21.

3:42pm- A bucket by the Chiefs from Benjamin has made it an 11-point game, 32-21, as they are outscoring Cherokee 12-2 this half.

3:43pm- #3 on Cherokee made one of two at the line, making it 32-22 with about 12:30 left.

3:44pm- Cherokee has cut the lead down to single digits, 32-24, with 11 minutes to play.

3:47pm- Piscataway went on a 6-0 run to lead 38-24, but Cherokee answered back with a deuce, cutting the lead back down to a dozen.

3:48pm- Tristan Benjamin just got his fourth foul, with about 7:30 left in the game.

3:49pm- #20 on Cherokee just banked in a three from the CORNER! You don’t see that every day. Piscataway then scored a bucket, and Cherokee’s #22 hit a long two.

3:50pm- Piscataway just took a timeout with 5:40 to play, leading 44-33.

3:53pm- With 3:00 to go, it’s Piscataway out in front by nine, 46-37.

3:54pm- Piscataway got a bucket from #5, who maneuvered in the post and used the glass well.

3:55pm- #13 knocked in a trey for Cherokee to cut the lead down to seven points, 48-41, with 1:17 showing on the clock.

3:57pm- The clock is stopped after five fouls by Cherokee. #22 just got his fourth foul on the third of Cherokee’s five straight fouls.

3:59pm- Cherokee couldn’t foul Piscataway for a sixth time, as the Chiefs passed it around. They turned the ball over though, and that led to a Cherokee bucket, trimming the margin to five.

4:00pm- Tristan Benjamin got three points the old fashioned way, and then #22 banged in a trey with three seconds left.

4:01pm- Piscataway has the win by a score of 51-46.

Tristan Benjamin was the game’s top scorer with 13 points. Wayne Newsom added eight points for the Chiefs. For Cherokee, #1 was the leading scorer with 12 points. Tristan Benjmain is Northstar Basketball’s MVP for Piscataway, while #22 takes the award for Cherokee.