by Alex Schwartz

The second of three straight NYC Catholic School vs. NJ public school games has already begun. This one is a matchup between Bishop Loughlin (NY) and Union (NJ). The boys from New York are led by Jayvaughn Pinkston '10, Antoine Brown '09, Trevon Hamlet '09, and Branden Frazier '10. For Union (NJ), the main players are Dion Nesmith '09 and Aishon White '10. The first quarter is complete, so I'll fill you in on how it's been going.

1:53pm- After eight minutes of action, Bishop Loughlin is up 20-18.

1:56pm- Dion Nesmith '09 scored to tie the game at 20, but Trevon Hamlet '09 quickly answered with a deuce to give the lead back to Bishop Loughlin.

1:59pm- After a bucket by Aishon White '10 for Union, the Garden State squad trails 28-25. Jayvaughn Pinkston '10 of Bishop Loughlin—the best player on either squad—has not played yet for some reason.

2:01pm- With 4:05 left in the half, Bishop Loughlin is up 30-27.

2:03pm- A tough deuce from Branden Frazier '10 has given Bishop Loughlin a 35-27 lead with less than four minutes to go in the second quarter.

2:04pm- A Union three by Javon Moore '09 has made this a five-point game, 35-30.

2:05pm- A bucket by Shamoree Strawn '11 was answered by a triple from White to cut the lead down to four, 37-33, but Hamlet scored at the other end to push the lead back to a half dozen.

2:08pm- It's 41-35 after James Daniels '10 of Union and Mark York '10 of Loughlin exchanged buckets.

2:09pm- Frazier hit a triple to beat the buzzer, giving the Lions a nine-point cushion, 44-35, entering halftime.

2:26pm- With 4:30 left in the third quarter, Bishop Loughlin is up by seven, 47-40.

2:28pm- It's 51-44 with three minutes left in the third period of action.

2:29pm- An offensive rebound and putback by Nesmith has cut the Lions' lead to five, 51-46, with the clock showing 2:35.

2:32pm- With 38.8 seconds to go in the quarter, Javon Moore went to the line for Union and hit the first of two to make it 55-49.

2:34pm- Frazier hit a three for Loughlin, but Josh Kolas '09 responded with one of his own. Moore nearly hit a halfcourt buzzer beater, but was just off, so it's going to be 58-52 Lions with eight minutes to go in regulation.

2:37pm- Branden Frazier is having a great game. He just knocked down a three, and is leading his team in the absence of Pinkston.

2:39pm- With 5:50 to play, Bishop Loughlin has a 65-56 lead.

2:40pm- A Javon Moore three has made it 65-59.

2:41pm- Union has taken a lot of threes in this affair, and seems to live and die by the long ball. The Farmers are down 65-59 with 4:19 left.

2:45pm- With 2:52 to go, Bishop Loughlin holds a 69-61 lead.

2:48pm- An easy deuce by Hamlet has made this a double-digit game, 71-61.

2:49pm- Union has scored a quick five points to make it 71-66 and is right back in this game, with just under two minutes to go.

2:51pm- Aishon White missed a pair at the line for Union, so it's still a five-point ballgame.

2:52pm- Union couldn't take advantage of a missed free throw by Loughlin, turning the ball over. The Farmers then fouled Brown with 62 seconds left, and he hit both shots to make it 73-66.

2:54pm- After Union came up empty-handed, Aishon White picked up his fourth foul, sending Brown back to the stripe ,where he hit the second of two. It's now 74-66.

2:58pm- With 24.1 seconds remaining, the Lions are ahead 75-66. White has missed four straight at the line for the Farmers.

3:00pm- The game is over and Bishop Loughlin has a hard-fought 76-66 victory.

3:01pm- The MVP award for Union went to Javon Moore, who scored 19 points. The Bishop Loughlin MVP honoree was Branden Frazier, who dropped 36 points, nailed six treys.

3:09pm- I caught up with Branden Frazier and Trevon Hamlet after the game.