Another big win for Gill St. Bernard’s, as No. 4 Knights win at No. 2 St. Thomas Aquinas, 67-54

In a tight game for the first half, No. 5 Gill St. Bernard’s took control in the second, and came out of North Edison Sunday night with a third signature win of the season.

The first came over state-ranked St. John Vianney in the opening game of the Holiday Hoopfest at Paterson-Kennedy over the holidays, 61-44. The second was in their finale at show showcase, a convincing 66-41 victory over St. Rose, a day after No. 1 Rutgers Prep – which beat Gill on December 16th – lost to the Purple Roses.

And now, a third, thanks to big second halves from seniors Sidney Quinn and Gandy Malou-Mamel.

With five ties and five lead changes in the first 16 minutes, the game was back-and-forth. Each team would make a run, and the other would counter.

After the break, Gill did a better job rebounding, and looked crisper with their passes. They flustered the Trojans.

Quinn hit a pair of dagger threes in a ten-point third quarter to help erase a four-point halftime deficit, and give the Knights a 47-37 lead, a 14-point swing.

And in the fourth, it never got closer than seven, thanks to another three and a couple of foul shots from Quinn, but also seven points from Malou-Mamel, who got better looks in the low post with Quinn’s made threes helping stretch the STA defense across the floor.

The non-conference win puts Gill at 9-2 on the season, while St. Thomas falls to 9-3, suffering its first loss to a New Jersey team this season. Their others came in showcase games to New York squads Moore Catholic and Monsignor McClancy.

Things get no easier for Gill this week, as they visit No. 3 Hillsborough Tuesday, then play the home end of their two games with No. 1 Rutgers Prep up in Peapack-Gladstone on Thursday.

Click below for postgame reaction from Gill St. Bernard’s head coach Mark Gnapp: