Rutgers Signee Paul Mulcahy Helps Gill St Bernard Get Bye CBA

Photo's courtesy of Tom Smith: Team MVP's Paul Mulcahy and CBA's Josh Cohen

LINCROFT – The first game of Saturday’s Hoop Group Boardwalk Showcase pitted No. 4 Gill St. Bernard’s, featuring Rutgers-bound Paul Mulcahy, versus Shore Conference power Christian Brother’s Academy.

The principal draw to this game was Mulcahy, and the 6-foot-6 point guard didn’t disappoint the near capacity crowd at Brookdale’s Collins Arena. He scored 20 points, grabbed eight boards, dished out eight assists and added three blocks and three steals. For his performance he was voted the games MVP for Gill St. Bernard's leading the Knights to hard-fought 55-47 victory over the Colts.

Mulcahy came into the game averaging a triple-double putting up 19.5 points per game, 10.5 boards and 10.2 assists and Saturday he lived up to his billing. He put on an electrifying performance captivating a crowd that zeroed in on his every move, and had the many Rutgers fans in attendance dreaming of things to come.

The win was the Knights third in a row, all three against one-loss teams, since their heartbreaking one-point loss to No. 3 Bergan Catholic on New Year’s day.

“We were really disappointed after we lost to Bergen Catholic,” Mulcahy said. “We shot five of 26 and had 14 turnovers. You’re not going to win a lot of games that way. I think we’re slowly bouncing back, we’re a couple guys down right now but guys are stepping up and answering the call.”

Will Soucie, a 6-foot-5 wing averaging 17.1 points, 5.2 rebounds and 3.2 assists per game and who is generating D1 interest as a junior, is sidelined with a shin injury for an indefinite period of time. Also, 6-foot-6 Mendham transfer, forward Connor Murphy, who just became eligible Monday and averaged 19 points and 12.4 rebounds a last season for the Minutemen was out with an unspecified injury.

But that didn't faze Mulcahy, who always looks totally in control on the court and who has an uncanny knack of knowing when to take over and when to get others involved. His court vision is phenomenal and his passing touch is effortless making his no-look passes seem routine.

“I just look to make the right play, if my shot’s there I’m going to take it. If not, I’m not going to force it,” Mulcahy said. “We’ve got a lot of good players on our team.”

If there’s one knock on Mulcahy, and I don’t see it, people say his shot is not great. Saturday, he shot 5-of-7 from the field, and that included a half-court heave at the third quarter buzzer. He buried two long three’s and went 6-for-8 from the free-throw line, including 5-of-6 in the last minute of the game to put it away.

When CBA pulled to within four, 29-25, at the end of the first half on freshman Ryan Mabrey’s three-pointer at the buzzer, all Mulcahy did was score the Blue Knights first nine points of the third quater, including two three’s, to keep them ahead, 38-33, with the Colts breathing down their necks.

“A lot of people haven’t seen me that much and they just look at me and they’ve got opinions,” said Mulcahy. “I hear that, but I know the type of player I am and the shots I can take.”

CBA shadowed Mulcahy with two guys around the perimeter and when he drove to the basket the Colts collapsed on him but he still got the job done.

“We’re going to get everyone’s best game, we understand that,” Mulcahy said. “Finally, people are starting to respect us more, so we’re getting everyone’s best shot. They (CBA) played a good game, it was down at the Shore close to them, but we came out strong and I thought that was big for us.”

With 2:05 remaining in the game the Colts cut the Knights lead to four, 50-46, when Stephen Braunstein hit one of two free throws. The Knights then kept the ball in Mulcahy’s hands and CBA was forced to foul sending the star point guard to the line multiple times allowing him to ice the game with his clutch shooting.

The CBA student section known as the “Colt Crazies” for a reason, rode Mulcahy relentlessly but he’s getting used to it and takes the back-and-forth banter with a grain of salt.

“It’s a lot of fun,” he said. “They know who I am so they come out to see us play and that’s good for the rest of the team. The last two games the whole student section had head bands on so I think it’s funny.”

“He’s a good player, he’s one of the elite players in the state,” said CBA star center Josh Cohen, who finished with 11 points and 13 rebounds and was named the Colts MVP. “So, whenever you play one of those type of guys you try to learn from it.”

Mulcahy was in the stands for Rutgers big upset of Ohio State on Wednesday and loved what he saw but right now he’s totally focused on this year and getting his team a championship.

“This is the only season I’m focusing on right now,” Mulcahy said. “I love the guys and I want us to do well. We have business to take care of this year and then I’ll focus on next year.”

When asked why he chose Rutgers Mulcahy didn’t hesitate when he answered, “why not.” If you’re a Jersey guy you got to love that response, it says it all.

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