GMCT title in hand, Bears chase state crown Old Bridge tops CBA to reach state semifinal BY DOUG McKENZIE Staff Writer ERIC SUCAR staff East Brunswick's John McLaughlin (l) and Travis Heilman try to block a St. Joseph spike during the Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament final in East Brunswick Bears on May 23. The St. Joseph High School volleyball team knows what it takes to win championships. First and foremost, somewhere along the line, you have to beat East Brunswick. The Falcons got yet another chance to unseat the four-time defending Greater Middlesex Conference Tournament champs on May 23, only to fall a bit short once again. The top-seeded Bears (24-2) came out aggressive against the second-seeded Falcons (23-9), providing the hometown fans with plenty of early excitement in taking the first game, 25-16. Needing to up their level of play, the Falcons did just that to start the second game, taking a pair of early leads. However, the Bears responded and took a 5-4 lead, then methodically outscored St. Joe's en route to the 25-19 win, and their fifth consecutive conference title. East Brunswick got strong performances from throughout its lineup, led by senior opposite Travis Heilman (eight kills, three blocks and two aces). While disappointed with the loss, the Falcons showed their resiliency the following day when they dominated West Windsor South, 25-18, 25-10, in the second round of the NJSIAA South tournament. Then on Wednesday, they knocked off Washington Township, 25-17, 25-17, to reach the semifinals of the state tournament. Their opponent in today's match? The rival Bears. East Brunswick, the second seed in the tournament, made quick work of Williamstown on Wednesday, posting a 25-15, 25-18 victory, as senior middle blocker John McLaughlin led the way with 10 kills, while Heilman and Eric Corpus added nine kills each. The Falcons are hoping to relocate some of the magic that guided their state championship run last year - a year in which they lost to the Bears three times before finally beating them in the state tournament. It seems that no matter what tournament you're talking about (at least as far as St. Joseph's is concerned) - sooner or later, you're going to have to beat East Brunswick. Resilient Knights reach semifinals as well The Old Bridge boys lacrosse team was on the verge of elimination from the state tournament on Wednesday before finding a little magic of their own, defeating Christian Brothers Academy, 23-25, 25-23, 25-17. The Knights (21-10) lost the first game despite leading for most of the way, and were down 20-18 in the second game before turning up their level of play a bit. Led by the play of Elvis Obi (eight kills, three digs, two blocks), Joe Nemeth (11 kills) and Matt Guzzo (29 assists and two digs), the Knights managed to tie the second game at 23 before scoring the final two points to even the match. Old Bridge then dominated the third game to advance to the semifinal round, where they'll face top-seeded Southern Regional today at 4:30 p.m. The winner of today's semifinals will play for the NJSIAA Central-South championship on June 8.