The 40th girls’ basketball Union County Tournament consists of one of the few undefeated teams in the state – Roselle Catholic – and a team that knocked off the No. 1 team in the state – the Patrick School of Elizabeth.
There are other capable teams as well, including New Providence, Westfield, Governor Livingston and Union. On any given night one of those teams could pull off an upset by knocking out a higher-seeded team.
Defending champion Roselle Catholic, the top seed, is off to its best start in school history at 19-0. Last year the Lions finished 25-2, setting a program record for wins. It was the third time in the past six seasons that Roselle Catholic set the program record for wins in a season.
By defeating New Providence 51-39 at home Wednesday night during the second annual “Play 4 Kay” Pink Out fundraiser, Roselle Catholic finished undefeated in Watchung Division play for the second straight season, this time at 10-0.
Roselle Catholic has now won the Union County Conference’s Watchung Division crown for the fifth year in a row. The Lions have also won a division title the past seven seasons and are one win away from winning at least 20 games for seven consecutive years.
Here’s a closer look:
ROSELLE CATHOLIC THE PAST 7 SEASONS:
2014-15: 19-0, so far, won UCC-Watchung Division (10-0)
2013-14: 25-2, won UCC-Watchung Division (14-0)
2012-13: 22-5, won UCC -Watchung Division (12-2)
2011-12: 20-7, won UCC-Watchung Division (13-1)
2010-11: 24-5, won UCC-Watchung Division (13-1)
2009-10: 22-3, won UCC-Mountain Division (12-1)
2008-09: 22-4, won MVC-Mountain Division (12-2)
UCC – Union County Conference
MVC – Mountain Valley Conference
Roselle Catholic, ranked No. 9 in the state, will host Donovan Catholic Saturday at 6 p.m. in a game the Lions added to their schedule.
Roselle Catholic then has one more regular season game remaining, which is a non-division home contest vs. Summit Feb. 25.
Roselle Catholic is 2-0 vs. second-seeded Patrick School, 2-0 vs. third-seeded New Providence, 2-0 vs. fourth-seeded Westfield, 1-0 vs. fifth-seeded GL and 2-0 vs. sixth-seeded Union.
The Patrick School defeated visiting Gloucester Catholic 54-47 Tuesday night. GC entered 15-2, was ranked No. 1 in the state and had not lost to an in-state team yet.
The Celtics then fell at home Wednesday night to Blair 66-58.
GL leads the Mountain Division standings and is 15-4 overall.
Hillside is the leader in the Valley Division and sports a 17-3 mark.
St. Mary’s, Elizabeth won the Sky Division and stood at 15-2 as of Thursday.
The tourney will commence with prelim games that will be played Friday and Saturday.
First round action is Tuesday, Feb. 17, with the quarterfinals to follow – two games at different sites – Friday, Feb. 20.
The semifinals – a doubleheader – are set for Tuesday, Feb. 24 at a site yet to be determined.
The junior varsity, at 6 p.m., and varsity, at 7:30 p.m., finals will take place Friday, Feb. 27 at Kean.
40TH GIRLS’ BASKETBALL UNION COUNTY TOURNAMENT
SEEDS: 1-Roselle Catholic. 2-Patrick School. 3-New Providence.
4-Westfield. 5-Gov. Livingston. 6-Union. 7-Hilllside. 8-Cranford.
9-Summit. 10-Johnson. 11-St. Mary’s, Elizabeth. 12-Union Catholic.
13-Scotch Plains. 14-Dayton. 15-Rahway. 16-Oak Knoll.
17-Elizabeth. 18-Plainfield. 19-Kent Place. 20-Roselle. 21-Linden.
PRELIMINARY ROUND
Friday, Feb. 13 and
Saturday, Feb. 14
17-Elizabeth at 16-Oak Knoll
18-Plainfield at 15-Rahway
19-Kent Place at 14-Dayton
20-Roselle at 13-Scotch Plains
21-Linden at 12-Union Catholic
FIRST ROUND
Tuesday, Feb. 17
TOP SIDE OF BRACKET
9-Summit at 8-Cranford
Eliz./Oak Knoll at 1-Roselle Catholic
Linden/UC at 5-Gov. Livingston
Roselle/SP at 4-Westfield
BOTTOM SIDE OF BRACKET
10-Johnson at 7-Hillside
Plain./Rahway at 2-Patrick School
11-St. Mary’s at 6-Union
Kent Place/Dayton at 3-New Providence
QUARTERFINALS
Friday, Feb. 20
Two twinbills
6 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
SEMIFINALS
Tuesday, Feb. 24
Doubleheader, TBA
6 p.m., 7:30 p.m.
FINALS
Friday, Feb. 27
At Kean
JV: 6 p.m.
Varsity: 7:30 p.m.
FRANK J. CICARELL UCT
GIRLS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS:
2014 – Roselle Catholic
2013 – Gov. Livingston
2012 – Gov. Livingston – first time
2011 – Roselle Catholic
2010 – Roselle Catholic
2009 – Roselle Catholic
2008 – Westfield – first time
2007 – Scotch Plains
2006 – Cranford – first time
2005 – Scotch Plains
2004 – Scotch Plains – first time
2003 – Roselle Catholic – first time
2002 – Roselle – first time
2001 – Union Catholic
2000 – Union – first time
1999 – Summit – first time
1998 – Union Catholic
1997 – Elizabeth
1996 – Elizabeth
1995 – Elizabeth – first time
1994 – Linden
1993 – Linden
1992 – Union Catholic
1991 – Linden – first time
1990 – New Providence – first time
1989 – Union Catholic
1988 – Union Catholic
1987 – Union Catholic
1986 – Union Catholic
1985 – Hillside – first time
1984 – Plainfield
1983 – Plainfield
1982 – Plainfield
1981 – Plainfield
1980 – Plainfield
1979 – Plainfield – first time
1978 – Mother Seton – first time
1977 – Union Catholic – first time
1976 – Benedictine – first time
Championships: Union Catholic 8; Plainfield 6; Roselle Catholic 5;
Linden, Elizabeth, Scotch Plains 3; Gov. Livingston 2;
Benedictine, Mother Seton, Hillside, New Providence, Summit,
Union, Roselle, Cranford, Westfield 1.