On the first day of state tournament basketball Monday, Union County teams that advanced on the boys’ side included Linden and Elizabeth in North 2, Group 4 and Hillside in Central Jersey, Group 2.
On Wednesday, top-seeded Linden (18-7) will host ninth-seeded Dickinson and fourth-seeded Elizabeth (17-6) will host fifth-seeded Bayonne in N2, G4 quarterfinals. If Linden and Elizabeth both win, they will face each other at Linden Friday in the semifinals, which should be a 7 p.m. start.
Also on Wednesday, ninth-seeded Hillside (14-11) will play at top-seeded Lakewood in a CJ, G2 quarterfinal.
On the girls’ side, Linden and Union advanced in N2, G4 and Hillside in CJ, G2.
On Wednesday, 11th-seeded Union (17-9) will play at third-seeded East Orange Campus and 10th-seeded Linden (16-10) will play at second-seeded Bridgewater-Raritan at 7 p.m. in N2, G4 quarterfinals. If Union and Linden win, they will face each other at Linden Friday in the semifinals, which should be a 4 p.m. start.
Also on Wednesday, ninth-seeded Hillside (15-6) will play at top-seeded and defending champion Point Pleasant Boro at 6 p.m. in a CJ, G2 quarterfinal.
A total of 19 boys’ teams from Union County made the states, with Roselle, Union, Westfield and Scotch Plains eliminated Monday.
A total of 18 girls’ teams qualified, with Johnson, Westfield and Scotch Plains ousted.
– JR PARACHINI