UNION – One of these years Roselle Catholic is finally going to win the Union County Tournament championship.
When the three-time defending Non-Public B state champions do so, it will be that much sweeter after another really tough loss in the final.
Down by two, Roselle Catholic had one last opportunity to tie the game or even take the lead in the final 20 seconds, but a shot in the lane by Leondre Washington was blocked by Nick Richards.
Roselle Catholic argued goaltending, which if called would have tied the game.
The Patrick School gained possession and two more Bryce Aiken free throws clinched what – after a not-so-memorable first three quarters – turned out to be quite a thrilling 58-54 double-overtime victory for the top-seeded Celtics over the second-seeded Lions.
Saturday night’s 80th annual boys’ basketball Union County Tournament championship game at Kean University’s Harwood Arena only reached the 50s because the game went to two overtimes. Because of sloppy, not-so-well finishing by both teams, the score was in the 30s after 32 minutes of regulation play.
The game was tied at 18-18 at intermission and at 36-36 at the end of four quarters.
If an MVP was to be selected it could have easily gone to Roselle Catholic senior Matt Bullock. His performance, which included a game-high 19 points, 14 rebounds and numerous huge baskets to keep the Lions alive, was one of the grittiest and most determined in UCT title-game history.
The Patrick School was sparked by the play of senior guard Jordan Walker, who led his team with 14 points, 10 of them coming in the overtime periods.
The Patrick School (20-5) won its 19th title – second-most to Elizabeth’s 21 – and 17th since 1993. The Celtics have appeared in 22 of the last 24 finals.
Roselle Catholic, which also fell in last year’s final to Linden 60-56, is now 0-4 in the championship game and 0-3 since 2012.
Roselle Catholic, which fell to 18-7, could meet The Patrick School for a fourth time this year in the Non-Public, South B playoffs. The teams split Union County Conference-Watchung Division games.
Here are some of the game’s seminole moments:
* With the Lions down four at 36-32, Bullock dunked over Richards and was fouled to pull RC to within two. Bullock missed the ensuing free throw. He would miss seven of his first eight before making three straight in double overtime.
* Bullock then hit a huge jump shot from the left corner to tie the game at 36-36 moments from the final fourth quarter whistle. Aiken followed with an air ball on a 3-point attempt to end the game.
* In the first overtime Roselle Catholic fell behind again by four before coming back once more. It was another dunk by Bullock with 20.6 seconds left that tied the game at 49-49. Walker tried to get Richards the ball at the very end, but it was taken away by Roselle Catholic’s Nazeron Reid as the game went to double overtime. The first overtime was the highest scoring period of the night, with each team scoring 13 points.
* Also in the first overtime, Walker and teammate Jamir Harris, who finished with 13 points, hit back-to-back 3-pointers before Bullock made one. Harris then followed with his game-high third.
* Walker scored four points in a row – a field goal and then two free throws – to give the Celtics a 53-49 lead in double overtime. Roselle Catholic came back again, with a layup by Bullock bringing the Lions to within one point at 55-54 with 33 seconds to go.
* Aiken made one of two free throws with 23 seconds remaining, putting the Celtics ahead 56-54. It was the first free throw Aiken made on the night.
* Then came the somewhat controversial play by Richards, who knocked the ball away from Washington apparently after it hit the glass.
* At the end of the third quarter, Washington made a 3-pointer after The Patrick School had taken a 28-20 lead.
* Early in the fourth quarter when Roselle Catholic was down by seven at 34-27, Reid made a huge 3-pointer, his second, to pull the Lions to with four at 34-30 with 3:59 to go in regulation.
The Patrick School produced a 14-0 run after calling a timeout when down 6-2, taking a 16-6 lead in the opening period.
Roselle Catholic ended the first half on runs of 12-2 and 7-0 for an 18-18 deadlock at intermission.
The Patrick School went on a 9-0 run in the third quarter to take its 28-20 lead before Roselle Catholic came back once again.
NOTES: In league competition, The Patrick School defeated Roselle Catholic 46-38 at Rahway on Jan. 27. Roselle Catholic then defeated The Patrick School 62-46 at RC on Jan. 30.
Before Saturday night’s UCT final, Roselle Catholic had won three straight and had only two in state-losses, splitting Watchung Division games with Linden and The Patrick School.
The Patrick School had also won three straight and eight of nine since its loss at Roselle Catholic. The Celtics had lost three times to out-of-state opponents and in-state to St. Anthony and RC.
80th ANNUAL UCT BOYS’ BASKETBALL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
2-Roselle Catholic (18-7) 06 12 07 11 13 05 – 54
1-Patrick School (20-5) 11 07 12 06 13 09 – 58
ROSELLE CATHOLIC LIONS (54):
13-Matt Bullock, senior, 6-1-4-19
0-Nathaniel Pierre-Louis 3-0-2-8
3-Leondre Washington, junior, 2-1-2-9
5-Nazeron Reid, sophomore, 4-2-0-14
11-Gilberto Cue, junior, 1-0-2-4
2-Andre Rafus, junior, 0-0-0-0
Starters: Bullock, Cue,
Pierre-Louis, Washington, Reid.
Totals: 16-4-10-54.
PATRICK SCHOOL CELTICS (58):
1-Marcus McClary, junior, 2-0-2-6
23-Nicholas Richards, junior, 4-0-0-8
2-Jordan Walker, senior, 1-2-6-14
0-Fatir Hines, senior, 2-0-0-4
13-Cyril Langevine, senior, 2-0-1-5
4-Jamir Harris, junior, 2-3-0-13
11-Bryce Aiken, senior, 1-1-3-8
Starters: Aiken, McClary,
Harris, Langevine, Richards.
Totals: 14-6-12-58.
FRANK J. CICARELL UCT BOYS’ BASKETBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCORES, WINNING COACHES:
2016: Patrick School 58, Roselle Catholic 54 (2OT) – Mike Rice – at Kean
2015: Linden 60, Roselle Catholic 56 – Phil Colicchio – at Kean
2014: Patrick School 62, Linden 54 – Chris Chevannes – at Kean
2013: Patrick School 44, Linden 42 – Chris Chevannes – at Kean
2012: Plainfield 72, Roselle Catholic 66 – Jeff Lubreski – at Kean
2011: St. Patrick 70, Linden 58 – Kevin Boyle – at Kean
2010: St. Patrick 82, Plainfield 45 – Kevin Boyle – at Kean
2009: St. Patrick 89, Elizabeth 72 – Kevin Boyle – last one at Dunn
2008: St. Patrick 67, Linden 56 – Kevin Boyle
2007: Linden 63, St. Patrick 51 – Phil Colicchio
2006: St. Patrick 65, Plainfield 52 – Kevin Boyle
2005: St. Patrick 77, Linden 68 – Kevin Boyle
2004: Elizabeth 58, St. Patrick 51 – Donald Stewart
2003: St. Patrick 68, Linden 62 – Kevin Boyle
2002: Elizabeth 75, St. Patrick 61 – Pat Brunner
2001: Linden 76, St. Patrick 59 – Phil Colicchio
2000: St. Patrick 69, Linden 55 – Kevin Boyle
1999: St. Patrick 52, Union 43 – Kevin Boyle
1998: St. Patrick 76, Union 45 – Kevin Boyle
1997: St. Patrick 61, Elizabeth 48 – Kevin Boyle
1996: St. Patrick 65, Elizabeth 47 – Kevin Boyle
1995: Elizabeth 50, St. Patrick 49 – Ben Candelino
1994: St. Patrick 63, Hillside 47 – Kevin Boyle
1993: St. Patrick 45, Elizabeth 41 – Kevin Boyle
1992: Elizabeth 69, Linden 57 – Ben Candelino
1991: Elizabeth 76, Linden 49 – Ben Candelino
1990: Elizabeth 96, Roselle 67 – Ben Candelino
1989: Elizabeth 65, Roselle 57 – Ben Candelino
1988: Linden 50, Elizabeth 45 – Wilbur Aikens
1987: Elizabeth 62, Linden 61 – Ben Candelino
1986: Elizabeth 50, Union Catholic 43 – Ben Candelino
1985: Elizabeth 70, Rahway 56 – Ben Candelino
1984: Elizabeth 57, Plainfield 42 – Ben Candelino
1983: Linden 66, Roselle 60 – Wilbur Aikens
1982: Linden 86, Union Catholic 67 – Wilbur Aikens
1981: Johnson Regional 73, Hillside 61 – Steve Petruzzelli
1980: Union 65, Plainfield 63 – Tom Fox
1979: Plainfield 70, Linden 68 – Rico Parenti
1978: Elizabeth 62, Plainfield 60 – Ron Kelly
1977: Roselle 75, Rahway 54 – Dick Young
1976: Roselle 61, Union 54 – Dick Young
1975: Plainfield 69, Rahway 64 – Rico Parenti
1974: Union 61, Cranford 48 – Tom Fox
1973: Linden 69, Roselle 53 – Wayman Everly
1972: Jefferson 50, Linden 43 – Ron Kelly
1971: Roselle 73, Linden 71 – Dick Young
1970: Jefferson 68, St. Mary’s 61 – Ron Kelly
1969: Jefferson 55, St. Mary’s 47 – Ron Kelly
1968: Linden 63, Jefferson 62 – Joe Gaines
1967: St. Patrick 58, Plainfield 50 – Ed “Buzzy” Fox
1966: Linden 61, St. Patrick 56 – Joe Gaines
1965: Westfield 61, Cranford 52 – Bob Sanislow
1964: Cranford 68, Linden 61 – Bill Martin
1963: Westfield 65, Roselle Catholic 45 – John Lay
1962: St. Mary’s 40, Linden 30 – Al LoBalbo
1961: Roselle 45, St. Mary’s 43 – Ralph Arminio
1960: St. Mary’s 53, Jefferson 43 – Al LoBalbo
1959: Westfield 54, Cranford 46 – John Lay
1958: Roselle 66, Cranford 64 – Ralph Arminio
1957: Rahway 64, Jefferson 51 – Bob Berger
1956: Plainfield 58, Sacred Heart 51 – Bill Brann
1955: Jefferson 52, St. Mary’s 44 – Bill Tranavitch
1954: Jefferson 57, Springfield 44 – Bill Tranavitch
1953: Linden 59, Union 38 – G. St. Andrassy
1952: St. Mary’s 48, Linden 30 – Al LoBalbo
1951: St. Mary’s 37, Jefferson 36 – Al LoBalbo
1950: Jefferson 69, Hillside 57 – Bill Tranavitch
1949: Jefferson 42, Hillside 41 – Bob Cox
1948: Jefferson 33, Springfield 32 – Bob Cox
1947: Springfield 31, Linden 29 – Walter Hohn
1946: Springfield 37, Linden 34 – Walter Hohn
1945: Jefferson 39, Roselle Park 23 – Abner West
1944: St. Patrick 40, Roselle Park 36 – Ken Milsop
1943: Rahway 34, Jefferson 33 – Earl Walter
1942: Rahway 46, Jefferson 30 – Earl Walter
1941: Rahway 32, Hillside 24 – Earl Walter
1940: Springfield 35, Cranford 33 – Bill Brown
1939: Linden 30, Plainfield 20 – Les Goodwin
1938: Springfield 25, Rahway 24 – Bill Brown
1937: Rahway 27, Hillside 17 – Earl Walter
CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Jefferson-Elizabeth 21
St. Patrick-Patrick School 19
Linden 11
Rahway 5
Roselle 5
Springfield 4
St. Mary’s, Elizabeth 4
Plainfield 4
Westfield 3
Union 2
Cranford 1
Johnson Regional 1
UNION WINS JV COUNTY CHAMPIONSHIP
Union, coached by Ron Zieser, won the Junior Varsity Union County Tournament championship, dominating Roselle Catholic 79-53 in Saturday’s final at Kean.
The Farmers led 24-12 at the end of the first quarter, 39-27 at halftime and then Roselle Catholic cut the deficit to 42-36 with four minutes left in the third quarter, prompting Union to call a timeout.
Union then came back even stronger, leading 58-41 at the end of the third quarter and taking its biggest lead of 26 points right at the end of the game for the final score of 79-53.