SCOTCH PLAINS, NJ — It’s been quite a past 12 months for the Union Catholic High School boys basketball program.
Last March, the Vikings from Scotch Plains, guided by one of the most dedicated head coaches in the state in Union Catholic alumni James Reagan Jr., captured only the second state championship in school history by beating St. Peter’s Preparatory School of Jersey City to claim the Non-Public A state crown for the second time.
It was Union Catholic’s first state championship in 36 years, since the Vikings defeated Christian Brothers Academy of Lincroft in the 1987 Non-Public A state championship game.
Then, this season, Union Catholic advanced to the Union County Tournament championship game for the first time in 38 years and for only the third time overall. That happened when the second-seeded Vikings ousted 11th-seeded upstart Cranford High School, 68-62, in the first semifinal on Thursday evening, Feb. 15, contested at Kean University’s Harwood Arena in Union.
What followed was a convincing 66-56 triumph against fifth-seeded and two-time defending champion Roselle Catholic High School on Sunday, Feb. 18, in the 87th annual boys basketball Union County Tournament championship game played at Kean University.
Having only reached the final two previous times in 1982 and then again in 1986, the Union Catholic Vikings hoisted the trophy for the first time. Union Catholic lost to Linden High School in the 1982 final and to Frank J. Cicarell Academy, Elizabeth High School in the 1986 championship game.
So, within the last year, Union Catholic won only its second state championship and first in 36 years and then captured a county crown for the very first time after reaching the final for only the third time and for the first time in 38 years.
Not bad.
In the UCT final against Roselle Catholic on Sunday, Feb. 18, FK Muntari led the Vikings in points with 15, Yaw Ansong in rebounds with six and Elijah Peters in steals with five.
Union Catholic led by three points at the break and then broke the game open by outscoring Roselle Catholic, 18-9, in the third quarter.
Union Catholic won its seventh straight and for the 14th time in 15 games to improve to 19-6, while Roselle Catholic had a five-game winning streak snapped to slip to 13-10.
Union Catholic and Roselle Catholic were the two non-public state championship teams a year ago, which was the first time Union County had both parochial state champions in the same season. Roselle Catholic captured the Non-Public B title last year for the second straight season and for the sixth time since 2013.
Since St. Patrick High School of Elizabeth began its dominating run in 1993, a parochial school has won the UCT in 24 of the past 31 seasons. The only exceptions were Elizabeth in 1995, 2002 and 2004; Linden in 2001, 2007 and 2015; and Plainfield High School in 2012. Parochial schools have now won the last eight. Linden was the last public school team to win the UCT in 2015.
87th Boys Basketball
Union County Tournament
Seeds: 1-Elizabeth. 2-Union Catholic. 3-Plainfield. 4-Linden. 5-Roselle Catholic. 6-Scotch Plains-Fanwood. 7-Westfeld. 8-Union. 9-Oratory Prep. 10-Summit. 11-Cranford. 12-Hillside.
13-Rahway. 14-New Providence. 15-Arthur L. Johnson. 16-Governor Livingston. 17-Jonathan Dayton. 18-Abraham Clark.
Preliminary Round
Tuesday, Feb. 6
Union 59, Jonathan Dayton 38 – at Union
Oratory Prep 67, Governor Livingston 29 – at Oratory Prep
Hillside 62, Rahway 61 – at Hillside
Cranford 69, New Providence 55 – at Cranford
Westfield 64, Roselle 26 – at Westfield
Arthur L. Johnson 37, Summit 34 – at Summit
First Round
Thursday, Feb. 8
Union 58, Oratory Prep 50 – at Union
Roselle Catholic 72, Hillside 37 – at Roselle Catholic
Cranford 56, Scotch Plains-Fanwood 48 – at Scotch Plains-Fanwood
Westfield 59, Arthur L. Johnson 34 – at Westfield
Quarterfinals
Saturday, Feb. 10
At Dunn Sport Center
Elizabeth 69, Union 19
Roselle Catholic 60, Linden 46
Union Catholic 78, Westfield 51
Cranford 62, Plainfield 54
Semifinals
Thursday, Feb. 15
At Kean University
Union Catholic 68, Cranford 62
Roselle Catholic 69, Elizabeth 53
Finals
Sunday, Feb. 18
At Kean University
Union Catholic 66, Roselle Catholic 56
Union County teams in state tournament
State tournament play commenced around New Jersey with public school Groups 4 and 2 beginning Wednesday, Feb. 21 and Groups 3 and 1 on Thursday, Feb. 22:
North 2, Group 4 (5 schools): Elizabeth. Plainfield. Westfield. Linden. Scotch Plains-Fanwood.
9-Woodbridge at 8-Plainfield. 12-Linden at 5-Hillsborough. 13-Scotch Plains-Fanwood at 4-Ridge. 14-Dickinson at 3-Elizabeth. 10-Westfield at 7-Franklin.
North 2, Group 3 (3 schools): Cranford, Summit, Governor Livingston.
16-Ferris at 1-Cranford. 11-Summit at 4-Millburn. 15-Governor Livingston at 2-South Plainfield.
North 2, Group 2 (1 school): New Providence.
14-Becton at 3-New Providence.
Central Jersey, Group 1 (1 school): David Brearley.
13-Somerset Tech at 4-David Brearley.
Central Jersey, Group 2 (2 schools): Arthur L. Johnson, Roselle Park.
9-Arthur L. Johnson at 8-Bordentown. 11-Roselle Park at 6-Bound Brook.
Non-Public, North A (1 school): Oratory Prep.
Friday, Feb. 23
9-Oratory Prep at 8-St. Joseph’s, Montvale.
Non-Public, North B (1 school): Roselle Catholic.
Monday, Feb. 26
5-Roselle Catholic at 4-St. Thomas Aquinas
Non-Public, South A (1 school): Union Catholic.
Monday, Feb.26
2-Union Catholic will host the winner of 10-St. Augustine at 7-Donovan Catholic.
Frank J. Cicarell UCT Boys Basketball
Championship Game Scores, Winning Coaches
2024: Union Catholic 66, Roselle Catholic 56 – James Reagan Jr. – Kean
2023: Roselle Catholic 64, Linden 55 – Dave Boff – Kean
2022: Roselle Catholic 63, Elizabeth 58 – Dave Boff – Kean
2021: No UCT because of COVID-19 pandemic
2020: Patrick School 56, Roselle Catholic 42 – Chris Chavannes – Kean
2019: Roselle Catholic 71, Patrick School 66 – Dave Boff – Kean
2018: Roselle Catholic 68, Patrick School 58 – Dave Boff – Kean
2017: Patrick School 58, Linden 44 – Chris Chavannes – Kean
2016: Patrick School 58, Roselle Catholic 54 (2OT) – Mike Rice – Kean
2015: Linden 60, Roselle Catholic 56 – Phil Colicchio – at Kean
2014: Patrick School 62, Linden 54 – Chris Chavannes – at Kean
2013: Patrick School 44, Linden 42 – Chris Chavannes – 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: Arthur L. 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 21
Linden 11
Rahway 5
Roselle 5
Roselle Catholic 4
Springfield 4
St. Mary’s, Elizabeth 4
Plainfield 4
Westfield 3
Union 2
Union Catholic 1
Johnson Regional 1
Cranford 1