The Elizabeth boys’ basketball team, which sports an 8-0 record, is one win away from reaching nine wins for the first time since finishing 18-7 in 2012-2013. That was also the last season the Minutemen finished above .500.
Elizabeth hosts Union Catholic tonight – Tuesday, Jan. 8 – at 7 at the Dunn Sport Center.
Union Catholic is 7-1 and has won seven straight after opening with a 78-74 overtime loss to Manasquan at Dunn.
This will be the first Mountain Division game for both Union County Conference squads. The Mountain Division this year consists of Elizabeth, Union Catholic, Union and Plainfield.
Both Union Catholic and Elizabeth are ranked among the top 20 teams in the state by nj.com.
The Vikings of Scotch Plains are led by senior guards Jaheim Tanksley and Nahshon Battle.
Elizbeth, which last year finished 7-17 after a 4-0 start, has been sparked by the stellar performances of seniors Jesiah West and Johnson of Clark transfer Brenden Kelly.
Here’s a look at Elizabeth’s up-and-down won-loss records going back to the 1994-1995 season:
2017-2018: (7-17) – started 4-0
Last year of Donald Stewart’s second stint as head coach. Stewart is now an assistant at Columbia.
2016-2017: (3-20) – started 0-12, first win on Jan. 17
2015-2016: (2-20)
2014-2015: (6-14)
2013-2014: (8-14) – started 0-12, first win on Feb. 1
2012-2013: (18-7) – reached UCT semis-falling to Patrick School, lost at Linden 53-40 in N2G4 semis
2011-2012: (22-7) – reached UCT semis, losing to Plainfield; won N2G4 as 4 seed, beating 3-B-Raritan in final,
reached Rutgers-falling to Atlantic City
Hakeem Rogers among top players.
2010-2011: (5-20)
2009-2010: (6-14)
2008-2009: (19-8) – reached UCT final
2007-2008: (13-11)
Chris Balent’s first year as head coach.
2006-2007: (18-10) – reached N2G4 final, falling to Linden 64-52 at Dunn
Donald Stewart’s last year of first of two stints as head coach.
2005-2006: (7-14)
2004-2005: (9-12)
2003-2004: (23-5) – won UCT, lost at Plainfield in N2G4 final
Donald Stewart head coach
beat St. Patrick 58-51 in UCT final at Dunn – Chris Severe 24, Terrone Mayers 14 off bench, Anthony Sims 13
2002-2003: (19-7) – won N2G4, beating Linden 77-72 at Plainfield in final. Lost at home to Teaneck in G4 semis.
2001-2002: (23-4) – won UCT and reached N2G4 final, falling to defending champion Newark East Side and Randy Foye at Plainfield
Pat Brunner head coach
beat St. Patrick 75-61 in UCT final at Dunn – Tyrell Bell career-high 30, Rashard Robinson 20
2000-2001: (10-12) – 4th straight year under .500 and did not make states
1999-2000: (7-13)
1998-1999: (9-12)
1997-1998: (7-15) – Al Thompson first year as head coach
1996-1997: (24-3) – lost to Union in N2G4 final at Plainfield
1995-1996: (22-4) – 2 OT losses, one to Linden in N2G4 semis at Dunn
1994-1995: (25-4) – won UCT, won N2G4, reached Rutgers-falling to Shawnee