The Roselle Catholic girls’ basketball team began January perfect at 4-0 after winning its own holiday tournament.
The Lions defeated West Orange 46-40 in last week’s championship game two days after beating Matawan 66-39.
All-Tournament Team selection Victoria Jacobs scored a team-high 15 points, including seven in the fourth quarter, to help lead the Lions to a 16-5 spree during the final stanza of its win vs. West Orange.
Jacobs sank a 3-point field goal to cut West Orange’s lead to two points with about three minutes left. RC’s Tyara McQueen nailed a foul-line jumper 30 seconds later to help the Lions, who trailed by 12 points in the second half, forge a tie.
McQueen, with 10 points and six assists, was also an All-Tournament Team selection as well. McQueen and Jenissa Encarnacion both went 3-for-4 from the line in the fourth quarter.
RC sank 15-of-21 foul shots for the game, including 9-for-13 from the stripe during the final eight minutes.
RC Tournament MVP Taniya Hanner finished with nine points and 12 rebounds to help lead the comeback victory.
West Orange’s Mya Bembry, an All-Tournament Team selection, scored a game-high 16 points, including 11 in the first half.
The Mountaineers shot 6-for-10 from the foul line for the game.
Roselle Catholic will host The Patrick School of Elizabeth in a big Union County Conference-Watchung Division game Thursday night (Jan 4) at 7 at The Lions’ Den at Roselle Catholic.
The Celtics took a 4-1 record into Tuesday night’s scheduled UCC-crossover home game vs. Governor Livingston.
The Patrick School went 27-3 last year en route to repeating as Watchung Division champions with a perfect 10-0 league record and capturing the Union County Tournament title for the second time in three years. Two of their three losses were to Rutgers Prep, once in the regular season and once in the states.
Roselle Catholic went 19-7 last year, including an 0-4 mark vs. The Patrick School – two division losses and setbacks in the UCT and the states.
The Celtics have been sparked so far by freshman Lashae Dwyer, who paced her team with a 17-point effort in her first varsity game, a 71-31 Watchung Division victory at Union on Dec. 15.