GMC Hoops Game Notes–#2 Pope John XXIII vs. #1 Roselle Catholic–NJSIAA T of C Championship–March 23, 2015

TRENTON, NJ–On Monday night, GMC Hoops traveled down to Sun National Bank Center in the capital of Garden State to take in the Championship Game of the 2015 NJSIAA Tournament of Champions between 2nd seeded Pope John XXIII of Sparta and top seeded Roselle Catholic. For the second time in three years, Roselle Catholic won the T of C with a 57-45 victory over Pope John in a battle of Lions. Trailing 6-2 early on, RC went on a 9-0 run capped by a three from Pierre Sarr to take an 11-6 lead. From there, Roselle Catholic gradually built its lead, and despite a late 2nd quarter run by Pope John, RC took a 31-19 lead at the half. Pope John was unable to get close than 10 points the rest of the way as Roselle Catholic won the title. Kentucky bound senior guard, Isaiah Briscoe, led the way for RC with a game high 27 points while freshman forward Naz Reid chipped in with 12. Moustapha Diagne led Pope John in defeat with 15 points while Jeromy Rodrigue added 13 and James Scott chipped in with 10. Below are game notes from the action:

First Quarter

3:15 left in the first and Pope John leads 6-4. Both teams over anxious early on. RC’s Chris Silva has picked up 3 fouls already.

2:32 left in the first quarter and RC calls timeout after Isaiah Briscoe goes in for a layup to tie score at 6-6.

0:00–End of first quarter and RC leads Pope John 11-8 thanks to a 9-2 run capped by a three from the right wing by Pierre Sarr.


Second Quarter

4:00–Pope John’s Matt Zignorski evades the shot block attempt by Matt Bullock midway through the second quarter. RC still leads 21-14. Roselle Catholic scores 10 of the first 16 points of the period.

3:08 left in the first half and despite a two handed jam by Jeromy Rodriguez, Pope John trails RC 25-14 with Roselle Catholic scoring the last 4 points.

0:00–Game has gone to the half and despite a monster dunk by Pope John’s Moustapha Diagne to help close the gap to 27-19, RC got two FTs and a putback by Naz Reid for a 31-19 lead at the half. Both teams have struggled to hit the perimeter shot, but RC has been able to get into a better offensive flow thanks to its defensive pressure forcing turnovers and setting up transition opportunities.


Third Quarter

1:55 left in the third and RC leads Pope John 41-27 after two dunks by freshman Naz Reid. Roselle Catholic opens half with a 10-8 run.

0:00–End of third and RC leads Pope John 45-29 after a 4-2 run to end the period. Run highlighted by Taahir Pretlow’s jumper after a huge block by Pope John’s Moustapha Diagne.


Fourth Quarter

5:54 left in the game and RC calls timeout with a 47-33 lead. Pope John, which scored 4 of the first 6 points of the fourth, had chances to get closer, but missed a three, a two handed jam attempt, and two Fts.

3:29 left in the game and RC leads 51-38 after a drive into the paint for an acrobatic shot by PJ’s Matt Zignorski.

0:00–Game just ended with Roselle Catholic winning its 2nd T of C title in three years, 57-45. Pope John ends the game on a 7-6 run. Isaiah Briscoe had a game high 27 points while freshman forward Naz Reid chipped in with 12. Moustapha Diagne led Pope John in defeat with 15 points while Jeromy Rodrigue added 13 and James Scott chipped in with 10.