SOUTH AMBOY, NJ–In a wild finish to the night at South Amboy Middle-High School, Union Catholic and Roselle literally went down to the wire in the nightcap game of the Friday quadrupleheader at the 2016 Raritan Bay Summer League.
After a back and forth start to the game that saw 6 lead changes and three ties, Union Catholic embarked on a 22-5 surge to turn a 15-13 deficit into a 35-20 lead with under two minutes to play in the first half. Roselle wouldn’t go away quietly though as it responded by scoring the last six points of the half, and then 13 of the first 17 points of the second half to tie the game at 39-39 with 7 minutes left.
Union Catholic would then score the next four points including a three point play at the five minute mark, but again Roselle would scratch and claw its way back with a 7-2 spurt to actually take a one point lead at 46-45 with 1:54 remaining. UC then went ahead with a pair of free throws at the 1:35 mark only to have Roselle tie it again at 47-47 by making one of two at the charity stripe with 1:18 to play in regulation.
Roselle then had a couple chances to go ahead, but missed two free throws with 50 seconds to play, and then Union Catholic drew a charge on a Roselle player with 18 seconds remaining. The Vikings then took a two point lead when they drew a foul and made two free throws with 8.1 seconds to go. The Runnin’ Rams of Roselle responded by getting to the line themselves and making one of two from the line with 3.6 seconds to play to tie the score at 49-49.
All of this set the stage for a remarkable ending. Union Catholic took the ensuing inbounds, and dribbled up the sideline past the scorer’s table at midcourt, and threw up a Hail Mary three pointer as the player fell to the ground, and the shot went in for the 52-49 victory. Below is a clip of the final seconds of this wild game:
Video: Union Catholic finishes off a wild 52-49 victory over Roselle with this incredible three point shot at the buzzer in the Raritan Bay Summer League on Friday night.pic.twitter.com/gmchoops/status/756663602699001856
— Greg Machos (@gmchoops) July 22, 2016
Below are game notes from the action:
First Half
19:27–UC–gets on the board first at 2-0 with a steal for a layup
18:14–ROS–scores on two layups for a 4-2 lead.
17:30–ROS–scores on another layup after a three from the right wing by UC for a 6-5 lead. Already three lead changes and a tie.
16:21–ROS–fouled and made one of two from the line for a 7-5 lead.
14:00–UC–6-2 run for an 11-9 lead.
13:30–ROS–layup for an 11-11 tie.
11:54–ROS–putback for a 13-11 lead.
10:55–UC–banks shot in for a 13-13 tie.
10:04–ROS–fouled and makes one of two FTs for a 14-13 lead.
9:15–ROS–fouled and makes one of two FTs for a 15-13.
8:29–UC–three from the left wing for a 16-15 lead.
5:29–UC–three from just to the right of the top of the key for a 9-1 run and a 24-16 lead.
5:14–ROS–layup for a 24-18 UC lead.
5:03–UC–three pointer from the left wing for a 27-18 lead.
4:57–ROS–timeout.
3:24–UC–three point play for a 30-18 lead.
2:49–ROS–layup for a 30-20 UC lead.
2:20–UC–fouled and makes both FTs for a 32-20 lead.
1:45–UC–three from left wing for a 35-20 lead.
0:00–ROS–ends half on a 6-0 run including a putback with 15 seconds left to close the gap to 35-26 at the half.
Second Half
19:32–UC–layup for a 37-26 lead.
17:48–ROS–basket closes gap to 37-28.
15:22–ROS–fouled and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 39-29 lead.
15:10–ROS–scores on putback of missed FT for a 39-31 UC lead.
14:09–ROS–fouled and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 39-32 UC lead.
10:10–ROS–fouled and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 39-33 UC lead.
9:42–ROS–layup from left low block for a 39-35 UC lead.
8:01–ROS–fouled, but missed both FTs.
7:48–ROS–gets offensive rebound and puts it back in for a 39-37 UC lead.
7:00–ROS–scores to tie game at 39-39.
5:00–UC–layup and the foul for a three point play, a 4-0 run and a 43-39 lead
4:30–ROS–fouled and makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 43-40 UC lead.
3:15–ROS–layup makes it 43-42 UC lead.
2:54–UC–layup for a 45-42 lead.
2:43–ROS–layup for a 45-44 UC lead.
1:54–ROS–layup for a 46-45 lead.
1:35–UC–fouled and makes both FTs for a 47-46 lead.
1:18–ROS–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 47-47 tie.
50.0–ROS–fouled–missed both FTs.
18.0–UC–draws charge
8.1–UC–fouled and makes both FTs for a 49-47 lead.
3.6–ROS–fouled and makes both FTs for a 49-49 tie.
0.0–UC–throws up a three pointer from right along sideline as he falls to the ground, and it goes in for the 52-49 win.