TOMS RIVER, NJ–On Saturday, the first of six state championships in boys basketball were played as St. Joseph’s took on Seton Hall Prep for the Non-Public A State Championship at Pine Belt Arena. Trailing 12-6 with 3:54 to go in the first period, St. Joe’s ended the half with a 34-12 surge and then opened the second half by scoring seven straight points after letting Seton Hall Prep get on the board first for a 47-26 lead. From there, the Pirates could get no closer than seven points the rest of the way as the Falcons won their first ever state championship, 77-68. Below is the play-by-play from the contest.
First Quarter
STJ jumped out to a 6-4 lead as Karim Awad scored four points while Quenton DeCosey added a basket, but Seton Hall Prep got threes from Dallas Anglin at the 4:45 and Nadir Jackson at the 4:10 marks, and then a steal for a layup by Anglin for a 12-6 lead with 3:54 to go in the period.
St. Joe’s closed out the quarter with a 13-4 run sparked by a turnaround jumper from the right low block by at the 3:30 mark and a three at the 3:06 mark by Karl Towns, continued with a three by Danny Brix at the 2:30 mark, and then capped off by a dunk from DeCosey at the 1:54 mark. Â
Second Quarter
7:01–SHP–Stephon Mosely nice footwork on move against Towns for layin, and a 19-18 STJ lead.
6:16–STJ–Jimbo Long passes to Danny Brix for three  pointer from right wing for a 22-18 lead.
5:51–SHP–Stephon Mosely scores on layup for a 22-20 STJ lead.
5:22–STJ–DeCosey takes dish from Towns, dribbles in, and elevates for score, and a 24-20.
4:57–STJ–DeCosey slashes in for layup, and a 26-20 lead.
4:30–SHP–Mosely connects on baseline jumper from right side for a 26-22 lead.
4:07–STJ–Awad kicks out to Long for three pointer, and a 29-22 Â lead.
3:06–STJ–DeCosey drives to the hoop for a score and a 31-22 lead.
2:50–SHP–Anglin fouled–makes both FTs for a 31-24 STJ lead.
2:14–STJ–Brix pulls up for jumper, and a 33-24 lead.
1:19–STJ–DeCosey knocks in three pointer for a 36-24 lead.
0:56–STJ–DeCosey drives in for score and a 38-24 lead.
3.8–STJ–DeCosey dribbles and drives to the basket for a score, and a 40-24 lead.
Third Quarter
7:42–SHP–steal.
7:35–SHP–basket after goaltend by Towns for a 40-26 STJ lead.
7:06–STJ–timeout.
6:49–SHP–steal.
6:44–SHP–shot by Mosely goes over backboard–out of bounds–turnover.
6:37–SHP–steal.
6:32–STJ–Brix draws charge on Jackson.
6:19–STJ–Brix layup from Awad for a 42-26 lead.
5:39–STJ–DeCosey putback fora 44-26 lead.
5:17–STJ–DeCosey steals errant SHP pass.
5:07–STJ–DeCosey to Towns for three from right side of the key and a 47-26 lead–SHP–timeout.
4:50–SHP–Spencer Weisz hits three for a 47-29–STJ lead.
4:10–SHP–Mosely–three pointer for a 47-32 STJ lead.d
3:50–SHP–Mosely to Anglin for layup, and a 47-34 STJ lead.
3:17–STJ–30 sec timeout after three by Long for a 50-34 lead.
2:30–SHP–Mosely basket and foul–missed bonus FT for a 50-36 STJ lead.
1:58–SHP–Weisz–layup  and foul for a three point play, and a 50-39 STJ lead.
1:19–STJ–Brix scores on short jumper off dribble for a 52-39 lead.
57.0–STJ–DeCosey knocks down triple from right wing for a 55-39 lead.
25.7–SHP-Weisz fouled–makes both FTs for a 55-41 STJ lead.
Fourth Quarter
7:25–SHP–Anglin fouled on a three point attempt–Awad–3rd personal–makes all three FTs for a 55-44 STJ lead.
7:07–SHP–Mosely with putback of Weisz miss for a 55-46 STJ lead.
6:50–STJ–Brix scores for a 57-46 lead.
6:30–STJ–Towns with tip in off Awad miss for a 59-46 lead.
6:23–SHP–Anglin fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 59-47 STJ lead.
6:05–STJ–Long fouled–makes both FTs for a 61-47 lead.
5:30–SHP–layup for a 61-49 STJ lead.
5:07–SHP–Anglin fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 61-50 STJ lead. Â SHP timeout.
4:41–SHP–Mosely connects on jumper from right side for a 61-52 STJ lead.
4:15–STJ–DeCosey fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 62-52 lead.
3:40–STJ–DeCosey pulls up for three from right wing for a 65-52 lead.
3:07–SHP–Anglin–layup for a 65-54 STJ lead.
2:45–STJ–DeCosey fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 66-54 lead.
2:30–SHP–basket for a 66-56 STJ lead.
2:15–SHP–three pointer for a 66-59 STJ lead.
2:07–STJ–fouled–makes both FTs for a 68-59 lead.
1:54–SHP–Anglin–fouled–makes both FTs for a 68-61 STJ lead.
1:35–STJ–DeCosey makes one of two FTs for a 69-61 lead.
1:23–SHP–Anglin makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 69-62 STJ lead.
1:19–STJ–Ziemba scores layup for a 71-62 lead.
1:07–SHP–three point play for a 71-65 STJ lead.
1:00–STJ–Long fouled–makes both FTs for a 73-65 lead.
50.7–SHP–Mosely–fouled–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 73-66 STJ lead.
44.8–STJ–Awad–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 74-66 lead.
33.1–STJ–DeCosey fouled after SHP misses shot at the other end–makes 1 of 2 FTs for a 75-66 lead.
12.1–SHP–misses several three point attempts–Brix fouled–makes both FTs for a STJ 77-66 lead.
1.5–SHP–layup for a 77-68 STJ lead.
STJ wins 77-68.
STJ–1st ever state championship