Here are highlights from the action in the 2017 Non-Public B South Sectional Semifinals between sixth seeded Roselle Catholic and second seeded Gill St. Bernards at the GSB School.
Gill jumped out to a 7-0 lead sparked by a breakaway dunk from Michael Morreale. Roselle Catholic, playing without 6’11 big man, Naz Reid, rallied to tie the game at 7-7, and eventually take a 28-22 halftime lead.
The Knights of GSB rallied with several three pointers that keyed a 14-4 tear to take a 36-32 lead midway through the third, but Roselle Catholic responded with an 8-0 spurt to end the frame including a dunk off a steal by Nate Pierre-Louis for a 40-36 lead heading into the fourth.
The Lions of RC maintained that lead for a little while until Gill tied it up at 45-45 on a three by Morreale. Roselle Catholic went ahead 47-45 on a putback by former St. Joseph’s standout and 2016 GMC Hoops Sophomore of the Year, Alanzo Frink, and eventually went up by four at 51-47.
Gill rallied again with another three by Morreale that got the benefit of a very kind bounce to pull the Knights within one at 51-50. Then, Paul Mulcahy drew a foul, and made one of two from the line to tie the game at 51-51.
After Roselle Catholic called timeout with 8.5 seconds remaining, the Lions set up the play for the final score, and got the ball to Barry “Pop” Brown, who played hoops at Cardinal McCarrick as a freshman, who knocked in a three pointer at the buzzer for the 54-51 win.
There was controversy over the game winning shot. Reviews of the video show that the shot didn’t get off in time, and photos show the ball still in Brown’s hands with the scoreboard clock showing all zeros. Nevertheless, the referees never conferred over the play, and the score stood.
Roselle Catholic advanced to play the top seeded Patrick School, a 66-56 winner over Ranney in the other semifinal for the Championship on March 8th at Jackson Liberty High School.