Here are highlights from the action in top seeded Patrick School’s win over sixth seeded Roselle Catholic in the 2017 Non-Public B South Sectional Championship at Jackson Liberty High School.
Patrick School jumped out to a 10-2 lead behind the playmaking and shooting of point guard Jordan Walker (14 points and 8 assists). Roselle Catholic closed the gap to 17-11 after one, and pulled within six late in the second before a putback dunk by Nicholas Richards gave the Celtics a 31-23 halftime lead.
Patrick School put together an 18-9 showing in the third period for a 49-32 lead and then scored 9 of the first 16 points of the fourth quarter for a 58-39 lead before Roselle Catholic rallied with a 17-2 tear including two threes by Barry Brown to pull within four at 60-56 with 2:56 remaining.
The Lions weren’t able to get any closer, however, as the Patrick School got back to back dunks by Richards, who had a double-double of 28 points and 16 rebounds, to give the Celtics a 64-56 lead. From there, the Celtics coasted to a 71-62 win capped by another alleyoop dunk by Richards.
Khalil Whitney led Roselle Catholic in a losing cause with 16 points including a putback dunk to help the Lions get going in the fourth. Brown, the hero of the semifinal win over Gill St. Bernard’s, chipped in with 14 points.
The Patrick School improved to 26-4 overall on the season, and will play Hudson Catholic of Jersey City, a 64-61 winner over defending Non-Public B and TOC Champ, St. Anthony’s, in the Non-Public B State Championship at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River on Saturday evening at 5:00 PM