NJSIAA T of C Round-Up–Day Two–March 17, 2016

Linden and St. Anthony’s Advance to Championship Game

TOMS RIVER, NJ–On Thursday night, GMC Hoops made another trip to Pine Belt Arena in Toms River for the semifinal round of the 2016 NJSIAA Tournament of Champions. In the first TOC Final Four contest, fifth seeded Teaneck took on top seeded St. Anthony’s followed by the nightcap between 3rd seeded Linden and 2nd seeded St. Augustine’s of Richland.

St. Anthony’s jumped out to a 7-1 lead within the first two and a half minutes of the opening game, but Teaneck rallied by scoring 13 of the next 17 points to pull within 14-11 late in the second. The Highwaymen eventually narrowed the deficit to two at 23-21 at the 4:35 mark of the second on a score by Juwuan Daniels, but didn’t get any closer as the Friars went on to win, 67-30.

In the second game, Linden and St. Augustine swapped leads three times early on and tied once before the Tigers went on a 14-3 tear to take a 21-11 lead into the second. The Hermits battled back with a 13-4 spurt that to pull within one at 25-24, and trailed 27-24 at the half. The game continued to be an epic struggle with Linden leading 44-41 in the fourth before going on a 10-6 run for a 54-47 lead. St. Augie’s didn’t give up though by scoring 9 of the next 11 points to tie the game at 56-56. Linden managed to pull out the 59-56 victory though by going 3 of 4 at the line down the stretch. Below are capsules from the action:

#5 Teaneck (28-4) vs. #1 St. Anthony’s (30-0)–The Friars got off to a fast start by scoring 7 of the first 8 points in the opening 2:30, but then the Highwaymen settled down by scored 13 of the next 17 points to pull within 14-11 late in the first period. Teaneck then scored 10 of the next 19 points including a bucket by Juwuan Daniels to narrow the deficit to two at 23-21 with 4:35 remaining in the first half. From that point on, it was all St. Anthony’s. The Friars closed the half on a 12-0 run that included a three by Asante Gist and a foul line jumper and a three point play by Georgetown bound, Jagan Mosely for a 35-21 lead at the intermission. St. Anthony’s then opened the second half on a 13-0 run that included threes by Mosely and R.J. Cole for a 48-21 lead before Daniels connected on a trey from the left wing to put an end to the 25-0 Friars outburst. The Friars continued to pour it on though. Despite a dunk in the waning minutes of the game by Daniels, St. Anthony’s outscored Teaneck by a 44-9 margin over the last 20:35 of the contest to post a 67-30 victory. Daniel Mading led the Friars with 16 points including a three pointer and conventional three point play in the fourth quarter. Georgetown bound standout, Jagan Mosely added 14 points including a three point play late in the second quarter, and a three pointer in the third, and Idris Joyner chipped in with 12. Juwuan Daniels led Teaneck in a losing cause with 13 points including a three pointer in the third and a two handed jam late in the fourth. St. Anthony’s improved to 31-0 and advanced to its first T of C final since 2012 while Teaneck concluded its season at 28-5.

#3 Linden (24-5) vs. #2 St. Augustine (30-1)–This game lived up to its advanced billing as third seeded Linden, the Group IV State Champion, advanced to its first TOC FInal since 2006 with a thrilling 59-56 victory. Early on, the game was back and forth as the two teams combined for three lead changes and a tie. Then, Linden seized control with a 14-3 tear that was sparked by three pointers by William Phelps and Tavon Jones for a 21-11 lead early in the second. St. Augie’s, bolstered by its Richland Rowdies, battled back with a 13-4 tear that included a three by Saeed Nelson, a steal for a breakaway dunk by Justyn Mutts, and a jumper by Walt Harvey to pull within one at 25-24. Linden then got a bucket by point guard, Joey Krempa late in the first half for a 27-24 lead at the intermission. From that point on, the two teams were entrenched in a classic struggle. Linden appeared to have St. Augustine on the ropes midway through the fourth as the Tigers scored 10 of 16 points to pull away from a tenuous 44-41 lead to take a 54-47 advantage with 2:36 remaining. The Hermits would battle back though with a 9-2 spurt that consisted of two dunks by Mutts, another three by Nelson, and a jumper from the left corner by Harvey to knot the game at 56-56 with under a minute to play. Linden would pull out the win though as the Tigers made 3 of 4 from the line down the stretch and withstood a couple late opportunities to tie the game by the Hermits for the 59-56 win. Jones made the first two free throws for a 58-56 lead, and then Tafari Lowe made one of two with 10 seconds to play for the three point lead. Phelps finished with a game high 21 points while Lowe collected a double-double of 16 points and 10 rebounds. Jones chipped in with 10 points and 9 boards. Nelson finished with 20 points to lead St. Augustine while Mutts ended up with 13 including 10 in the fourth period to conclude his career with over 1,000 points. Harvey chipped in with 11. Linden improved to 25-5 on the season, and advanced to the TOC final to play St. Anthony’s while St. Augustine ended its season at 30-2. Linden will try to become the first public school team to win the T of C since the Dajuan Wagner and Arthur Barclay led Camden Panthers won it all in 2000.