St. Joseph’s Victory Over Seton Hall Prep A Huge Step Toward Elusive State Title
UNION, NJ–After losing to Teaneck on the second day of action at the 2011 Hoop Group Tip-Off Classic at West Orange High School on opening weekend, the Falcons of St. Joseph’s were still searching for that marquee matchup win to make a statement to the rest of New Jersey high school boys basketball that they are going to be a team to be reckoned with come March. On Saturday night at the SFIC Hoops Festival at Kean University, the Green Birds found it.
Thanks to 33 points, 10 rebounds, 5 blocks, 5 assists, and a steal from senior swingman, Quenton DeCosey, the Falcons let everyone know in not only Harwood Arena, but the rest of the Garden State, that they are for real, and not some flash in the pan from Middlesex County. The Falcons couldn’t have found a better opponent to pull off such a win against than state final nemesis Seton Hall Prep. Three times, St. Joseph’s has reached the Non-Public A State Final as the South sectional champion. All three times, the Falcons have been turned away by The Prep including back to back years in 1998 and 1999 when all time leading scorer and current ESPN analyst, Jay Williams roamed the halls of the school.
Against Teaneck, the Falcons showed flashes of potential in a close 53-49 loss. With Danny Brix getting in early foul trouble, and the chemistry still working itself out, St. Joseph’s wasn’t able to put together that statement win at that point. However, the team began to gel with a solid defensive effort against East Brunswick, and then over the holidays in the Jameer Nelson Classic with wins over Penn Wood and Academy New Church. Freshman Karl Towns came of age in those two games with monster scoring, rebounding, and blocked shot efforts. Like his effort against EB in the third quarter, Towns’ play in those two games were huge because he had to shoulder some of the load since DeCosey dealt with foul trouble in at least one of the two contests there.
It was a thrilling contest at Kean on Saturday night. St. Joseph’s went toe to toe with Seton Hall Prep throughout with 20 lead changes and 10 ties including seven lead swaps and four ties in the final period according to the Star-Ledger. DeCosey was huge down the stretch with a blocked shot that eventually set up a score by Brix, and then a three pointer from the right corner at the 2:13 mark for a 58-57 lead. The Temple bound senior, who now has 1,150 points for his career, gave the Falcons the led for good with a leaner from the right side with 44 seconds left. Towns came up huge with two blocks in the fourth as well as two huge rebounds including an offensive board off a missed free throw by Brix with 10 seconds remaining.
Brix as well as Karim Awad chipped in with 8 points while Towns added 6 points. Enough hasn’t been said about the efforts Awad has made this year. In the loss to Teaneck, not only did he score 7 points, but he also grabbed 8 rebounds, and handed out two assists. Awad helped supplement DeCosey’s 24 point scoring effort in the win over EB before the holidays with 8 points including a layup to start the second quarter that gave the Falcons the lead for good. Not to be forgotten is point guard, Jimbo Long, who can not only shoot the three, but can also rebound, and defend well. Joe Ross of East Brunswick could attest to that.
While this Seton Hall Prep team is not in the same realm as those that Jay Williams played with Marcus Toney-El leading the way, the Pirates are still a very good squad. True Bob Farrell is no longer coaching at the school, but The Prep still has a capable staff and talented players such as Dallas Anglin, who demonstrated great shooting ability and athleticism in the third quarter of the Pirates victory over long time rival, Columbia of Maplewood at the Tip-Off Classic, Stephon Mosley, who can score from the perimeter as well as inside, and Spencer Weisz, who has a blue collar work ethic that will do anything to win. This was a great victory not only for St. Joseph’s, but for the entire Greater Middlesex Conference.