Saint Anthony, Seton Hall Prep Are Champs

The RAC on Rutgers' campus was loud and packed last night. There were 60 Minutes film crews in the house and television broadcast teams sitting court-side. However, none of the activity at the RAC had anything to do with the Scarlet Knights. The North Jersey Non-Public A and B championship games were the draw, selling out the stadium. I was unable to attend the games, but there was plenty of media on hand to give insight and perspective on the night's events.

The first game of the evening, the North Jersey Non-Public A championship game, pitted Seton Hall Prep against Saint Peter's Prep. Coach Mike Kelly's Saint Peter's Prep team forced overtime, but eventually fell 55-47. All season long, guards Sterling Gibbs and Dallas Anglin have been instrumental in Seton Hall Prep's success. The song remained the same last night, with Gibbs scoring 23, including 10 free throws in overtime. Junior guard Dallas Anglin, who is being recruited by Saint Joseph's, had 17 points for SHP, including four 3-pointers. Seton Hall Prep will now take on Saint Augustine Prep on Saturday in Toms River. Mike Moretti's article from NJ.com is linked here.

While the first game of the night between Seton Hall Prep and Saint Peter's Prep was a good one, the sell-out crowd on hand was mostly there for the evening's second game. The game featured the two top teams, not only in New Jersey, but in America. Saint Patrick's came into last night's game considered the number one team in America, and Bob Hurley's Saint Anthony team was considered next in line. In the North Jersey Non-Public B championship game, it was Hurley's Friars that walked off the court 62-45 winners. While the Friars won by 17, the game was much closer than the final score indicates. Saint Pat's actually held a 5-point halftime lead and a 1-point lead going into the fourth quarter. The Friars outscored the Celtics 23-5 in the final frame though. Saint Anthony will also play again on Saturday in Toms River, taking on Cardinal McCarrick for the state crown. Mike Kinney's article on the Saint Anthony game can be found here. That link also contains video clips from the game.