Third-seeded Roselle Catholic, No. 12 in The Star-Ledger Top 20, shot a sizzling 55 percent from the field as it defeated sixth-seeded Newark Tech, 98-80, in the first round of the NJSIAA/ShopRite Tournament of Champions at Pine Belt Arena in Toms River.
The toughest of them all might come against Roselle Catholic and guards Isaiah Briscoe and Asante Gist when the teams meet tonight at 7 in the first round of the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions.
Larry Blunt, head coach at Athlete Institute in Orangeville, Ontario, told SNY.tv that Michigan State, Michigan, Ohio State, Syracuse and Georgetown are all coming after Jamal Murray hard and plan to offer him soon.
Tolly James is already preparing for his final year of high school ball and is hoping to attract the attention of a few more programs, specifically LSU and Syracuse.
Down the stretch Archbishop Carroll big men Derrick Jones and Ernest Aflakpui scored 13 of their team’s final 17 points en route to a 59-55 victory over Abington Heights.
There were plenty of heroes for Roselle Catholic, including Matt Bullock (15 points, five rebounds), Chris Silva (12 points, six rebounds) and Isaiah Briscoe (13 points, six rebounds), who combined for 40 points and 17 rebounds.
Players were selected for the Jordan Brand Classic set for April 18 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn on Monday. From the New York/New Jersey area, Syracuse commit Chris McCullough of IMG Academy was selected.
With the basketball season coming down to a win-or-go-home scenario, Isaiah Briscoe propelled Roselle Catholic over Trenton Catholic in the semifinals of the New Jersey Non-Public South B bracket of the state tournament, 70-50.