Boys basketball: Linden advances to T of C semis
TOMS RIVER - One down, two more to go.
The Linden High School boys basketball team got one step closer to reaching the Tournament of Champions final for the first time since 2006 on Tuesday night, defeating No. 6 University, 62-47, in the quarterfinal round at Pine Belt Arena.
The third-seeded Tigers (24-5) will face No. 2 St. Augustine in the semifinals at 7:30 p.m. Thursday. No. 5 Teaneck, which defeated No. 4 Newark West Side, 71-62, will play top-seeded St. Anthony at 5:30 p.m. Thursday. Both games will be at Pine Belt Arena. The winners will face off on Monday in the final at the Sun National Bank Center in Trenton.
"We're nothing new to this, we're going to go into this like a regular game and just play Linden basketball," Linden's Khalief Crawford said.
On Tuesday night, Linden led the whole game, but at times struggled against University's pressure and defense. The Tigers turned the ball over 16 times, while the Phoenix turned it over 12 times.
"We knew they weren't going to quit, we knew they were going to come out and play hard, go on runs, we know they're a tough team," Crawford said. "(Their defense) gave us a little trouble, the pressing and the trapping and the jumping, we just had to calm ourselves down, see the field and make the right passes."
Leading 34-22 after a putback by William Phelps with 4:36 remaining, the Phoenix (18-11) went on a 6-0 run to cut the lead to 34-28 with 3:17 left. A three-point play from Tavon Jones pushed the Tigers' lead to 37-28, but another four-straight points brought University to within five, 37-32, the closest it had been since the start of the second quarter.
The Tigers' defense stepped up and held University to only two points the rest of the way, outscoring the Phoenix 8-2 to lead 45-34 after three quarters.
"They were very aggressive, kind of threw us off a little bit, but we settled down," Jones said. "Coach told us we were playing 100 miles an hour. He said we were playing way too fast. He told us to slow down, step to the ball and meet our passes, so we went out there and it worked."
In the fourth quarter Linden outscored University, 17-13, and hit 11-of-15 free throws to cement the 62-47 final.
Linden held University to only one field goal in the second quarter, but only managed to score 10 points. After opening on a 6-0 run to take a 21-10 lead with 5:41 left, the Tigers went on a four minute scoring drought. Luckily for Linden, University only managed to score one point in that span and was held to six points, going 4-of-8 from the line.
"They gave us everything that we expected, you're playing a state champ and not only are you playing a state champ but you're playing a team that's coached by Elijah (Allen)," Linden coach Phil Colicchio said. "They took on his personality all year, they're scrappy, they're tough, that's the kid I remember as a basketball player himself."
Phelps recorded a double-double for Linden, finishing with 15 points, 10 rebounds and four blocks. Jones scored a game-high 24 points and added nine rebounds. Tafari Lowe contributed 11 points, six assists, four rebounds and two steals.
For University, Tariq McKenith finished with 16 points, four rebounds, three assists and three steals. Zamir Wright added 13 points, and Marad Banks chipped in 11 points.
Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com