Boys Basketball: Union County Tournament final scouting report

WHAT: Union County Tournament boys basketball final

WHEN/WHERE: Saturday, 6 p.m. at Kean University

WHO: No. 1 Linden (20-3) vs. No. 1 Patrick School (21-4)

HOW THEY GOT HERE: Linden earned a bye into the quarterfinals and defeated No. 8 Union 58-27 and No. 4 St. Mary's (Eliz.) 49-38 in the semifinals. Patrick School also earned a bye into the quarterfinals, where it defeated No. 10 Rahway 76-37 and No. 3 Roselle Catholic 55-46 in the semifinals.

PREVIOUS MEETINGS: The Patrick School beat Linden 75-62 on Jan. 3, and Linden picked up the win 71-67 on Jan. 17.

LINDEN REPORT: Linden has only lost two games to in-state opponents this season, to the Patrick School on Jan. 3 and Blair on Dec. 18. The Tigers have won four straight and are averaging close to 65 points a game this season, with wins over some of the best teams in the state in the Patrick School, Roselle Catholic and St. Mary's (Eliz.). Tavon Jones leads the team with 17.5 points, 5.8 rebounds, 3.3 assists per game and 2.3 steals per game. Khalief Crawford (14.3 ppg., 4.3 rpg., 2.3 apg.), Mikey Watkins (9.9 ppg., 2.5 rpg., 2.6 apg.), Marcellus Livingston (9.7 ppg., 4 rpg., 1.5 apg.) and Joey Krempa (5.2 ppg., 1.2 rpg., 2.5 apg.) have all been playing big minutes and making big plays for the Tigers. Jones, Krempa, Crawford and Livingston all earned experience last year as Linden advanced to the Tournament of Champions final, so the team knows how to play in big-game, big-pressure situations.

PATRICK SCHOOL REPORT: The Patrick School's only in-state loss this season came at the hands of Linden, as the the Celtics have been averaging 68 points per game. The Celitcs have the height-advantage, as Jamir Harris (6-foot-2) leads the team with 13 points per game. Jordan Walker (11.6 ppg., 4.4 apg.), Marcus McClary (6-3, 11.1 ppg.), Nicholas Richards (6-11, 11.2 ppg., 7.5 rpg.) and Al-Amir Dawes (6-1) are all capable of scoring points. The Celtics' defense could cause problems for the Tigers, but with the experience of already having faced each other twice this season, both teams will have enough insight into the way each other plays.

PREDICTION: Linden 70, Patrick School 64

Staff Writer Lauren Knego: lknego@gannettnj.com; on Twitter: @laurenknego