St. Anthony wins NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title
TRENTON – Led by 16 points from reserve senior guard Asante Gist, St. Anthony put a cap on another undefeated basketball season by defeating Linden, 55-38, at the Sun National Bank Center Monday night to capture the NJSIAA Tournament of Champions title.
It marked the 13th time in the history of the T of C that the Friars earned the championship, easily the state record. The next nearest competitor, St. Patrick’s of Elizabeth, has five.
It also marked the eighth time that a St. Anthony basketball team finished a season with an undefeated record. The Friars finished the season with a perfect 32-0 mark.
It was the first time since 2012 that the Friars won the T of C. That year, the Friars, led by current San Antonio Spurs forward Kyle Anderson, finished a two-year streak without a loss and won two straight T of C titles.
Besides Gist, the Friars received 11 points from junior guard R.J. Cole and 10 points each from senior guard Jagan Mosely and senior forward Idris Joyner.
Linden finished the season with a 25-6 record. Khalief Crawford paced the Tigers with 13 points.
The Friars withstood a second-period run from the Tigers and took a 24-20 halftime lead on a 3-pointer from Gist at the buzzer.
The Friars then outscored the Tigers, 12-3, to start the third quarter and pulled away.
“We beat a very good team tonight,” St. Anthony legendary head coach Bob Hurley said. “It was a very rewarding season. I never expected this team to be undefeated. It just shows the maturity of our senior class. We had a short team tonight, but they were physically though. It really was a unique year.”
For more about the fabulous Friars and their ascent once again to New Jersey basketball royalty, read Jim Hague’s Scoreboard column and his report in the Jersey City Reporter.