Elizabeth Surges, Survives RC. Instant Classic!

Another day in the Watchung Conference, another instant classic. Thursday had its highlights in the Watchung: Union High upset Union Catholic; NaJai Hines broke the rim at Plainfield---but the battle between Roselle Catholic and Elizabeth at the Dunn Center is another one for the history books.

The game started fast and furious through the first quarter with the teams matching baskets and playing at full throttle. JoJo Torres put the Minutemen 3-0 ahead out of the gate and it set the tone as the teams volleyed the lead back and forth with the quarter finishing even up at 23-23. Sophomore Jayden Johnson had 11 for EHS in the first and RC junior star Trevon Lewis matched him with 9 in the opening quarter.

In the second, Elizabeth hit Roselle Catholic with a sledgehammer, the kitchen sink, a Dussenberg V-12 Engine, Singer Sewing Machine, I-Beam from Phelps Dodge, Central Railroad Of New Jersey locomotive and then threw some Girl Scout Cookies from Burry Biscuit in their faces, just for good measure....Enjoy our little Elizabeth Industrial History Lesson? Good. Point made.

Just like Union Catholic did earlier this week, it was Elizabeth's turn to make a big run. Elizabeth held RC scoreless for seven minutes of the second while they tore off on a 20-0 run, including a pair of buckets by Siraj Abdellah, who's three pointer ripped the lid off the Dunn Center...

Roselle Catholic was able to grab the last five points of the half, but still trailed 43-28 at the break.

In the third, Elizabeth was able to maintain that lead and led 55-39 with under 3 minutes to go...Then, just as in the UC game, Roselle Catholic woke up. They stormed all the way back by going on a 13-0 run to close the third and open the fourth, getting within 55-52 early in the fourth quarter after a basket by Lewis.

Luis Cuero finished after a nice pass from JoJo Torres to push the Elizabeth lead to 59-54 with two minutes to play and then it was Johnson who ripped off two three pointers to put RC back against the wall. Johnson sealed the game on the line as Elizabeth scored a big win, walking out of the Dunn Center 72-67 victors.

The stat line of the evening: Johnson didn't miss a single shot, save the one he was fouled on late in the fourth, on his way to an explosive 31 point performance.