PISCATAWAY, N.J. – Although the Rutgers Athletic Center filled to the nosebleeds early for the evening's main event, the mythical national championship battle between No. 1
St. Patrick (Elizabeth) and No. 2
Seton Hall Prep (West Orange) and
St. Peter's Prep (Jersey City) provided a taut, tension-filled opening act.
Despite shooting just 4-for-27 in the second half, Seton Hall Prep displayed its big-game pedigree in overtime, winning what the Poly Pirates would call an ugly beautiful 55-47 decision in the North Non-Public A title game Wednesday night.
St. Peter's (23-6) upended Seton Hall (26-3) in the same game last March, but junior guard
Dallas Anglin – who played his freshman season at St. Peter's before transferring to the West Orange-based power – canned a 3-pointer with 3:25 left in extra time to give the Poly Pirates (26-3) the lead for good, 43-40. He scored 13 of his 17 points in the fourth quarter and overtime.
From there, Maryland-bound senior guard
Sterling Gibbs (game-high 23 points) went 10-for-13 from the charity stripe over the final few minutes as Seton Hall earned a trip to Saturday's Non-Public A title contest against St. Augustine Prep at Poland Spring Arena in Toms River.
"Dallas' 3-pointer to start overtime was as big as it gets," Seton Hall coach Bob Farrelly said. "He gave us the space. And Sterling made foul shots down the stretch."
Senior Stephon Whyatt led St. Peter's with 21 points, including a free throw with 1:08 left in regulation, but both teams struggled after the Marauders claimed an 18-15, first-quarter lead: Seton Hall shot just 26.3 percent (15-for-57) from the floor, while the St. Peter's connected on 30 percent (15-for-50) of its tries.
"I struggled (from the line) in the first half, struggled the whole game," Gibbs said. "I knew I had to deliver. This moment doesn't come all the time and I knew I had to take advantage of it."
