LINDEN, NJ- The Linden High School Tigers boys varsity basketball team took to the floor for one last game in front of their home fans in the state tournament against the Phillipsburg High School Stateliners.
What was once a close game, turned into a blowout in the second half, as the third-seeded Tigers (ranked No. 8 on NJ.com’s Top 20) defeated the seventh-seeded Stateliners 79-48 in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Semifinals Saturday night in Linden.
The Linden Tigers (22-6) advance to the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Sectional Final. They will travel to take on top-seeded Newark East Side HS (ranked No. 7 on NJ.com’s Top 20) Monday afternoon at 4:00 p.m.
“This is the game everybody expected in the sectional final, it’s no secret,” Linden head coach Phil Colicchio said. “With that being said, it’s basketball, it’s a 32-minute game. Whether it be here in Linden or Newark East Side, wherever it may be, we’re going to win the game.”
The two teams faced off in the NJSIAA North Jersey, Section 2, Group 4 Sectional Final the past two seasons, with Linden winning both meetings at home (2016: 62-59 in OT and 2017: 59-51).
For Linden, their schedule consisted of tough opponents, including The Patrick School, Bergen Catholic, Timber Creek, Roselle Catholic, teams in South Carolina, Trenton Catholic and St. Mary of the Assumption, giving them the confidence of the competition that lays ahead.
“We’ve been on the road a lot of times and played tough teams and getting wins, so it’s nothing new,” Linden senior Mikey Watkins said.
