LINDEN, NJ – Linden High School boys varsity basketball team defeated Trenton Catholic High School in Thursday nights home game.
Linden High School senior Mikey Watkins found himself guarding against a Trenton Catholic player with about one minute to go, his team having fought all game and at one point, overcoming a nine-point deficit in time to give themselves a chance. Then, he got a handle on the ball and the crowd roared with excitement as he banked home a shot off a turnover to give his team a 55-53 lead with 55 seconds to go.
After missing a potential go-ahead free throw with 1:17 left in the fourth quarter, Watkins says all it came down to, was making a play for his team.
“I just wanted to make a play,” Watkins said. “I missed a free throw before. I read [the inbound pass] good.”
It brought the crowd to their feet, as the Linden High School Tigers boys varsity basketball team (ranked No. 11 on NJ.com’s Top 20), outscored their opponent 20-10 in the final eight minutes of play, icing the game with key free throws and a basket to defeat the Trenton Catholic High School Iron Mikes (Hamilton) by a final score of 59-53 Thursday night in Linden.
A few minutes before that, it would’ve seemed like a long shot of a victory. Linden found themselves in early trouble, trailing 48-39 with 6:30 left in the quarter and appeared to be in danger of dropping a game where they fought to keep it close all second half.
Senior Tavon Jones ignited the offensive push that was to come, draining a three-point shot that cut the deficit to 48-42 with 6:17 left and Linden used a timeout.
Full Coverage of Linden Boys Varsity Basketball Comeback Win Over Trenton Catholic HS Here
