Roselle Catholic's Niavanni Grant (3) delivers a pass to teammate Tyfanni McQueen (10) against tight Linden 'D' in Saturday's girls hoops action as Tigers won, 39-31. (Photos by JR Parachini)

Linden head coach Paul Gorski confers with his Tigers during timeout in Saturday's game

Wheeler-Led Linden Girls Upend RC
In Key UCC-Watchung Division Clash
By JR Parachini
For sidelinechatter.com

LINDEN – In order to beat a defensive-minded team like Roselle Catholic, Linden felt it had to step up its own performance when not in possession of the ball.

That meant not only lifting arms up, but getting right in the faces of the Roselle Catholic players and swarming as close as they could without committing a foul.

That defensive exuberance eventually paid off for the host Tigers on the scoreboard when Linden took the lead for the first time in the third quarter.

Once Linden went ahead the Tigers quickly built on their lead. Roselle Catholic made a run in the fourth quarter, but it was too little too late.

Sparked by a team effort that was led by the outstanding play of senior guard Shannon Wheeler – who paced all scorers with 18 points – Linden came back to defeat Roselle Catholic 39-31 Saturday afternoon in Union County Conference-Watchung Division play.

“We played hard as a team and really brought our intensity,” said Wheeler, who scored 10 of her points in a game-changing third quarter that saw the Tigers outscore the visiting Lions 16-2.

Linden won its second straight to improve to 14-4 overall and 9-3 in the Watchung Division. Roselle Catholic had a five-game winning streak snapped and fell to 13-5 overall and 11-1 in the Watchung.

Roselle Catholic still needs to win just one of its two remaining division games to repeat as Watchung champions.

The Lions, who defeated Linden 50-45 at home in division play back on Dec. 20, entered the game having held their last eight opponents to 27 points or less in regulation.

Roselle Catholic got out to a good start in this game as well, leading 6-0 before Linden finally scored with 3:02 left in the first quarter after sophomore Keajah Hall hit an outside shot.

Linden pulled to within one point twice in the second quarter at 11-10 and 13-12 before Roselle Catholic finished the period leading 16-12 at intermission.

Neither team shot well in the first half, with Roselle Catholic making four-of-16 field goals and Linden six-of-27.

After both teams missed several layups, Wheeler began the third-quarter scoring by grabbing an offensive rebound and putting the ball in. That basket began the first of two 8-0 runs the Tigers would go on in the third quarter sandwiched around the only basket Roselle Catholic produced, which was an inside shot by sophomore center Tori Pozsonyi, who paced the Lions with 12 points.

Linden junior forward Jada Lewis came alive in the third quarter, scoring the first four of her 10 points. Wheeler scored Linden’s final four points in the period to give the Tigers a 28-18 advantage heading into the fourth quarter.

“We fought hard and really wanted this win,” Wheeler said. “Everything we do, we just picked up in the third quarter.”

Including the first four points of the fourth quarter, Linden went on a 20-2 run to take a 32-18 lead with 3:53 to go.

“That 12-minute stretch was the difference,” Linden head coach Paul Gorski said. “We made some adjustments in the locker room at halftime and then played really well defensively.

“We had to match Roselle Catholic’s intensity in order to have a chance to beat them. We did that and kept our composure.”

Roselle Catholic went on an 11-2 run to pull to within five at 34-29 with 1:17 to go before Linden sophomore point guard Nah-Quasia Robinson made one of two free throws with 43.3 seconds to go. Lewis followed with back-to-back baskets, the first one coming after she grabbed a big offensive rebound.

“When we play our game we play hard and as a team,” Wheeler said. “We’re not too confident and not under confident. We just play at our own level.”

Wheeler was clearly the best player on the floor and when she is Linden has an excellent chance of coming out on top.

“Shannon does it in the team concept,” Gorski said. “She lets the game come to her.”

Roselle Cathlolic junior point guard Marcia Senatus was held to nine points, including a basket at the very end.

What hurt the Lions a great deal was that they missed too many layups. They were able to get to the basket, but they were not able to finish.

NOTES: Two transfer players who did not play in the Dec. 20 contest were Roselle Catholic junior Renee Oliver and Linden sophomore Emily Nicole.

Oliver started the last two years at Scotch Plains and the 6-1 Nicole last year at Rahway.

“Emily gives us some size, increases the competition in practice and gives our other big girls a breather,” Gorski said.

UNION COUNTY CONFERENCE-WATCHUNG DIVISION

GIRLS’ BASKETBALL GAME AT LINDEN

ROSELLE CATHOLIC (13-5, 11-1) 10 6 2 13 - 31

LINDEN (14-4, 9-3) 6 6 16 11 - 39  

ROSELLE CATHOLIC LIONS (31):

5-Marcia Senatus, junior, 3-1-0-9

32-Tori Pozsonyi, sophomore, 2-0-8-12

14-Katie Tobie, sophomore, 1-0-0-2

3-Niavanni Grant, senior, 1-0-3-5

44-Renee Oliver, junior, 1-0-1-3

10-Tyfanni McQueen, freshman, 0-0-0-0

24-Danielle Franklin, junior, 0-0-0-0

Starters: Grant, Oliver,

Senatus, Pozsonyi, Tobie

Totals: 8-1-12-31

LINDEN TIGERS (39):

3-Shannon Wheeler, senior, 6-0-6-18

23-Jada Lewis, junior, 5-0-0-10

2-Keajah Hall, sophomore, 3-0-0-6

24-Nah-Quasia Robinson, sophomore, 1-0-1-3

13-Jhaya Johnson, senior, 0-0-0-0

20-Emily Nicole, sophomore, 1-0-0-2

Starters: Hall, Robinson,

Johnson, Lewis, Wheeler

Totals: 16-0-7-39

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