
With the win, Ranney (16-2) made a statement that it can win the school’s first New Jersey Tournament of Champions title in March. Roselle Catholic (17-2) has won three TOC titles since 2013, including last year when the Lions beat Ranney along the way. The two teams could meet again in the loaded Non-Public B bracket, which in the past has featured perennial powers St. Anthony’s and St. Patrick. Ranney now owns impressive wins over Roselle Catholic and Jaden McDaniels and Federal Way (WA) at the Hoophall Classic, but also lost to Gill St. Bernard’s. RC, meantime, beat Gill but loss to Ranney and to Norcross (GA) at the Hoophall. “Our confidence is probably going to go through the roof,” Antoine said. “As coach tells us you can’t really predict the future, you have to take it step by step.” Ranney outscored RC 29-21 in the second half and iced the game midway through the fourth period with a 9-0 run that made it 61-44. It featured a 3-pointer by Florida-bound walk-on Alex Klatsky and three straight dunks by junior Phillip Wheeler, Antoine and Wheeler again..@BryanAntoine_ named MVP. No surprise pic.twitter.com/t0YnP8pnuD
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 31, 2019
Pretty cool. Three @McDAAG selections in one state and one game. @Scott_lewis_23 @KahlilWhitney @BryanAntoine_ pic.twitter.com/jM5z8ZVidk
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 31, 2019
In a first half that produced a slew of dunks, the Panthers took a 32-28 lead behind 17 points from Antoine and 10 from Sarnor. Whitney managed just 5 points at the break while going 0-for-4 from the line. Omoruyi kept RC in the game with five first-half dunks en route to 11 points. Ranney stretched it to 48-39 after three quarters and Antoine 23 had by that point while the Lions struggled offensively and made a number of costly turnovers.Biggest game in NJ brings out the biggest names! @UKCoachCalipari has a front row seat for @RanneyAthletics vs. @rc_basketball . Full coverage coming tonight to Jersey Sports Zone pic.twitter.com/XnCcwVJIiY
— Jersey Sports Zone (@JSZ_Sports) January 31, 2019
Follow Adam Zagoria on Twitter And Like ZAGS on FacebookPretty sweet halftime entertainment with ‘Walk This Way ‘ on the violins. Love it. pic.twitter.com/KHsLZBzFR5
— Adam Zagoria (@AdamZagoria) January 31, 2019