LInden 54.....Elizabeth 4
- Thread starter Kbee3
- Start date
I was there. I never saw anything like this. Elizabeth did not make a field goal in the entire game. They only made 4 foul shots. Linden's defense is outstanding and they are not really very big. Phelps is about 6'5" and the rest of the guys are very much smaller. I knew Elizabeth wasn't the best team last year or this year but for a school with over 4,000 students the largest high school in NJ and one of the largest student populations in the entire country this is a embarrassment. Linden played all the players on the bench. They only scored 11 points in the 3rd quarter and 6 in the 4th quarter. Linden could have scored many more points if they wanted. Many people at the game really felt bad for Elizabeth. This game showed me once again why I believe Phil Colicchio is the best defensive coach in the entire state. Two of my friends who are also Linden graduates attended the game with me. We were all shocked that EHS could not even make one field goal in the entire night.
FYI: My friend is the JV coach and Elizabeth is Horrible, do not read anything else into it besides the fact. Their better players don't play this year for some issue or another but most of the talented kids in the city have no grades to play basketball. Linden took out their frustration on Elizabeth who has not been good in a long time.
GRF, I know the Ridge coach is a good defensive coach too but you saw what Linden did to Ridge the last 3 years. Last year Ridge was so much bigger than LHS and Linden beat them on Ridge's home court. Check who each team plays as to strength of schedule. It isn't even close. Try playing The Patrick School (2), Roselle Catholic (2), Brighton from Boston, St. Benedict's, Monteverde, Westfield, St. Mary's of Elizabeth Union Catholic & Westfield. Every one of these teams are in the Top 20 of the state or nationally ranked. Ridge will probably get the top seed in the state again because of record and the much easier schedule they play. I don't agree with the process but it is what it is. Phil schedules anyone anywhere. Ridge is content to stay in their own back yard.
A couple of my buddies were there. I couldn't make it.
I've seen enough blowouts in my time. East Orange back in the day, where the opponent had enough trouble just getting the ball past half court. St. Anthony's with Bobby Hurley and Jerry Walker vs. any number of opponents. But 4 points ? No field goals ? I gotta check state records to see if there was ever a similar score....or lack of scoring.
BTW, what exactly do you say to your team after a loss like that ?
Linden loses guys to parochial schools too. Several years back Linden played Roselle Catholic in the county finals and RC started 4 guys from Linden vs. Linden. It is every town losing kids to the parochial schools not just Elizabeth.
I remember when Elizabeth had incredible teams and was one of the top public schools in the state and top 20 in the polls.
Linden wouldn't have scored as much as RU tonight, but I'd be pretty confident they wouldn't have given up 96
Is anyone suggesting that Bob Hurley isn't the best defensive HS coach???? C'mon!!!!
BTW, I'm an E-High graduate 82'. Know Collichio well going back to sticking each other in the Elizabeth Catholic grammar school league, and run into him in Clark every so often. He's from the Ben Candelino tree which stresses defense.
BTW, I'm an E-High graduate 82'. Know Collichio well going back to sticking each other in the Elizabeth Catholic grammar school league, and run into him in Clark every so often. He's from the Ben Candelino tree which stresses defense.
As happy as I was reading this as a Linden alum, that has to sadden Collichio a bit as a Elizabeth guy.
Ben was a super coach at Elizabeth. What happened to the young coach that came from South Brunswick and coached Elizabeth just a few years ago? His South Brunswick team lost to Linden in a Group IV State Final game. He seemed like a very good coach. I think his name was Chris.
What is shocking to me is the difference of defensive intensity played in HS vs. what we see at Rutgers. These good HS coaches wouldn't allow guys being beat off the dribble or players conveniently going under screens. If they did the player would hear about it. If you want to play at some of these schools listed you know you have to play defense. I'll bet at these schools there are more talented kids that don't get as much PT because they don't buy in defensively.
GRF, it's really unbelievable how other than Williams and Sanders (Sanders at least gives effort), no one plays D. I honestly can't believe it. A team of Matadors. And that Jordan was a good defensive player makes it even more unbelievable. (Sorry for the rant!)