TCA romps past Holy Cross in first round
HAMILTON >> Fresh off a Mercer County Tournament championship, the Trenton Catholic Academy boys basketball team is still hungry.
The Iron Mikes issued another statement Wednesday when they began their run in the state playoffs by romping Holy Cross Prep, 73-40, in what was a double-digit game for more than three quarters.
Seventh-seeded TCA advances to the Non-Public B South quarterfinals and a marquee meeting with powerhouse Ranney.
“Practices have been better. Guys have been focused,” head coach Eric Elliott said. “They know it’s tournament time. I tell them it’s March Madness — win or go home. These seniors really want to try to make a run at this thing and give it their best shot.”
TCA’s man-to-man defense set the tone against 10thseeded Holy Cross. The Lancers committed 11 turnovers in the first half and scored only six points in the second quarter.
“We knew they were going to try to slow the pace, so we knew we were going to have to guard 30 seconds, 40 seconds; ball screen, backdoor,” Elliott said. “Guys came out engaged. That’s one thing we wanted to do. We haven’t done it the past few games, so we really wanted to set the tone defensively. I feel like every guy 1-through-10 played hard, competed and were in the right spots.”
With that end of the floor locked up, TCA flourished on offense. Butler commit Khalif Battle had another sensational performance with 33 points. Junior EJ Evans added 17 points
After TCA held a 40-19 halftime lead, Jamir Watkins (14 points) opened the third quarter with a 3-pointer. Four minutes later, the 6-foot-7 junior continued the Iron Mikes’ onslaught by grabbing a steal, running the floor and flushing a tomahawk dunk.
TCA pulled away by as many as 38 points early in the fourth quarter when Braxton Jones poured in one of the team’s 10 3-pointers.
The Iron Mikes will be a clear underdog Friday. Ranney boasts two of the top-three recruits in New Jersey, according to 247Sports. Scottie Lewis is committed to Florida and Bryan Antoine is committed to Villanova.
Battle is ranked the fourthbest recruit and Watkins is garnering Division I interest, so perhaps the Iron Mikes have a puncher’s chance.
Ranney knocked off TCA in last year’s sectional final, 71-56.
“They’re the No. 1 team in the state, so obviously it’s going to be a tough task,” Elliott said. “I love my guys and I think we’ll be ready to play. Hopefully we’ll make some shots and get some stops, and we’ll see what happens.”
HOLY CROSS PREP (40)
Conaway 4-0-10, Cessel 1-0-3, Nesemeier 6-214, Arletti 5-0-11, Ziemba 1-0-2.
Totals — 17-2-40.
TRENTON CATHOLIC (73)
Battle 12-5-35, Evans 7-0-17, Sorber 3-0-6, Watkins 6-0-14, Jones 1-0-3.
Totals — 29-5-73.
Holy Cross (17-10) 13 6 13 8 — 40
TCA (16-9) 2218249—73 3-point goals: Conaway 2, Cessel, Arletti (HC), Battle 4, Evans 3, Watkins 2, Jones (T).