#15 Elizabeth Outlasts #8 Linden

In a game that will be spoken about for many years in Union County, #15 Elizabeth was able to defend its home court with a hard fought 56-51 victory over archival and #8 ranked Linden in the Union County Game Of The Week, Presented by Wheelie Good Pierogi.

London Carson got started on a strong drive to the bucket off the tip to open the scoring for the Minutemen but Naz Robinson answered with a layup to even the score on Linden’s first trip up the floor. After a patient Elizabeth set that came up empty, Robinson got fouled going to the rim on a break. He missed the first, but hit the second, giving Linden a 3-2 lead with 5:45 to go in the first. McRare responded with a drive to the bucket to give Elizabeth a 4-3 lead on their next possession after some patient ball movement.

Linden retook the lead afer a Jehki Burnam layup as the first quarter was played out at a high level between the two rivals. Linden took a two possession lead after a layup by Eljiah Butler, however Carson answered with a pair of free throws. Butler’s triple on the next possession gave Linden a two score lead back. Elizabeth beat the buzzer with a layup but Linden held a 14-8 lead after a quarter.

After a triple by the Minutemen to start the quarter, Carson went to the line after being fouled on a drive and split a pair to bring EHS within a possession. Nas Robinson, not to be outdone, came down and hit a triple to restore the Linden lead to 17-12. Linden was able to open up an 8 point lead after a Nadir jumper from the mid range and a Robinson layup, causing concern amongst the Minutemen faithful, but McRae cut into the lead with a layup to make it 22-16 midway through the second. Elizabeth made a run to cut it to a possession, then Linden closed the half with authority as Burnam tossed a lob to Butler that he finished with authority, sending the Tigers to the lockers up 28-21.

Linden was able to extend their lead to 10 points midway through the third quarter after a pair of buckets by Nadir, who pushed himself to 11 on the evening. The game was paused for a medical issue in the stands and was resumed afterwards. Elizabeth cut the lead to 37-32 after three quarters on a pair of layups.

Elizabeth opened the fourth with a three to cut it to 37-35. The teams traded possessions keeping it a one possession game until midway in the fourth when Butler hit a three, giving him 17 on the night and the Tigers a 47-41 lead. McRae hit back to back triples to tie it at 49 with 1:40 to go. Carson flushed a dunk to give the Minutemen the lead at 53-51, then hit a pair of FT to put the game on ice. Elizabeth closed out a 56-51 win, easily their biggest of the season and a momentum building victory for the Minutemen.

Case Agency Player of The Game

London Carson, Elizabeth

The 6'4" senior stepped up big time in the absence of JoJo Torres. He was electric on offense, finishing with 23 pts and also turned in a tough defensive performance in the gigantic victory for the Minutemen on their home court.