Boys basketball: Plainfield’s inspired rally comes up short to Elizabeth in final
ELIZABETH – Friday night’s North 2 Group 4 boys basketball title game Friday night looked secured as Elizabeth led Plainfield High School by 13 with under six minutes to play. Some of the crowd of 2,800 on both sides felt confident enough to depart the Thomas Dunn Center.
But that’s when eighth-seeded Plainfield began a 12-0 run, capped by outstanding freshman guard Micah Gordon’s basket that tied it with 42 seconds left in regulation. But third-seeded Elizabeth didn’t collapse in the emotion that surrounded the wild Plainfield rally, holding on for the 69-67 win after junior Jordan Torres hit a layup.
The Cardinals would have a couple of ideal chances to tie it. One inbounds Cardinal pass turned into a jump ball with possession to Plainfield. Then two open looks at the basket missed, and Elizabeth had its third sectional title in five years.
“I told my kids at halftime when we led by 12 (40-28) that they (Plainfield) weren’t going to roll over and play dead,” said Elizabeth coach Phil Colicchio “I told them that we’d have to expect them to have one run, maybe two.”
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Gordon was chief threat throughout the game. He finished with 29 points.
Colicchio believed that the inbounds pass in the waning seconds would lead to a Gordon 3-point shot attempt. But Plainfield coach Mike Gordon’s plan was to find an open big under the basket.
Christopher Clark said he figured the inbounds pass would come to a forward under the basket. In the meantime, the Minutemen would face guard Micha Gordon.
Clark defended both last second attempts by Plainfield, two Cardinal close range shots missed.
“I got to tell you the truth in the timeout I drew up. I thought that he (coach Mike Gordon) was going to send his son (Micah) around a double screen and try and win the game there with a 3,” said Colicchio. “I really did give Mike credit. He went right to his big man on the block. We weren’t prepared for it and CJ (Clark) came out of nowhere with two hands straight up in the air and blocked him and then did it again the second time (on the next play).”
Plainfield led 2-0 but never again.
Elizabeth led 23-13 after a period, 40-28 at halftime and 55-46 after three quarters.
“We were down 10, 12 points and they consistently fight back,” said Mike Gordon. “We had opportunities, it didn’t go our way, but I love my kids and I understand the fight. Sometimes it goes your way and sometimes it doesn’t.”
Plainfield finished the season with a 19-8 record – a huge improvement from last season’s 4-18.
This article originally appeared on MyCentralJersey.com: NJ Boys basketball: Plainfield’s inspired rally comes up short in final