Seton Hall Prep Headed for State Final

Vindication was sweet — made even sweeter since Seton Hall Prep's basketball team rallied Wednesday night in the fourth quarter to force overtime, owned the extra period and beat St. Peter Prep 55-47 to win the NJSIAA North Jersey, Non-Public A title.

Seton Hall, now 26-3, was beaten 64-54 by St. Peter Prep last year in the sectional title game.

The Pirates will play South champ St. Augustine Prep (27-2) Saturday at Poland Springs Arena in Toms River for the Non-Public A title. Game time is 2 p.m.

The sectional championship was the 17th under Pirate coach Bob Farrell's reign. Farrell has been head coach of the Pirates for 34 years.

Seton Hall Prep trailed 39-25 as the fourth quarter began at Rutgers Athletic Center in Piscataway. Senior Sterling Gibbs played a big part in getting the Pirates to Saturday's title game. He hit two three-pointers in the period as Seton Hall forged a 38-37 lead with 2:23 left in regulation. St. Peter Prep's Stephen Whyatt hit one of two free throws to tie the game at 38 with 1:08 left.

But it was all Seton Hall Prep in overtime.

Junior Dallas Anglin sparked the 17-9 overtime with a 3-pointer that gave the Pirates a 41-38 lead. Two free throws from Gibbs extended the advantage to 45-40 at the 2:40 mark of the overtime and the Pirates never were threatened.

Gibbs made 10 of 13 free throws in overtime and finished with 23 points. Anglin had 17 with four 3-pointers.

St. Augustine won its first sectional title since 2004, the same year it won its last state title. Like Seton Hall Prep, Hermits also lost in last year's sectional final.