Gill St. Bernard’s boys set for Non-Public North B title rematch, again, with Roselle Catholic

Gill St. Bernard’s and Roselle Catholic have plenty of history, with another page to be written in Monday night’s North Jersey, Non-Public B final at John F. Kennedy High School in Paterson. Central Jersey Sports Radio will be on-site with live coverage.

The Lions have won the last five head-to-head matchups, including a 43-42 game back on January 12th. Roselle Catholic has also served as the Knights’ roadblock to winning a sectional title, defeating Gill St. Bernard’s 68-62 in the 2022 Non-Public North B championship in a game that featured nine future Division I basketball players, and 59-58 in 2020, a game that saw 12 future D-I basketball players.

In fact, the Knights have fallen to the Lions six times in the sectional final since 2015.

But Gill St. Bernard’s is up for the challenge yet again.

A stellar defensive team, the Knights have gotten more and more shotmaking from key pieces, under and upperclassmen.

One of those underclassmen is freshman Connor Junker, Gill St. Bernards’ second-leading scorer and top perimeter threat. He brings a quick first step, quick shot release, and a solid handle that helps him create space.

In the Knights’ Somerset County Tournament final win over Rutgers Prep, Junker brought the heroics with a team-high 15 points with four three-pointers and three key free throws late in the game.

Other key veteran names include Dorsett Mulcahy—whose older brother Paul, a former standout at Rutgers, has joined the coaching staff—and seniors Kobe Closeil and Stanley Njekwe.

This veteran-laden squad has improved at starting better, with the Knights leading by a combined 51-11 after the first quarter in their two most recent tournament games against Timothy Christian and Morristown-Beard.

Roselle Catholic (22-6) brings plenty to the table as well, particularly in the guard room. The Lions’ top three leading scorers are guards, led by Trevon Lewis, Tyrease Hunter, and Jalen Grant.

Lewis has served as the team’s go-to player, showcased in Roselle Catholic’s 85-73 semifinal win over Morris Catholic. He scored 39 points to go along with nine rebounds, attacking the lane with ease.

Can Gill St. Bernard’s get its revenge and reach the sectional mountaintop? Or will Roselle Catholic continue its North Jersey, Non-Public B dominance?

It all starts at 7pm on Monday.

Click below to hear Gill St. Bernard’s Head Coach Mergin Sina talk about the Knights and the Non-Public North B final against Roselle Catholic: