St. Peter’s head coach Alex Mirabel told his star point guard Richie Rosa to check back into the game with six seconds left in the third quarter.
Rosa, fresh off of the bench, received the inbound pass and snaked his way down the floor. The Rider commit elevated at the top of the key and released a jump shot that found the bottom of the net as time expired.
The St. Peter’s players jumped off of the bench and ran to embrace Rosa as he celebrated at half court. The three-pointer put an exclamation point on a dominant third quarter for the Marauders.
St. Peter’s Prep, No. 3 in the NJ.com Top 20, cruised the rest of the way to beat Linden, No. 9 in the NJ.com Top 20, 60-37 in the New Year’s Jump Off in Paterson.
“This is a moment I always practice for – I always look for those buzzer beater shots,” Rosa said. “They trust me and I trust myself.”
St. Peter’s lead did not come early. The first quarter was back and forth as Rosa and Linden senior guard Jayden Holman traded baskets. They each had seven points in the first eight minutes.
Holman finished with 12 points.
St. Peter’s went on a 7-0 run to start the second quarter. Linden was able to respond to the run, but the Mauraders took a 29-25 lead into the halftime break.
“We got to get to a better start but Linden does a good job,” Mirabel said. “It was good we got the lead and we capitalized.”
St. Peter’s came out with a lot of energy to start the second half. Rosa scored a quick five points before the Marauders went into a man-to-man press. The Linden guards struggled with the pressure and St. Peter’s was able to extend its lead.
“I felt like we could press them a little bit more and disrupt their offense,” Mirabel said. “They are a very good team, can’t let them get into their offensive sets.”
Senior Mason Santiago kept finding open three-point shooters in the second half as St. Peter’s pulled away. Santiago, a St. Peter’s University commit, finished with eight assists on the night.
“I have had a rough start to the year so far – I know that teams are honed in on me and they are doing a pretty good job,” Santiago said. “Getting my [teammates] involved will open the game up for me eventually.”
After surrendering 17 points in the first quarter, St. Peter’s allowed only 20 points the rest of the game.
“We got to defend,” Mirabel said. “That is our identity it can’t be when we want to – it has to be everyday,”
Mirabel benched Rosa and the rest of the starters late in the fourth quarter as Linden was unable to cut into the St. Peter’s lead.
Rosa finished with a game-high 22 points.
“We go as I go, I always got to set the tone,” Rosa said. “I got to always lead. I have great teammates, they listen and they vouch for me – they will go to war for me.”
Rosa had failed to eclipse 12 points in any of his last four games heading into the New Year’s day matchup. He was able to find his rhythm early and didn’t look back.
“Just constantly watching film, looking over what I could do better,” Rosa said. “Just trying to make things easier for me.”
The Marauders took a trip to Florida for the Miami Holiday Invitational less than a week ago. Mirabel was unhappy after a 70-52 loss at the hands of Riviera Prep (FL). The team was able to bounce back before heading back to New Jersey for Thursday’s game.
“It was a nightmare in the first game over there,” Mirabel said. ” The second game was much better and I thought the guys responded pretty well. That’s what you want.”
Linden has already played six teams currently ranked in the NJ.com Top 20. The Tigers will look to bounce back against another ranked opponent, Montgomery, No. 5 in the NJ.com Top 20, on Saturday.
Rosa and St. Peter’s will hope to carry the momentum from the win into its next matchup against Rutgers Prep, No. 10 in the NJ.com Top 20, on Saturday.
“Keep being focused,” Santiago said. “Go to practice and watch film then do it all again on Saturday.”
