JERSEY CITY, N.J. — Survive and advance has taken on a whole new meaning for Bob Hurley and the St. Anthony’s Friars this March.
With the tiny Catholic school literally fighting to survive, every game in the New Jersey state tournament could be the legendary program’s last.
Ever.
“Yeah, we mentioned it to each other, said this might be our last time together, period,” Howard-bound senior guard R.J. Cole told ZAGSBLOG after pouring in a team-high 26 points as St. Anthony’s knocked off Montclair Immaculate, 66-52, in the North Non-Public B quarterfinals before a packed house on Friday night. The Friars won despite 31 points from junior guard Jalen Carey, who is being courted by Seton Hall, UConn, Notre Dame and Kansas, among others.
“Next year the school might not be here,” Cole added of St. Anthony’s. “So we all had to go out with a chip on our shoulder and keep competing and win.”