PISCATAWAY, N.J. — When St. Anthony’s takes the floor on Saturday night in search of its first Non-Public B title in four years, it will be doing so against a very familiar opponent, particularly for senior point guard Asante Gist.
Behind Gist’s 19 points on 7-of-8 shooting (including 4-of-5 from behind the arc), St. Anthony’s cruised to a 64-29 victory over Dwight-Englewood Thursday night at the Rutgers Athletic Center. The win ensured the Friars (29-0, ranked No. 1 in the state and No. 4 by USA Today) another North Non-Public B crown and a shot at redemption against Roselle Catholic in Toms River.
Ranked No. 2 in New Jersey, Roselle Catholic is responsible for singlehandedly ending St. Anthony’s season each of the last three years. It also happens to be where Gist spent his first two seasons and part of his junior campaign, playing a role in the Lions’ Tournament of Champions title in 2013. (RC also won in 2015 after he transferred out to Marist High School.)
“It’s a bittersweet thing, but I just can’t wait until the game Saturday, to be honest,” Gist told SNY.tv.
“It’s funny, because I didn’t really like St. Anthony when I was there [at Roselle Catholic],” he continued. “So it’s crazy to be on the opposite side.”
Gist, committed to play for coach Danny McHale at Eastern Kentucky next year, could become the first player in New Jersey history to win the prestigious Tournament of Champions title with two different schools.
He still keeps in touch with Roselle Catholic’s Matt Bullock, as the two have been tight since the sixth grade. The uncommitted Bullock, meantime, is seeking his fourth Non-Public B state title and his third TOC crown
Asked about his relationship with former head coach Dave Boff, who has won three straight and 4-of-5 against Naismith Hall of Fame coach Bob Hurley and St. Anthony’s, Gist declined comment.
Gist is also carrying the burden of trying to deliver a championship to new classmates Jagan Mosely, Shyquan Gibbs, and Juvaris Hayes, among others. That’s because, according to Mosley, a future Georgetown Hoya, the 2016 Friars class would be the first under Hurley to not win a state title in any of their four years.
“It means a lot to all of us, especially Asante because he went there before,” said Gibbs, an NJIT signee. “But to us it means a lot, too, because we lost to them the last three years.”
The fourth time will be the charm if Gist heats up against his former program like he did against Dwight-Englewood Thursday.
Checking in at the 3-minute mark of the first quarter, Gist instantly showed off his defensive chops, recording a steal (he finished with 3 steals) and drawing a charge. He proceeded to go on a personal 8-0 run, with a transition layup sandwiched between three-pointers from each wing.
Right before halftime, Hurley subbed Gist back in and called his number on a set play, resulting in the 5-foot-11 marksman draining a triple from the right wing.
At the break, it was Asante Gist 14, Dwight-Englewood 13.
“Once Asante gets hot, he doesn’t stop,” Gibbs said. “If you remember the Patrick School game, he got hot, and it was lights out.”
Gibbs is referring to Jan. 16th, when Gist dropped 23 points in a thrilling 60-56 victory over archrival St. Patrick’s in the Dan Finn Classic in Jersey City.
With Gist having to miss the first few games this season due to transfer rules, plus the Friars featuring a plethora of elite guards, Gist was delegated sixth man this year. While not accustomed to coming off the bench, it’s a role that he quickly acknowledged and has thrived in.
“That’s been my role the whole season,” Gist said. “[Coach Hurley] tells me to come in, be aggressive, score the ball, play defense, get everybody involved, and be a spark off the bench. So I accepted my role. As you know I’m not used to [not starting], but I accepted it when I came over here.”
Gist understands that it’s not how, or if, you start — it’s how you finish.
On Saturday, Gist can put the finishing touches on a rollercoaster of a high school career — one that includes winning a Tournament of Champion title with Roselle Catholic, transferring midway through his junior season, and making a final pit stop at St. Anthony — by leading the Friars to a Non-Public B title and a 30-0 record, against his former team nonetheless.
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