Is Niels Lane the X-Factor for Roselle Catholic
Roselle Catholic entered the 2019-20 season with the goal of winning Non-Public B North for the third consecutive season. The Lions have lived in the top five all season, but they have struggled to stay healthy all season. Binghamton commit Richie…
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Continue ReadingRoselle Catholic entered the 2019-20 season with the goal of winning Non-Public B North for the third consecutive season. The Lions have lived in the top five all season, but they have struggled to stay healthy all season. Binghamton commit Richie Greaves has played sparingly over the last month, while Florida commit Niels Lane missed seven straight games before suiting up against Ranney.
The 6’5 senior had a solid return game as he finished off with 11 points and six rebounds. His ability to immediately impact the game is crucial for a team that needs play-making on the perimeter. CJ Wilcher has been a rock for the Lions all season and showed off his ability to run the offense with eight assists against Ranney. The Xavier commit has been the go-to scorer for the Lions as he is averaging better than 20 points per game.
Sophomore Corey Floyd Jr. has been a solid player for Roselle Catholic, but he does not bring the same type of play-making on the ball. Lane uses his 6’5 frame to find open teammates which should help the Lions’ offense run more smoothly. He is a talented passer and understands where to give the ball to big man Cliff Omoruyi on the block.
Lane’s return to the lineup came at the right time as Roselle Catholic faces off against the Patrick School on the weekend. The Celtics won the first match-up 72-64 in Jonathan Kuminga‘s first game for the Patrick School, but the star 6’8 junior has not played since getting injured on January 3 against Sierra Canyon. Adama Sanogo was not eligible to play in the first Roselle Catholic-Patrick School game, making the weekend contest a totally different game.
Lane dropped 14 points against the Celtics at the beginning of the year,but he will probably need to score more for the Lions to be successful. The Florida commit has the height advantage over Noah Farrakhan, Kirk Parsons and Dionte Johnson, so look for Lane to take advantage inside. If he is able to score consistently around the basket, than Roselle Catholic should be able to avenge its loss on December 21.
Lane did not play in the first game against Elizabeth and he should have a big impact on the game at the Dunn Center. Jayden Pierre and D.J. Watkins are both undersized guards, but they are one of the top guard duos in New Jersey. Both players are capable of dropping 20 points on any given game, making Lane’s defense the biggest aspect of the upcoming match-up. The Lions needed a fourth quarter rally to take the home victory, but the Minutemen will be looking to avenge their only loss on the season.
Roselle Catholic looks like a much better team with Lane in the lineup, which will be vital for the team’s success in the Union County Tournament and Non-Public B North. If Lane is able to play like he did against the Patrick School at the beginning of the season, than Roselle Catholic could win its third consecutive Non-Public B North title.