Defending champions Plainfield and New Providence received the No. 1 seeds for the respective boys and girls Union County Tournaments as the fields were seeded on Wednesday, Feb. 4, at Johnson High School.
The UCT boys action begins Tuesday (Feb. 10) with the No. 7-18 seeds in action and continues with the second round on Thursday (Feb. 12) with the No. 5 and No. 6 seeds entering the fray.
The No. 1-4 seeds don’t begin play until the quarterfinals on Thursday (Feb. 14) at the Dunn Center in Elizabeth. The UCT boys semifinals will be contested on Tuesday, Feb. 17, and Thursday, Feb. 19, at Kean University's Harwood Arena.
The UCT girls have preliminary round action this Saturday (Feb. 7) and the rest of the field begins action on Wednesday (Feb. 11).
The girls quarterfinals (Saturday, Feb. 14) and semis (Wednesday, Feb. 18) are both at Johnson.
The boys and girls finals are both slated for Sunday, Feb. 22, at Kean. The boys final is listed as a 2 p.m. start.
Plainfield (17-3), which is also the defending Group 4 state champion, is led by the outstanding junior guard Micah Gordon. The Cardinals head a strong UCT boys bracket which also includes other state-ranked teams in 2-Roselle Catholic, 3-Linden and 4-Elizabeth.
Roselle Catholic has reached the last seven UCT boys finals winning four championships during that impressive stretch.
New Providence (17-1), which has won three of the last UCT girls crowns, including 41-37 over Westfield in last year’s final, has another superb unit under coach Cap Pazdera led by senior guard Annie Conover.
Longtime UCT title contender Westfield received the No. 2 seed while Union Catholic is No. 3 and Plainfield is at No. 4 in the girls field.
For the longest time the banner stood by itself in New Providence’s gym designating the only girls basketball Union County Tournament the Pioneers won in 1990.
That was until three years ago when New Providence defeated defending champion Westfield in the 2022 final to capture its second county championship and first in 32 years.
The Pioneers won again in 2023, defeating Westfield, before being upset by Elizabeth in the 2024 title tilt. New Providence bounced back last February edging Westfield for the 2025 UCT championship.
UCT GIRLS BRACKET
17-Kent Place at 16-Linden, winner at 1-New Providence
9-Elizabeth at 8-Roselle Catholic
12-Brearley at 5-A.L. Johnson
13-Summit at 4-Plainfield
11-Governor Livingston at 6-Cranford
19-Rahway at 14-Roselle Park, winner at 3-Union Catholic
10-Oak Knoll at 7-Scotch Plains-Fanwood
18-Dayton at 15-Union, winner at 2-Westfield
UCT BOYS BRACKET
17-Governor Livingston at 8-Westfield
16-Rahway at 9-Oratory Prep
First-round winners play each other in second round, with winner facing 1-Plainfield in quarterfinals
13-Hillside at 12-Summit, winner at 5-Union Catholic, winner at 4-Elizabeth in quarterfinals
14-New Providence at 11-Cranford, winner at 6-Scotch Plains-Fanwood, winner at 3-Linden in quarterfinals
5-Roselle at 10-A.L. Johnson
18-Dayton at 7-Union
First-round winners play each other in second round, with winner facing 2-Roselle Catholic in quarterfinals
FRANK J. CICARELL UCT
GIRLS' BASKETBALL CHAMPIONS:
2025: New Providence
2024: Elizabeth
2023 - New Providence
2022 - New Providence
2021 - No UCT because of Covid
2020 - Westfield
2019 - Patrick School
2018 - Roselle Catholic
2017 - Patrick School
2016 - Cranford
2015 - Patrick School – first time
2014 - Roselle Catholic
2013 - Gov. Livingston
2012 - Gov. Livingston - first time
2011 - Roselle Catholic
2010 - Roselle Catholic
2009 - Roselle Catholic
2008 - Westfield - first time
2007 - Scotch Plains
2006 - Cranford - first time
2005 - Scotch Plains
2004 - Scotch Plains - first time
2003 - Roselle Catholic - first time
2002 - Roselle - first time
2001 - Union Catholic
2000 - Union - first time
1999 - Summit - first time
1998 - Union Catholic
1997 - Elizabeth
1996 - Elizabeth
1995 - Elizabeth - first time
1994 - Linden
1993 - Linden
1992 - Union Catholic
1991 - Linden - first time
1990 - New Providence - first time
1989 - Union Catholic
1988 - Union Catholic
1987 - Union Catholic
1986 - Union Catholic
1985 - Hillside - first time
1984 - Plainfield
1983 - Plainfield
1982 - Plainfield
1981 - Plainfield
1980 - Plainfield
1979 - Plainfield - first time
1978 - Mother Seton - first time
1977 - Union Catholic - first time
1976 - Benedictine - first time
Championships:
Union Catholic 8
Plainfield 6
Roselle Catholic 6
New Providence 4
Elizabeth 4
Linden 3
Scotch Plains 3
Patrick School 3
Gov. Livingston 2
Westfield 2
Cranford 2
Benedictine 1
Mother Seton 1
Hillside 1
Summit 1
Union 1
Roselle 1
FRANK J. CICARELL UCT BOYS' BASKETBALL
CHAMPIONSHIP GAME SCORES, WINNING COACHES:
2025: Plainfield 66 Roselle Catholic 53 – Michael Gordon
2024: Union Catholic 66 Roselle Catholic 56 – Dr. Jim Reagan Jr.
2023: Roselle Catholic 64 Linden 55 – Dave Boff
2022: Roselle Catholic 63 Elizabeth 58- Dave Boff
2021: No tournament because of COVID
2020: Patrick School 56, Roselle Catholic 42 - Chris Chavannes - Kean
2019: Roselle Catholic 71, Patrick School 66 - Dave Boff - Kean
2018: Roselle Catholic 68, Patrick School 58 - Dave Boff - Kean
2017: Patrick School 58, Linden 44 - Chris Chavannes - Kean
2016: Patrick School 58, Roselle Catholic 54 (2OT) - Mike Rice - Kean
2015: Linden 60, Roselle Catholic 56 - Phil Colicchio - at Kean
2014: Patrick School 62, Linden 54 - Chris Chavannes - at Kean
2013: Patrick School 44, Linden 42 - Chris Chavannes - at Kean
2012: Plainfield 72, Roselle Catholic 66 - Jeff Lubreski - at Kean
2011: St. Patrick 70, Linden 58 - Kevin Boyle - at Kean
2010: St. Patrick 82, Plainfield 45 - Kevin Boyle - at Kean
2009: St. Patrick 89, Elizabeth 72 - Kevin Boyle - last one at Dunn
2008: St. Patrick 67, Linden 56 - Kevin Boyle
2007: Linden 63, St. Patrick 51 - Phil Colicchio
2006: St. Patrick 65, Plainfield 52 - Kevin Boyle
2005: St. Patrick 77, Linden 68 - Kevin Boyle
2004: Elizabeth 58, St. Patrick 51 - Donald Stewart
2003: St. Patrick 68, Linden 62 - Kevin Boyle
2002: Elizabeth 75, St. Patrick 61 - Pat Brunner
2001: Linden 76, St. Patrick 59 - Phil Colicchio
2000: St. Patrick 69, Linden 55 - Kevin Boyle
1999: St. Patrick 52, Union 43 - Kevin Boyle
1998: St. Patrick 76, Union 45 - Kevin Boyle
1997: St. Patrick 61, Elizabeth 48 - Kevin Boyle
1996: St. Patrick 65, Elizabeth 47 - Kevin Boyle
1995: Elizabeth 50, St. Patrick 49 - Ben Candelino
1994: St. Patrick 63, Hillside 47 - Kevin Boyle
1993: St. Patrick 45, Elizabeth 41 - Kevin Boyle
1992: Elizabeth 69, Linden 57 - Ben Candelino
1991: Elizabeth 76, Linden 49 - Ben Candelino
1990: Elizabeth 96, Roselle 67 - Ben Candelino
1989: Elizabeth 65, Roselle 57 - Ben Candelino
1988: Linden 50, Elizabeth 45 - Wilbur Aikens
1987: Elizabeth 62, Linden 61 - Ben Candelino
1986: Elizabeth 50, Union Catholic 43 - Ben Candelino
1985: Elizabeth 70, Rahway 56 - Ben Candelino
1984: Elizabeth 57, Plainfield 42 - Ben Candelino
1983: Linden 66, Roselle 60 - Wilbur Aikens
1982: Linden 86, Union Catholic 67 - Wilbur Aikens
1981: Johnson Regional 73, Hillside 61 - Steve Petruzzelli
1980: Union 65, Plainfield 63 - Tom Fox
1979: Plainfield 70, Linden 68 - Rico Parenti
1978: Elizabeth 62, Plainfield 60 - Ron Kelly
1977: Roselle 75, Rahway 54 - Dick Young
1976: Roselle 61, Union 54 - Dick Young
1975: Plainfield 69, Rahway 64 - Rico Parenti
1974: Union 61, Cranford 48 - Tom Fox
1973: Linden 69, Roselle 53 - Wayman Everly
1972: Jefferson 50, Linden 43 - Ron Kelly
1971: Roselle 73, Linden 71 - Dick Young
1970: Jefferson 68, St. Mary's 61 - Ron Kelly
1969: Jefferson 55, St. Mary's 47 - Ron Kelly
1968: Linden 63, Jefferson 62 - Joe Gaines
1967: St. Patrick 58, Plainfield 50 - Ed "Buzzy" Fox
1966: Linden 61, St. Patrick 56 - Joe Gaines
1965: Westfield 61, Cranford 52 - Bob Sanislow
1964: Cranford 68, Linden 61 - Bill Martin
1963: Westfield 65, Roselle Catholic 45 - John Lay
1962: St. Mary's 40, Linden 30 - Al LoBalbo
1961: Roselle 45, St. Mary's 43 - Ralph Arminio
1960: St. Mary's 53, Jefferson 43 - Al LoBalbo
1959: Westfield 54, Cranford 46 - John Lay
1958: Roselle 66, Cranford 64 - Ralph Arminio
1957: Rahway 64, Jefferson 51 - Bob Berger
1956: Plainfield 58, Sacred Heart 51 - Bill Brann
1955: Jefferson 52, St. Mary's 44 - Bill Tranavitch
1954: Jefferson 57, Springfield 44 - Bill Tranavitch
1953: Linden 59, Union 38 - G. St. Andrassy
1952: St. Mary's 48, Linden 30 - Al LoBalbo
1951: St. Mary's 37, Jefferson 36 - Al LoBalbo
1950: Jefferson 69, Hillside 57 - Bill Tranavitch
1949: Jefferson 42, Hillside 41 - Bob Cox
1948: Jefferson 33, Springfield 32 - Bob Cox
1947: Springfield 31, Linden 29 - Walter Hohn
1946: Springfield 37, Linden 34 - Walter Hohn
1945: Jefferson 39, Roselle Park 23 - Abner West
1944: St. Patrick 40, Roselle Park 36 - Ken Milsop
1943: Rahway 34, Jefferson 33 - Earl Walter
1942: Rahway 46, Jefferson 30 - Earl Walter
1941: Rahway 32, Hillside 24 - Earl Walter
1940: Springfield 35, Cranford 33 - Bill Brown
1939: Linden 30, Plainfield 20 - Les Goodwin
1938: Springfield 25, Rahway 24 - Bill Brown
1937: Rahway 27, Hillside 17 - Earl Walter
CHAMPIONSHIPS:
Jefferson-Elizabeth 21
St. Patrick-Patrick School 21
Linden 11
Plainfield 5
Rahway 5
Roselle 5
Springfield 4
St. Mary’s, Elizabeth 4
Roselle Catholic 4
Westfield 3
Union 2
Johnson Regional 1
Cranford 1
Union Catholic 1
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