Patriots blow out Eagles

LINDEN — The Patriots (14-1) pulled away from visiting A.L. Johnson in the first half Tuesday and scarcely looked back en route to a 67-34 drubbing of their area rival.

After the teams were scoreless for nearly two minutes of game action, Linden exploded for 22 points over the final six minutes of the first quarter. When Nicholas Rogers dropped a buzzer-beating jumper in at the end of the second quarter, Linden had placed A.L. Johnson firmly in its rearview mirror with a 42-24 lead.

The Linden starters played less than six minutes in the third quarter as the Patriots held ALJ to only five points in the frame and sent the game to a running clock in the final period.

A.L. Johnson won the rebounding battle by a slim 35-34 advantage but took a beating at the free throw line where it sunk only seven of its 25 charity stripe attempts.

Conversely, Linden converted 25 of its 36 free throw attempts to help put the game out of reach.

Chris Rogers scored 13 of his game high 18 points in the first quarter. Anthony Robinson chipped in 12 points and steals while Imoras Agee came off the bench for 10 points on a night in which he was battling back soreness.

Rogers completed his double-double night with 10 rebounds to go along with five steals. Robinson also turned in a double-double effort with 10 steals in addition to five rebounds.

Jeremy Mitchell led A.L. Johnson with 10 points while Mark Woods had eight points and four steals.

Linden is scheduled to play again Friday night when it visits John Essex.