Michael Gilchrist and St. Patrick High School lost a stunning 62-45 decision in the North Jersey Non-Public B championship at the Rutgers Athletic Center on Wednesday.
St. Patrick entered the game ranked No. 1 in nearly every national poll.
“Obviously it wasn’t the game he wanted to go out with,” St. Patrick coach Kevin Boyle said. “But I think when you define somebody’s career, he’s been in a lot of big games, and he’s been great in most of them.”
Gilchrist had seven points on 2-for-11 shooting, 14 rebounds and five blocks. The St. Anthony defense packed in tight when Gilchrist had the ball, forcing him to the perimeter and into bad jump shots.
“They really got into his head a lot,” said St. Patrick senior guard Derrick Gordon, who led the Celtics with 26 points. “There were times when he was forcing and trying to go up on two people. Mike had an off night. We tried to pull him up, but unfortunately it was too late.”
Gilchrist, who will attend Kentucky in the fall, did not speak to reporters after the game.