ELIZABETH—Benedictine Academy in Elizabeth, along with the Benedictine Academy Parents Association, will host the “Dr. Rosemarie Battaglia Christmas Basketball Tournament” at the school, located at 840 North Broad Street in Elizabeth, on Dec. 26, 27 and 29. Basketball teams from eight New Jersey high schools, including Benedictine Academy, will compete for the championship title at the event.
The tournament is named after Dr. Rosemarie Battaglia, who coached varsity basketball at Benedictine Academy from 1954-58. Battaglia will be honored at the Christmas Tournament on Dec. 29 at 7 p.m. Her record while coaching at the all-female Catholic college prep high school was 36-4. The 1954-55 varsity basketball team was undefeated, with a 12-0 record. She has been inducted as a Hall of Famer several times including Benedictine Academy in 2004; the National Junior College Athletic Association (NJCAA) in 1999; and the New Jersey State Interscholastic Athletic Association (NJSIAA) in 1996. Battaglia was named “Coach of the Decade for the 1970s” by the Star Ledger.
Varsity basketball teams representing eight schools including Benedictine Academy will play during the four-day competition. Friday, Dec. 26, will feature the following games: Vernon Twp. H.S. v. St. Anthony (Jersey City) – 1 p.m.; Metuchen H.S. v. St. Patrick’s (Elizabeth) – 3 p.m.; Lacordaire Academy (Upper Montclair) v. St. Joseph’s (West New York) – 5 p.m. and, Benedictine Academy v. St. Mary’s (Elizabeth) – 7 p.m. Saturday, Dec. 27 will feature consolation games at 5 and 7 p.m. Semi-finals will be played on Friday, Dec. 28 at 5 and 7 p.m. The 3rd place consolation game will take place on Monday, Dec. 29 at 3 p.m. and the Championship Game will be played on that day at 5 p.m. All games will be played in the gymnasium of Benedictine Academy.
Admission to the tournament is $5 for adults and $3 for children and students under 18. Food and refreshments will be available. Proceeds will benefit activities and athletic programs at the Academy. Members of the community, along with alumnae of Benedictine Academy, are invited to the tournament.
