HACKENSACK MAKES STATEMENT IN WIN OVER TEANECK 75-57!

Hackensack,N.J….. It looked like Hackensack’s time would be next year as their youthful team seemed to need more seasoning, but inspired by the naming of their home court after the late Coach Mel Henderson, Hackensack played energized and inspired in defeating Teaneck convincingly 75-57! Sophomore Ahmed Bailey’s(right) 21 points led a balanced attack in the Comets win! Freshman Atiba Taylor started Hackensack off in the 1st half as he scored all 15 of his points in the 1st half including 4″triples” and took a 33-24 lead at intermission! Teaneck tried to make a game of it early in the 2nd half as Sophomore Leondre Washington and Freshman Ja’Quay James led Teaneck to an early run to cut the lead to 35-34! That’s when the two biggest shots of the game came from Bailey and Teaneck transfer M.J. Richardson as they hit consecutive”triples” to stem the tide and put Hackensack up 41-34! The insertion into the game of Junior Prince Taylor(left) caused disruption to Teaneck’s offense as he keyed their effort in getting to 50-50 balls and playing tenacious defense, plus adding 9 points! Richardson finished with 14 points and Sophomore Edward Emedoh added 10 points and 12 rebounds! Washington finished with 24 points, James had 14 and Senior Zach Olukanni chipped in 11 points and 7 rebounds! Teaneck’s only lead came in the first minute of the game as they took a 5-0 lead!

 

NOTE: Coach Mel Henderson was the first African American Varsity Coach at Hackensack H.S. and in 13 years led them to 3 Bergen County Jamboree Championships! He had also served as a Councilman in the city of Hackensack! Mr Henderson passed away in 2012.