Eastside’s big 4th quarter overcame a Hackensack rally as they went on to win 75-65 in a Group 4 Sectional State game. With Hackensack down by as much as 16 points in the game, they managed to climb all the way back and take a one point lead 50-49 at the end of the 3rd quarter. The Ghost then outscored the Comets 26-15 in the 4th to win going away. Eastside played most of the game with star player David Robertson-West in foul trouble, so while they got their usual strong game from Robert Morris recruit Karon Abraham who scored 21 points, 4 rebounds, 4 assists and 3 steals and senior point guard Bryant Lewis who contributed 11 points,5 rebounds and 4 assists the Ghosts needed another player to shine. That ended up being reserve forward Travon Johnson who came off the bench to score 11 points and 5 rebounds. Eastside went ahead 13-3 to start the game and it seemed as if it could be a blowout, but with West(11 pts.,7 rebs.) getting in foul trouble and the deadeye shooting of  Hackensack guard Alex George (22pts., 6 treys, 3 stls) the Comets came all the way back. Eastside found their groove again in the 4th as they forced Hackensack to some turnovers and got a long range three from Abraham to put Eastside up for good 57-52 with 6:07  in the game. Terrell Spaulding added 7 points and 6 rebounds for the Ghosts. Hackensack got a strong game from point guard Romaine Wall who finished with 16 points, 4assists and 3 steals. Brent Cox added 12. Eastside faces West Orange next.

         Jayon James early play andSophomore Myles Mack  3rd quarter domination powered Paterson Catholic to their second straight Passaic County Championship beating a tough Kennedy Highschool 81-64. James kept P.C. close as they took the early run from Kennedy to start the game. The Knights came out fast as Shondel Stewart scored a quick 7 points to start the game and they went up 14-7. But James (21 pts., 6asts., 4 rebs.,3stls.)had it going early, involving his teammates while scoring himself. He punctuated the quarter by hitting a three at the buzzer to cut Kennedy’s lead to 19-18 in the 1st. Paterson Catholic wind up outscoring Kennedy 23-13 in the 2nd quarter to take a 41-32 halftime lead as James had 13 and Mack had 10 to end the half. All year however Kennedy was a team that didn’t quit and it wasn’t going to happen today either as they came out with extra energy and cut the lead to 3 early. That’s when Myles Mack took over. Mack, who finished with 23 points, 4 assists and 2 steals scored 11 of P.C.’s 21 points in the 3rd quarter and showed how big a future he is going to have. He also assisted on two other baskets. Fuquan Edwin added 20 points and 10 rebounds and threw a tomahawk dunk off an assist from Mack that took the life out of the Knights. P.C. took a 62-46 3rd quarter lead and it became a matter of holding on. Trevor Clemmings, who just came back from a knee injury showed how much P.C. missed his presence as he controlled the paint without big offensive numbers. He only scored a bucket, but defensively was a force with 8 rebounds and 4 blocked shots. Freshman Kyle Anderson also played beyond his years, overcoming a shakey beginning to quarterback the team in pressure moments throughout the game. Anderson(4pts., 3rebs., 4 blks.) took alot of the dribbling responsibility which allowed Mack and James to exploit matchup problems against Kennedy. Senior Lance Brown, a Fordham recruit who has had to shut it down due to knee surgery came in the game late and knocked down a three to get a taste of the Cougars win. Kennedy’s Stewart finished the game with 24 points and 5 rebounds. Asmar Edwards added 17 points, 7 rebounds and 4 steals and Antoine Alexander scored 14 points to go with 6 rebounds. Daquere Hayes also was coming off a hand injury for Kennedy and gave it a go. He was not 100% and contributed 4 assists and 2 steals.

     Paterson Catholic won’t have it this easy saturday against Kennedy H.S. They coasted against Midland Park H.S. 89-65 in their final regular season home  game. The Cougars had four people in double figures led by sophomore Myles Mack’s 21 points to go along with 5 assists and 3 steals. Sophomore Derrick Randall had a double-double with 19 points and 10 rebounds which included 9 offensive boards. Fuquan Edwin( 14 pts., 6 rebs.) and freshman Kyle Anderson (13 pts.,7 rebs.,4blks.) were the other double figure scorers. Midland Park was led by Tyler Dravis-Stark with 27 points, including 7 treys. Kenny Kruis had 14 and Stu Pace added 10 for Midland Park. P.C. tried not to look ahead to their game against the Knights of Kennedy in their quest for back to back Passaic County championships, but it was hard not to as Midland Park  tried to stay close but once P.C. got their rhythm it was lights out. The best play of the night being a dunk by Randall from a pass off the glass by Mack.