Depaul:  After a pregame ceremony celebrating breaking the alltime scoring record in school history,you would expect Depaul star guard Justin Crosgile would try to go off once the game began. Instead, with Wayne Valley double and sometimes triple teaming him, Crosgile allowed his teammates to do the work for him. With Matt Miller (10 pts.), Mike Minerik(11 pts.) and Joe Giacchi (10 pts.) doing the work early, Depaul took an early lead and maintained it the entire way. Crosgile took and made his first basket with 1:00 left in the 1st quarter and then played a strong floor game, finishing with 14 points, 5 rebounds, 7 assists and 3 steals. The game was hotly contested but lost alot of it’s luster and gave a reality check when with 1:37 left in the 2nd quarter Wayne Valley’s star point guard Jason Rosenberg collided with a Depaul player and ended up prone on the floor with a severe neck injury. The game was held up for more than thirty minutes, as Rosenberg was carried out on a stretcher. He actually looked on his way to a big game, leaving with 11 points. Nick Siljee carried Wayne Valley the rest of the way finishing with 17 points and 7 rebounds. Colton Callaghan added 13 points for Valley. Depaul got energy games from juniors Wally Samaji (7 pts) and Keith Ford (7pts.) off the bench.

thurs. January 22nd

Teaneck Highschool has quietly been a Juggernaut lately. After a 5 point lost to Kennedy, the Highwaymen have been on a roll, reeling off 6 straight wins after beating Paramus Catholic relatively easy 69-52 Kyle Steinbergin led the attack with 19 points and Javae King-Gilchrist once again played a marvelous floor game for Teaneck scoring 17 points. John Berry Badillo led P.C. with 16.

thurs.  January 22nd.

25. That’s the number that did in Passaic Highschool. The 25 was turnovers that Kennedy’s defense forced against the Indians  in their 79-6o win. In a game pitting two of the best in the NNJIL the Knights constantly pressured Passaic from endline to endline, putting the kind of tenacious D that bothered their guards. Senior Antoine Alexander (15 pts., 6 rebs., 6 stls.) spearheaded the defense with his relentless attack on Passaic’s point guards. He, along with the offense of Shondell Stewart (27 pts. 6 rebs.), Asmar Edwards (20 pts., 8 rebs.) and Dawon Lighty (17 pts.) kept Passaic on it’s heels.  After leading 43-34 at the half, Kennedy outscored Passaic 21-9 in the 3rd to take a 64-43 lead going into the 4th quarter. They coasted from there. Daquere Hayes and Zaire Young combined for 13 assists for Kennedy. Passaic was led by senior Tyshawn Pickett with 19 points and 9 rebounds.

NOTE: Hoops Journal sends Condolences to Kennedy Highschool coach Jim Ring who lossed his mother this week. He did not appear at the game. The Knights were led by assistant coach Jimmy Smith.