Kennedy Highschool showcased it’s new starting five and if they play the way they did against Hackensack, the N.N.J.I.L. will have their hands full. The additions of Antoine Alexander from Eastside Highschool and Asmar Edwards from Passaic County Tech. has solidified a team that already had talent with the likes of Shondell Stewart, Daquere Hayes and Dawan Lighty. The Knights full court pressure and balanced scoring proved too much for a young Hackensack team to deal with. Stewart led a balanced attack with 22 points. Hayes finished with 17, while Lighty added 14. Edwards(9 pts., 5 rebs., 6 stls.) and Alexander(8 pts., 7 rebs., 5 assts.) also proved they will be big contributors throughout the year. Hackensack’s Romaine Wall played well for the Comets with 17 points, 4 rebounds, 5 assists and 4 steals. Hackensack also displayed hope for the future as they got solid play from sophomore’s Terik Bridgeman(10 pts., 6 rebs.) and Bright Mensah (14 pts., 7 rebs.,)

You couldn’t ask for a better way to make a debut. Javae Gilchrist, who transferred to his home town Teaneck Highschool from Queen Of Peace H.S. made his Highwayman debut one to remember, as he knocked down a 15 foot jumper with no time on the clock to shock Eastside Highschool 60-58. Gilchrist played a tremendous floor game with 14 points, 5 assists, 5 rebounds and 3 steals. He teamed with Shomari Barber (21 pts., 10 rebs.) to offset the Ghosts tandem of Karon Abraham (18 pts., 3 asts., 4 stls.) and Dave Robertson (21 pts., 6rebs., 3 stls.). Teaneck jumped out to an early lead and held it through the first half. Eastside took it’s first lead on a Abraham three late in the third quarter. The Ghosts went into the fourth quarter up 46-45.The game stayed close as Barber ‘s two free throws put Teaneck ahead 58-56. Robertson drew a foul with 11 seconds on the clock and after hitting both free throws set the stage for Gilchrist’s heroics.

   Villanova recruit Dominic Cheek had 14 points and 10 rebounds to help St. Anthony’s overcome a slow paced, turnover prone game and sneak out with a 37-36 win over Trenton Catholic in the Hoop Group Tipoff Classic. Cheek layup with 2:43 left in the game proved to be the winning basket as they took a 37-32 lead and held on. Junior guard Dondre Whitfield led Trenton Catholic with 15 points. He and Cheek were named outstanding players of the game.