PASSAIC COUNTY TOURNAMENT PREVIEW:

The Passaic County Semifinals takes place at Kennedy H.S. Saturday February 22nd and features Paterson Charter vs Paterson Eastside and Paterson Kennedy vs Passaic!

                                                 #2 PATERSON CHARTER    vs     #6 PATERSON EASTSIDE

These two teams met early in the year with Paterson Charter beating Eastside 58-52! Paterson Charter has had a tremendous Season with a 21-2 record and are a deep team led by Senior’s Marquis Harris(far right), Sadiki Miller(right), Zahire Robinson and Caleb Ruffin! Senior Troy Medlock, Junior’s Jamir Bellfield, Jahar Pierce and Michael Ferguson round out a balanced attack from a team who can get big games from any of these players! Charter will have to prove they can keep their composure late in the game if close and must make clutch plays late, especially free throws down the stretch! Eastside has improved over the Season and stands at 12-11 after starting the Season at 1-6! Junior guard Levi Holton(near right) is the centerpiece for the Ghost and Senior Joshua Cash(#3) is their floor general and main decision maker! Senior Daizon Pauldo has given Eastside key perimeter shooting and Sophomore O’Shamier Majette has been a double- double machine for most of the year! Freshman Preston Brown has brought energy on the defensive end and the addition of Sophomore Shakur Muckle has helped stabilize the backcourt with the lost of Freshman Bryce Stokes for the season! Senior Mike Jackson and Freshman Treyvan Watson will be looked to for defense and rebounding in the paint!  Prediction: Eastside has been a great story this Season as newcomer Coach Marquis Webb has them on the upswing, but like the first game, Coach Jerry Wimberly’s more experienced Charter team should hold on in a close one!

 

 

                                                                   #1 PATERSON KENNEDY     vs      #5  PASSAIC

Kennedy has been the best team in the County as their 20-2 record will attest to against a formidable schedule! Kennedy is led by their backcourt of Senior’s Deishon Harrison(3rd right) and Mark Heber(far right)! Sophomore Jay’Quan Briggs is as exciting a player as there is in the area and Senior Jalen Hargrove has been a rock for Kennedy for the last three years! Sophomore Yasen Crawford has been effective all year and Junior Kyle Readus has been a great surprise locking down the other teams toughest guards! Senior Jahmali Carnegie has been pure energy for the Knights all year! Sophomore Jesus Romero and Senior Bre’quan Moore have been key contributors all Season! Passaic has a load of talent and it has finally come to the surface! Senior Cam’ron Sylvester(#24) has had a strong season, as has Senior Kendell Malloy(near right)! When Senior Antrell Monroe has it going they are one of the best Trios in the area! With Senior Tyreek Smith back on the court Passaic has stabilized its team! Senior Travis Pittman brings scoring on the inside and Hector Mateo can drill shots from the perimeter! Prediction: If Kennedy plays their regular game they will win going away, but if Passaic has their A game this could be a good one! The pick says Coach Tommy Patterson’s Kennedy team pulls away late!