Teaneck, N.J……. Last year this time Hackensack shocked Teaneck on a late basket on it’s way to a shocking win! This year,Teaneck was not about to let that happen! Particularly Senior Chris Jones and Junior Neville Fincher! Jones came out the gate fast and put pressure on Hackensack offensively right from the jump! He scored 12 1st quarter points that helped give Teaneck a 22-9 lead at the end of the stanza and the Highwaymen never trailed! Meanwhile, Fincher(pictured) was also a presence inside from the start as he blocked or altered shot after shot that the Comets put up! Jones finished the game with 23 points and 4 rebounds and Fincher put up a double-double with 16 points and 12 rebounds to go along with 5 blocked shots! They got help from Junior Joel Hernandez and Junior Shakir Lindsey! Hernandez scored 21 points,grabbed 4 rebounds, dished out 3 assists and had 5 steals! Point guard Lindsey controlled the tempo and dropped 8 dimes in the process! Hackensack made a run early in the 3rd when Sophomore Rashard Figures got three break away buckets! The lead was cut to 8 but again Teaneck went on another run to finish the 3rd up 19 points 55-36! Figures, who only had 4 points at intermission finished the game with 16 points to lead Hackensack! Senior Mershan Monroe had a very solid game for the Comets finishing with 15 points, 7 boards and 4 steals, while Junior Eugene Marshall also contributed 15 points!

Wayne, N.J………..DeAndre Noble-Haywood was involved in everything for Eastside in it’s 50- 37 win over Passaic County Tech! DeAndre scored 25 points,with 4 rebounds,6 assists and 5 steals for the Ghosts! He was relentless throughout having a part in all but 13 of Eastside’s 50 points! Noble-Haywood got to the basket at will and either completed the play or found a teammate to finish! Senior Kyr’e Jackson was the other Ghost in double figures with 11 points and also grabbed 6 boards! Tech who were careless with the ball throughout was led by Senior Aazaad Hinton with 15 points, 5 rebounds and 2 steals and Senior Shackquiel Scott who scored only 7 points but was huge on the glass with 13 rebounds! Tech had an early lead, but once the Ghosts took it they never relinguished it!                                                    

    West Orange, N.J…….. The second day of the HoopGroup Tipoff Showcase took a big turn as the one unexpected win came from Rutgers Prep, who over took the much talked about Hudson Catholic team as they came from 17 points down in the first half to pull off a 44-43 win! Senior Mike Klinger scored 15 points including the game deciding free throws and Senior Greg Grippo added 12 points as the Argonauts played with a nothing to lose attitude and found a way to win! Junior Mike Young finished with 9 points and 10 boards, Junior Reggie Cameron scored 9 points with 9 rebounds and Senior Grant Ellis added 9 points on 3″ triples” for Hudson Catholic who never got anyone to step up late in the contest! In the best game by an individual, Senior Chris Jones put his team on his shoulders and Teaneck rode him home in their tough 53-49 win over St. Joseph of Metuchen! Jones(pictured) scored 25 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Junior Joel Hernandez made a crucial 4 point play knocking down a”triple” and getting fouled on the play to put Teaneck up three and Junior Shakir Lindsey iced it with 4 free throws late! Temple commit Quentin DeCosey scored 16 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and Freshman Carl Towns finished with 15 points and 10 boards! St. Anthony Senior Jerome Frink scored 15 points and grabbed 10 rebounds and U.C.L.A. commit Kyle Anderson scored 14 points and 8 boards as they overcame a game Trenton Catholic team 53-33! Freshman Malachi Richardson led Trenton Catholic with 12 points! Junior guard Tyler Ennis scored 17 points and 5 thefts as St. Benedicts won handily over Roselle Catholic 70-48! The Hun School outpaced Paramus Catholic 58-41 as Senior Bo McKinley scored 16 points, Senior Will Kelly added 10 points,6 rebounds and 6 blocks and Senior Rashid Epps scored 12 points! Freshman Marquel Sheffield led Paramus Catholic with 16 points and Sophomore Jalen Hernandez added 12!