PASSAIC COUNTY TOURNAMENT: Kennedy Holds Off Eastside 61-56 For “CHIP”

Wayne Valley H.S., Wayne……….It’s always hard to beat a team three times in a season, let alone when they’re your arch rival! Eastside found that out in losing to Kennedy 61-56 in the Passaic County final! After having their way with Kennedy the first two meetings, Eastside ran into a more determined squad this time around! Kennedy got a complete team effort as the trio of Senior Dawon Lighty, Senior Jhamir White and Junior Sammy Singletary who had been carrying the Knights most of the season got needed help from Senior center Kaheem Davis and Junior guard Gary Simpson! Davis was big inside, scoring 12 points,grabbing 8 boards and blocking 6 big shots! Simpson was just as good scoring 13 points, dishing out 4 assists and getting 2 steals! Eastside had a 30-26 halftime lead as Senior David Burgos had 14 points in the stanza for the Ghosts! But Kennedy was not going away and finally took the lead on a Simpson steal and layup to go up one and a Singletary”triple” to give Kennedy a 39-35 lead with 1:00 left in the 3rd! The Knights went into the 4th holding a 41-37 lead and all the momentum as Eastside seemed to play tentatively the rest of the way! Lighty(right), who was 1500WQHT player of the game was clutch late, making 8 of his last 9 free throws to hold off any Eastside run! Burgos played tough, but tired late and it proved the difference as no one else could get going consistently for the Ghosts! White who got in foul trouble only scored 4 points, but quarterbacked Kennedy with 6 dimes and handled Eastside’s press late! Lighty led Kennedy with 18 points and 5 rebounds and Singletary added 12 points and 3 steals! Burgos finished with 18 points and 8 dimes! Junior DeAndre Noble( 17pts,5rebs) and Senior Ky’re Jackson(11pts,12rebs) were the only other players to give Eastside any quality play! White(left) has now been a part of 4 straight County championships(3 with Paterson Catholic) Both teams now go into the States with the chance to see each other for the 4th time! Here’s hoping it happens!