Boys basketball: Here's what we learned from 4 big games at Teaneck Classic Showcase
TEANECK — Teaneck now has a signature win that merits consideration for a top-5 seed at the Bergen County Jamboree boys’ basketball tournament.
The Highwaymen snapped Eastside’s 12-game winning streak with a 68-62 victory in Saturday’s marquee nightcap of the four-game Teaneck Classic Showcase.
“Our kids just played a fantastic game – I have to use the word fantastic,” Teaneck coach Damon Wright said.
The selection and seeding meeting for the Jamboree is Monday and Teaneck (13-4) will reach Sunday’s cutoff as winners of nine of its last 10, the lone loss to Don Bosco, which is expected to earn the No. 1 seed.
Senior Tyler Tejada scored 10 of his team-high 24 points in the fourth quarter to help Teaneck extend a 45-44 lead. Keith McKnight, one of the Highwaymen’s four sophomore starters, added 17 points.
“Eastside is a very good, gritty team with a lot of seniors,” Wright said. “I have to tip my cap to my kids. My kids did a fabulous job down the stretch. “[Eastside] is a top-20 team in the state of New Jersey and our kids did not back down.”
The Passaic County tournament seeding meeting is also Monday and Eastside (12-2) is still expected to earn the top seed. The Ghosts’ only other loss was to Don Bosco in their season opener.
Bryce Stokes led Eastside with a game-high 27 points, while Preston Brown added 12. The Ghosts pulled within 62-60 on Brown’s 15-footer, but the 6-foot-8 Tejada, who was a force in the paint at both ends, scored on a putback to extend it to 64-60 with 1:55 left in the game.
“Today, to be quite honest, I didn’t think we played our best basketball,” Eastside coach Marquis Webb said. “As a group, we missed 15 layups, and that’s 30 points on the board, and when you do that, I don’t care who you play, it’s going to be a struggle to win a basketball game.”
Here’s a look at the other three games:
Paterson Charter: Talented new cast
Paterson Charter, defending Passaic County titlist, likely secured the No. 2 seed behind Eastside following its 58-57 overtime victory over Hackensack.
In a game that had the energy of a state final, De’Angelo Hibbert made the second of two free throws with 15 seconds left in OT and the reloading Lions survived after a Hackensack missed shot. Giovanny Figueroa led Paterson Charter (12-2) with 13 points and Ka’Juan Gee added 11.
“This was a fight, a playground battle,” Lions coach Jerry Wimberly said. “As I tell my kids, you’ve got to fight, fight or flight.”
Hackensack (7-10) stayed in it by making 23 of 24 free throws after intermission. Eric Afrifah was 10-for-11 from the foul line and scored 14, including two foul shots with 25 seconds left in OT tie it, 57-57. Mike Saliba was 4-for-5 from the line and scored a game-high 16.
Kennedy: Still developing
Passaic County’s best team with a losing record, Kennedy (5-7) continues to develop and rallied to knock off Dwight-Englewood, 50-44. The young Knights are going to be a tough out in the Passaic tournament, regardless of seed.
Sophomore Z’yaire Simmons scored eight of his game-high 16 in the fourth to lead Kennedy back from a 32-28 deficit. Micah Pierce, one of three freshman starters, hit a quartet of 3-pointers and scored all 13 in the second half.
“With them being young, there’s a lot more inconsistencies, and I thought we would be a little further along than we are right now,” Knights coach Tommie Patterson said. “But we’ve still got a ways to go.”
Dwight-Englewood (8-6) lost a chance to earn an automatic bid to the Jamboree and needs a win Sunday over St. Mary (12-2) to halt a three-game losing streak and merit consideration for an at-large bid. Jackson Burke scored 11 and Jack Souma 10 for the Bulldogs, who led after each of the first three quarters.
Paramus Catholic: Tough schedule
Bergen County’s best team with a losing record, Paramus Catholic (7-9) made its last argument for a Jamboree at-large bid with a 53-47 victory over Passaic Tech.
Isaiah Chang led four seniors in double figures with a game-high 14, including a steal and layup for the 53-47 lead. Niko Gomez scored 13 and Kenzel Slade and Jack Diamond scored 10 apiece, with Diamond registering seven in the decisive fourth, including a drive for a 51-47 lead.
“We play a tough schedule, I have 11 seniors,” said coach Mike Doto, whose Paladins dominated last year’s lesser Bergen Invitation Tournament. “And I’m just hoping that the Jamboree Committee will give my kids a shot this year.”
Passaic Tech (11-5) is still expected to earn a top-five seed in the Passaic tournament. The Bulldogs stroked seven 3-pointers, with Ayden Brown hitting a trio of treys en route to a team-high 11.
This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Boys basketball: Here's what we learned from Teaneck Classic Showcase
