Sports
Third-Seeded Bengals Fall to University
Boys basketball team loses 61-52 in Essex County Tournament semifinals.
The 2012 Essex County Tournament Finals will be a rematch of the classic 2010 final between the Seton Hall Prep Pirates (21-2) and the University Phoenix (13-10).
In Saturday’s first contest between the seventh-seeded Phoenix and the third-seeded Bloomfield Bengals, senior guards Elijah Brown and Keith Foster led a balanced Phoenix attack. Foster led all scorers with 15 points in the first half and the Phoenix held a commanding 37-21 lead as they shot 14-of-27 from the field.
Bloomfield cut University’s lead to seven points, 46-39, in the third quarter when junior guard Jaleel Jimenez hit two free throws with 7:05 left. However, University went on an 11-4 run to take a double-digit lead, 57-43, with just 2:10 remaining.
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University closed out the game to record a 61-52 victory.
Bloomfield’s Jimenez led all scorers with 18 points and led the Bengals to their first semifinal since 1986.
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In the later game between top-seeded Seton Hall and fourth-seeded Columbia, senior guard Spencer Weisz recorded a double-double with 20 points, 11 rebounds, four assists, and three blocks. Weisz was one of four Pirates to score double digits.
After a back-and-forth first half, where Seton Hall carried a lead of 32-26, they opened the third quarter with a 10-3 run with 5:13 left. Senior Pirate forward Spencer Mosley scored the final four points of the quarter for Seton Hall and they led 45-35 heading into the final period.
The Cougars managed to cut Seton Hall’s led to single digits, 47-39, with 6:10 remaining as Maxim Michel hit a layup. Michael’s 12 second half points, a team-high, were not enough to propel the Cougars past the Pirates as Seton Hall continued to increase the led once Columbia got within eight.
The Pirates finished with a 61-48 triumph seeking their 14th county title.
The Essex County final will take place Saturday, Feb. 25 at 1 p.m. at Essex County College.
Note: Seton Hall won the previous two meetings against University this year 55-44 on Dec. 16 and 67-48 on Jan. 28.
