IHS boys' hoops gear up for ECT

By Joe Ragozzino
Sports editor
The Irvington High School boys’ varsity basketball team hopes to make a strong run in the Essex County Tournament. The Blue Knights, seeded sixth, will begin ECT play in the round of 16 this Saturday Feb. 4 against the winner between No. 11 seed Newark Central and No. 22  seed North 13th St. Tech. IHS received byes in the first and second preliminary rounds.
The Blue Knights, under head coach Eugene Robinson, defeated University and Science Park last week to improve their record to 10-4.
Sophomore center Shakur Juiston scored 21 points and grabbed 15 rebounds and senior forward Deshawn Lewis had 17 points and 12 rebounds in the 55-47 win over University on Jan. 24 in Newark.
Junior point guard Al-Jahaad Bradford also had seven points in the win.
Juiston had a strong game with 26 points and 20 rebounds and Bradford posted 14 points and 10 assists in the 65-45 home win over Science Park on Jan. 26. Lewis had 11 points and senior guard Bobby Mack added eight points for the Blue Knights.
Essex County Tournament
First round preliminary
No. 16 East Orange Campus defeated No. 29 Glen Ridge, 79-29, Jan. 28
No. 17 Caldwell defeated No. 28 Cedar Grove, 61-47, Jan. 28
No. 12 Bloomfield Tech defeated No. 33 American History, 76-52, Jan. 28
No. 24 Millburn defeated No. 21 Newark Academy, 50-49, Jan. 28
No. 13 Livingston defeated No. 32 Barringer, 49-31, Jan. 28
No. 20 Verona defeated No. 25 Belleville, 48-39, Jan. 27
No. 15 Montclair Kimberley Academy defeated No. 30 Golda Och, 67-40, Jan. 26
No. 18 Weequahic defeated No. 27 West Essex, 48-34, Jan. 28
No. 22 North 13th St. Tech defeated No. 23 Arts, 72-52, Jan. 28
No. 14 Orange defeated No. 31 West Side, 79-55, Jan. 28
No. 19 West Orange defeated No. 26 Nutley, 47-42, Jan. 28
Second round preliminary
No. 16 East Orange defeated No. 17 Caldwell, 66-32, Jan. 30
No. 24 Millburn at No. 12 Bloomfield Tech, Feb. 2, 4 p.m.
No. 20 Verona at No. 13 Livingston, Jan. 31
No. 18 Weequahic defeated No. 15 Montclair Kimberley Academy, 63-62, Jan. 30
No. 22 North 13th St. Tech at No. 11 Central, Feb. 2, 6 p.m.
No. 19 West Orange at No. 14 Orange, Feb. 2, 5:30 p.m.
Round of 16, Feb. 4
No. 16 East Orange Campus at No. 1 Seton Hall Prep. No. 9 Newark Vocational at No. 8 Shabazz.
Winner of No. 24 Millburn/No. 12 Bloomfield Tech at No. 5 East Side. Winner of No. 20 Verona/No. 13 Livingston at No. 4 Columbia.
No. 18 Weequahic at No. 2 Newark Tech
No. 10 Montclair at No. 7 University
Winner of No. 22 North 13th St. Tech/No. 11 Central at No. 6 Irvington. Winner of No. 14 Orange/No. 19 West Orange at No. 3 Bloomfield