When the season began back on December 21st, this
is where all 400+ schools in NJ wanted to be – The Tournament of Champions
Finals. Two teams are left standing
with one being crowned The Champion of Champions tonight.
Newark Eastside has been 3 years in the making. As young sophomores this team bowed out in a
tough battle against TOC finalist Plainfield.
The young group learned a lot from that game as they quoted in a “Star
Ledger” article. They understood after
that game what it would take to be a champion.
Now seniors Newark Eastside could be the first school from the City of
Newark to win the Tournament of Champions.
St. Joseph still feels the sting of losing to Roselle
Catholic last year. St. Joseph has no
inclination of being 0-2 in as many tries.
So whom will the Cardinal Fanatic pick for this game? This should be a great game. Match ups Match ups Match ups. I think St. Joseph may be the better team
but I think the match ups if played correctly will favor Newark Eastside. Karl Anthony Towns will be a problem. Newark Eastside will more than likely double
team him with 6’8” Ishmael Sanogo and 6’9” Abdul Lewis. If Newark Eastside big men stay out of foul
trouble then the best player on the floor may be neutralized. 6’8” Taj Price may be a major factor for
Newark Eastside in this game
The guard match ups will be where this game is won. Akbar Hoffman is in-line to be another
legendary guard from the states largest city.
But Hoffman is not alone as Jamar Gilbert is another lethal guard who
can knock it down from deep or penetrate and flush it on an opponent. If St. Joseph leaves Jibreel Ahmad alone, he
is fully capable of making teams pay for focusing too much on Hoffman and
Gilbert.
St. Joseph’s Wade Baldwin gave a great defensive effort to
slow down the hot shooting Otis Livingston of Linden in the semi-finals that
proved to be pivotal. Baldwin will have
to give another exemplary performance on the defensive side of the ball along
with an offensive output that the Vanderbilt commit is capable of. Marques Townes physical style of driving to
the basket may be the crucial strategy to open Karl Townes for some rim-rocker
baskets. But the exceptionally talented
high flying Breein Tyree maybe the most athletic player on the floor and is
capable of staying with any of the multi talented guards of Newark Eastside. As
with Jibreel Ahmad for Newark Eastside, if St. Joseph’s Raven Owen is left open
he will knock down the long ball.
WOW! Who is going to
win this game? Newark Eastside big men
will have to push the ball and out run Karl to have a chance. If this is done, look for Newark Eastside to
be the first public TOC champion since Dejuan Wagner and Camden. Newark Eastside guards are streaky and are
due for one of that lights out shooting exhibition. But Marques, Wade and Breein will have a say in this. If Karl gives a performance that is worthy
of Parade All-American status, St. Joseph will win their first TOC.
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