SPORTS WRAP
BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
The annual Newark Public Schools Holiday Tournament showcased many of the top teams in Essex County. In the end, the Lady Phoenix of University High School took the crown on the girls side. Leading UHS was Morgan Marshall with 18 points as University beat Central 64-46 in the title game. Destiny Bynum-Johnson added 10 points and 5 steals for University, who dominated all throughout, leading 32-12 at halftime. The Phoenix are 4-2 on the season.
On the boys side of the bracket, East Side stunned Arts with a 48-37 upset victory. Junior point guard Amir Abdullah scored a game high 16 points and got 6 rebounds for East Side. The win gave ESHS their first Holiday tourney title since 2019. Leading Arts High was Spencer Joyner with 15 points and Savod Goodwin with 13 rebounds.
In college basketball, the Seton Hall women’s continued their winning ways, now sitting at 11-4 overall thanks to two big wins. First, in a 72-62 win over Georgetown on Dec. 28, Lauren Park Lane led The Hall with 23 points and 8 assists, along with Sidney Cooks who also collected 17 points and 6 rebounds. On New Years’ Eve, the Pirates beat Butler 79-45.
On the men’s basketball side, Seton Hall dominated St. John’s team this past Saturday at the Prudential Center in Newark on New Year’s Eve 88-66. Kadary Richmond had 19 points and 9 rebounds, while Al-Amir Dawes had 22 points and 9 rebounds, and Tyrese Samuels chipped in 16 points and 9 rebounds. SHU shot 54 percent as a team, and took care of the ball with just 12 turnovers. Leading St. John’s was Joel Soriano with 23 points and 11 rebounds.
In NFL news, the NY Giants are officially in the playoffs and locked in as the NFC #6 seed after a 38-10 win over the Colts. However, the NY Jets were eliminated with their 23-6 loss to the Seahawks.
Finally, the sports world is giving its prayers to Buffalo Bills player Damar Hamlin, who is in critical condition at a Cincinnati hospital after collapsing on the field in a Monday Night Football game against the Bengals. The moment was so frightening it took the focus off of Cavaliers star Donovan Mitchell, who scored 71 points in a game against the Bulls that night.
