SPORTS WRAP
BY WILLIAM HATHAWAY, JR.
PHOTOS BY FELICIA LAGUERRE OWENS
On the local area sports scene, the 2nd Annual Brick City Classic was held in Newark at historic Weequahic High School. This year’s basketball tournament featured 38 teams from NJ, NY, PA, MD and NC. Here are some of the highlights.
Dec. 19 action saw the Science High girls team beat Belleville 54-11, American History slip by Roselle 46-43 and Seton Hall Prep defeat host Weequahic 82-46. On Dec. 20, games saw Arts High, led by Harmoni Burgess and her 12 points, beat West Caldwell 56-18. West Caldwell got seven points from Nilajha Green.
In boys’ competition, Columbia defeated Central 57-44. Leading Columbia was Brantley Jude with 20 points, while Central got 27 points and 6 rebounds from Malachi Thomas. Rounding out that night’s games, Pingry beat Newark’s East Side 60-51. Leading Pingry was Neel Sappidi with 18 points and 4 rebounds.
In the Dec. 20 games, the West Orange High girls getting by the University High girls 53-44. WOHS was led by Rhyan Watt’s 15 points and 6 rebounds. UHS star girls Paradise Fisher had 14 points and 6 rebounds.
As the high school athletes took part in one event, the collegiate were on the hardwood at the Never Forget Classic, held on December 21st at the Prudential Center. In a great Jersey rivalry game, Rutgers edged out Rival Princeton 83-82. Leading RU to the win was Dylan Harper with 22 points and 5 rebounds, while teammate Ace Bailey added 15 points. Leading Princeton was Xavier Lee with 21 points. 6 rebounds and 11 assists.
In other college basketball action, the Georgetown Hoyas added to Seton Hall’s less than great season, taking down the Pirates 61-60 at the Prudential Center on December 22nd. Leading SHU in the loss was Isaiah Coleman with 25 points and 9 rebounds. Thomas Sober led Georgetown with 18 points.
There was even more b-ball action across the river at Madison Square Garden in the CBS Sports Classic. Ohio State thumped Kentucky 85-65. Leading Ohio State was Bruce Thornton with 30 points and John Mobley, Jr. with 15 points. OSU shot 65 percent from the field. Kentucky was led by Otega Oweh with 21 points and 4 rebounds, and Andrew Carr with 13 points.
In the second game of the doubleheader, North Carolina won a close one over UCLA 76-74. Leading North Carolina was RJ Davis with 17 points and Seth Trimble with 12 points. UCLA got 26 points from Tyler Bilodeau.
In the NFL, the Jets took a brutal loss at the Buffalo Bills 40-14. As for the Giants, they got good news, bad news, and worse news. The good news is that they will not go winless at home after a 45-33 win over the Colts. The bad news is that the win knocked them out of the #1 pick in the 2025 Draft. The worse news is that former running Saquon Barkley went over 2,000 yards rushing for the Eagles.
Finally, the sports world said goodbye to legendary anchor Greg Gumbel, who died from cancer on Dec. 27 at the age of 78.
