Michael Moody goes up for a shot vs. Snyder in a scrimmage.
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AST ORANGE, NJ – The East Orange Campus High School boys’ basketball program was resurrected when Billy Lovett took over as head varsity coach for the 2013-14 season.
After three successful seasons, Lovett stepped down from the helm at the end of last season.
But the Jaguars are in good hands with new coach Joe Jordan.
An East Orange native, Jordan was the head coach at Newark Tech where he guided the team to three state Group 2 championships in 2013, 2014 and 2015. In 2015, Newark Tech reached the state Tournament of Champions semifinals where it lost to eventual champion Roselle Catholic.
The Jaguars will begin the season Friday, Dec. 16, against West Side at EOCHS.
Lovett, who also emphasized the importance of academics to his players, guided the Jaguars to remarkable success in the past three seasons. In his first year, the team went 16-10 after they won just two games the previous year. Then in his second season, the Jaguars were runner-up in both the Essex County and state North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 tournaments as they finished 25-5.
Last season, the Jaguars finished 17-11 as semifinalists in both the county and state North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 tournaments, with the team losing to eventual champion and TOC finalist Linden in the states.
Jordan admits the team is a work in progress at the moment, but expects improvement.
EOCHS also won the SEC-Liberty Division title in each of Lovett’s first two seasons. EOCHS has moved up to the American Division of the SEC, which is the top division in the conference.
“We have some growing pains to get through,” he said. We play hard, but are not fundamentally sound yet. By the 10th game, we will be a tough team to play. We are now in the top division of the SEC (Super Essex Conference). No more cupcakes…. The only way to enhance the program is by playing the best and elevating our play. (The) future is bright, but we must be patient, focused and grow.”
Schedule
Dec. 16, West Side, 7 p.m.
Dec. 17, Immaculate Conception, 1 p.m., site to be determined.
Dec. 20, at Seton Hall Prep, 7 p.m.
Dec. 22, at East Side, 7 p.m.
Dec. 27-28 and 30, Joe Silverman Holiday Classic, at Hillside, opponent TBD.
Jan. 3, Patrick School, 7 p.m.
Jan. 5, University, 7 p.m.
Jan. 7, at Immaculate Conception, 7 p.m.
Jan. 8, vs. Plainfield, at West Orange, New Year’s Tip-Off, 2:30 p.m.
Jan. 12, Central, 7 p.m.
Jan. 14, at Newark Tech, 1 p.m.
Jan. 16, at Orange, 5 p.m.
Jan. 17, at West Side, 7 p.m.
Jan. 19, Seton Hall Prep, 7 p.m.
Jan. 21, at Hackensack Showcase, time TBD
Jan. 26, East Side, 7 p.m.
Jan. 31, at University, 5:30 p.m.
Feb. 7, Immaculate Conception, 7 p.m.
Feb. 12, vs. Mater Dei, at Prime Time Shootout, at Roselle Catholic, 1:30 p.m.
Feb. 16, at Central, 7 p.m.
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