The EOCHS girls' basketball team poses with the championship plaques after beating Newark Tech in the ECT final.
EAST ORANGE – The East Orange Campus High School girls’ varsity basketball team had to work every second to keep its reign as the best in Essex County.
But it was worth it.
In a pulsating finish, the top-seeded Jaguars defeated seventh-seeded Newark Tech, 42-40, to win the Essex County Tournament for the second consecutive season on Saturday, Feb. 27, at Essex County College in Newark.
Senior guard Marvellous Osagie-Erese scored 14 points; sophomore center Moriyah Jordan had 12 points and nine rebounds; and senior forward Barbara Jackson and senior guard Sahara Crawford each had six points for the Jaguars, who improved to 19-3 with their fourth straight win.
EOCHS led 12-8 at the end of the first quarter and 24-16 at the half. Newark Tech cut the Jaguars’ lead to 32-28 going into the fourth quarter.
The Jaguars were up 41-37 with less than a minute left. Newark Tech’s Dayjah Anderson made a free throw, but missed the second attempt. Teammate Maria Perez got the offensive rebound and scored to cut it to 41-40.
EOCHS then turned the ball over on the next possession, giving Newark Tech a chance to take the lead. But Newark Tech committed a turnover with less than 10 seconds left and fouled freshman Lakel Wills to put her on the free throw line. Wills made one of two free throws to make it a two-point game, 42-40, with five seconds remaining. Newark Tech tried a halfcourt shot at the buzzer, but the shot was missed, as the Jaguars held on to win their second straight ECT championship.
The Jaguars snapped Newark Tech’s 10-game winning streak. Newark Tech moved to 14-11.
It marked the Jaguars’ third ECT championship appearance in four years. In 2013, EOCHS lost to Shabazz in the ECT final in Shabazz’s fifth of six straight county titles.
EOCHS last season defeated Montclair in the ECT final for its first county title. EOCHS was formed in the 2002-2003 school year after the merger of East Orange High School and Clifford Scott HS.
EOCHS head coach Derrick Johnson was elated for his team for winning the county title for a second straight year.
“I’m really happy, especially for my seniors,” said coach Johnson, who has been the Jaguars’ head coach since the 2003-04 season. “They fought hard and made the plays down the stretch to win the game. I’m just happy and elated for my seniors.”
One of the key seniors, unfortunately, is out for the season. Forward Jessica Woods suffered a season-ending knee injury in the 53-36 road win over Montclair on Feb. 4.
The Jaguars are now focused on making another strong run in the postseason. The second-seeded Jaguars will host 15th-seeded Ridge in the first round of the state North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 tournament on March 1 at 6 p.m. The winner will face the winner between No. 10 seed Westfield and No. 7 seed Millburn in the quarterfinals on March 3. The semifinals are March 5. The final is March 8.
Bayonne is the No. 1 seed.
EOCHS last season won the state North Jersey Section 1, Group 4 tournament title before being re-classified to Section 2 this season.
The Jaguars, in fact, are looking to reach a sectional final for the fourth consecutive year. In 2013, they won the Section 2, Group 4 tournament title. EOCHS lost to Franklin in the 2014 Section 2, Group 4 tournament final.
After winning the Section 1, Group 4 tournament title, they fell to Franklin – the Section 2, Group 4 champion – in the state Group 4 semifinal last season to finish with a 25-3 record.
Playing composed basketball will go a long way toward winning it all this season.
“We just have to limit our mistakes and don’t let the moment take over us,” said coach Johnson. “Embrace our skill sets and do the things we practice every day.”
North Jersey Section 2, Group 4 tournament
First round
March 1
16-Columbia at 1-Bayonne
9-Watchung Hills at 8-North Hunterdon
12-J.P. Stevens at 5-Union
13-Bridgewater-Raritan at 4-Franklin
14-Scotch Plains-Fanwood at 3-Piscataway
11-Phillipsburg at 6-Dickinson
10-Westfield at 7-Millburn
15-Ridge at 2-East Orange Campus
Quarterfinals, March 3
Semifinals, March 5
Final, March 8
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