Correction: Irvington will play Nutley in the state tournament.
IRVINGTON, NJ – The Irvington High School boys’ varsity basketball team, seeded 15th, had a good run in the Essex County Tournament.
Kymani Dunbar had 13 points and 10 rebounds and Kevin Kirkpatrick had 10 points, 10 rebounds and seven blocks in the 48-35 home win over No. 18 seed Glen Ridge in the preliminary third round on Feb. 8. Jiair Bucknor had seven points; Jasiah Provillon had five points and six rebounds and Karriem Thomas had five points.
The Blue Knights fell at second-seeded Newark East Side, 76-50, in the first round on Feb. 10. The loss ended Irvington’s six-game winning streak. IHS moved to a 13-7 record. Dunbar had 11 points; Nazamier Brooks had 10 points; Kirkpatrick had nine; Andrew Sylvestre had eight; and Bucknor had six.
In earlier action, Bucknor scored 16 points with six assists and four rebounds to lead the Blue Knights to a 65-55 home win over Newark Collegiate on Feb. 6 in a Super Essex Conference game. Jalen Scott had 13 points and Thomas contributed 10 points and four assists. Dunbar had five points and five rebounds and Kirkpatrick added five points and eight rebounds.
The Blue Knights, seeded fifth, will host No. 12 seed Nutley in the NJSIAA North Jersey Section 2, Group 3 state tournament on Feb. 26. The winner will face the winner of No. 13 seed Parsippany Hills and No. 4 Voorhees in the quarterfinals.