Irvington HS boys’ basketball team wins Hillside Tourney title; moves to 7-0 on season

Photo by Steve Ellmore.
Irvington High’s Dameer Vital drives during the victory over Glen Ridge this season.
Photo by Steve Ellmore.
Irvington High’s Moses Pierre lays up a shot in the home victory over Glen Ridge on Dec. 18.

IRVINGTON, NJ – The Irvington High School boys’ varsity basketball team captured the Joe Silver Holiday Tournament title at Hillside to improve to a 7-0 record on the season.

The Blue Knights, under head coach Elias Brantly, defeated Orange, Dickinson and Newark Tech in the tournament.

Moses Pierre had 15 points and seven rebounds and Karriem Thomas had 14 points and four rebounds in the 68-57 win over Orange on Dec. 26. Dameer Vital had 13 points, five rebounds and three assists; Kymani Dunbar scored 12 points with eight rebounds; and Nazameir Brooks posted eight points and three rebounds.

Thomas had 22 points, six rebounds and five assists in the 59-50 win over Dickinson on Dec. 27.Dunbar had 10 points and 10 rebounds; Vital had 10 points and four rebounds; Pierre had nine points and four rebounds and Dezlyn Sebastien had six points, three rebounds, four assists and four steals.

Pierre scored 22 points with four assists and Dunbar had 18 points, 13 rebounds and five assists in the 73-56 win over Newark Tech in the final on Dec. 29. Thomas had 13 points, five assists and three rebounds; Brooks had 12 points; Vital had five points and three assists; and Sebastian had two points and three assists.

In earlier action, the Blue Knights defeated Glen Ridge, 66-39, at home Dec. 18 in a SEC game. Pierre had 16 points and six rebounds; Thomas had 13 points and three rebounds; Brooks had 10 points and five steals; Kyle Benson posted four points and 10 rebounds;Jhazaire Head had six points and six rebounds and Dunbar had four points and five rebounds. Vital and Brooks each had 12 points in the 66-58 win over University on Dec. 20 in SEC action. Thomas had 11 points and Dunbar added 10 points.

IHS defeated Livingston, 57-43, Dec. 22 at Livingston in a SEC game.

NOTES – At the game vs. GRHS, Irvington native and social medial voice-over personality Jesse Jones surprised with the Blue Knights with some nice gifts. He gave the players brand new Adidas sneakers, backpacks, shooting shirts, jerseys, both home and away, socks and hoodies.