The Pirates gather for a group pose after winning the ECT title.
WEST ORANGE, NJ — The Seton Hall Prep basketball team had another great week, winning three games to improve its winning streak to 11 games, its Super Essex Conference–American Division record to 10-1, and its overall record to 20-3 on the season.
On Tuesday, Feb. 15, the No. 1 seed Pirates traveled to Essex County College in Newark for the semifinal round of the 75th Essex County Tournament against No. 5 seed Caldwell High School. Seton Hall Prep defeated the Chiefs 54-36 behind junior Jackson Bleecker, who had 12 points, four rebounds, and three assists, while senior Nick Dunneman had 11 points, five rebounds, and three assists. Junior forward Darrius Phillips came off the bench to score 10 points, with 10 rebounds and three blocks. Senior Myles Thomason did not score but pulled down seven rebounds and dished out eight assists. Following the game, SHP head coach Kevin Williams said, “Our defense did a great job tonight and took away their guard play. We moved the ball very well tonight, especially in the third quarter.”
On Thursday, Feb. 17, the Pirates hosted East Side at Frank J. Tracey Gymnasium in West Orange. Seton Hall defeated the Red Raiders 65-47 to clinch their ninth SEC–American Division title in the 13 years of the league’s existence and their second in a row. Dunneman led the scoring with 19 points and seven rebounds, while Bleecker scored 18 points and had five assists. Thomason scored 6 points and had four assists, while Phillips also scored 6 points, with seven rebounds and three assists. Following the game, Williams commented, “Winning the division outright is very special. This league is tough day in and day out. Everyone in the league battles one another night in and night out.”
Juniors Shawn Lyght and Darrius Phillips were key contributors down the stretch, as they helped top-seeded Seton Hall Prep rally in the last 1:45 for a 60-55 victory over No. 3 seed Central in the 75th Essex County Tournament final Saturday afternoon, Feb. 19, at Essex County College in Newark. This was their third victory this season over Central; all three were fiercely competitive battles. This was the Pirates’ 18th Essex County Tournament title in 29 finals appearances. Lyght finished with a season-high 18 points and seven rebounds; Bleecker scored 14 points; Dunneman scored 11 points with eight rebounds, five assists and three steals; and Phillips scored just 2 points, but chipped in with seven rebounds, five assists, three blocks and a big fourth-quarter steal.
Following the game, Bleecker said of Lyght and Phillips, “They are always big for us, and they came in today and made an immediate impact.”
Williams added, “We like bringing those guys off the bench. I think we are just as strong, if not stronger in a different way. It is a good problem to have.”
Notes: This is the first ECT title for the Pirates since 2016. Seton Hall is number 1 in ECT history in the following categories.
- Most games won: 146.
- Most games played: 199.
- Best winning percentage: .734; 146-53.
- Most titles won: 18.
- Most appearances in a final: 29.
The Pirates junior varsity captured the ECT title, defeating Barringer, 57-47, on Friday night, Feb. 18, at Bloomfield High School. The Pirates freshman team also won the ECT title, defeating West Essex, 70-49, on Saturday morning, Feb. 19, also at Bloomfield HS. Essex County College had installed new lights and a new floor, which really enhanced the semis and finals. Directors for the tournament Dan Romano, of Caldwell High School; Larry Baggitt, of Seton Hall Prep for the boys, and Lorenzo Sozio, of Mount Saint Dominic Academy, and Gary Taylor, of West Side High School, did an outstanding job running the tournaments, especially at Essex County College. Immaculate Conception from Montclair defeated University High School, 67-59, in the ECT girls final played earlier in the afternoon at ECC.
Photos Courtesy of Rich Morris/SHP
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