5 Takeaways from Newark East Side vs. Trenton
Newark East Side and Trenton squared off in game two of the Hearts 2 Hands Invitational on Sunday. Newark East Side gained control early. They led 28-13 at the break and were able to extend in the second half. In…
Access all of Prep Hoops
Continue reading this article and more.
Continue ReadingNewark East Side and Trenton squared off in game two of the Hearts 2 Hands Invitational on Sunday. Newark East Side gained control early. They led 28-13 at the break and were able to extend in the second half. In the end, it was a 62-31 win for Newark East Side. Here are five takeaways from the lopsided affair.
Mikah Johnson Jr. is Real Deal
Newark East Side has been a powerhouse in New Jersey over recent years. With Johnson running the show, they will be a tough out once again. Johnson finished with 19 points and eight rebounds to lead his team to victory. Johnson did all of his work from midrange which has become a lost art. He has crazy bounce which helps him rebound and finish at the rim. Johnson is one of the most skilled scorers in the conference and that is obvious when watching him play.
Newark East Side Has Tremendous Underclassmen
Coming into the season, the Class of 2022 was ready to take the next step on Newark East Side. What no one knew was that the Class of 2023 would make some noise as well. Sophomores David Olaniyi and Jahzeer Gaskin combined for 16 points in this one. They have been getting regular minutes and will improve as the season progresses. Newark East Side has two freshmen who bring excellent size. Delroy Smith stands at 6’5 and Quatrell Wilson is 6’4. Both big men control the blocks down low. This is a team that is set up for the future.
Trenton does not use bench much
Depth is important to a team if possible. For Trenton, their bench does not play much of a factor. Trenton played just seven players in this game in the rotation. Points were hard to come by. No one on Trenton scored in double-figures in the loss. They are off to a slow 2-7 start this season and their lack of depth is certainly a factor.
Newark East Side was smothering defensively
From the opening tip, Newark East Side looked like the quicker team on both ends. That proved to be true as they held Trenton under 10 points in each of the first three quarters. Gaskin led the charge defensively with four steals on the afternoon. If you can hold your opponent to 31 points, chances are that you will win many games. This is the fourth time that they have held their opponent under 50 points this season.
Three-Point Ball was not a factor on either side
Basketball on all levels has turned into a three-point shooting contest. This is less true at the high school level and this game proved it. Both sides combined to knock down just four three-pointers in this game. Both Newark East Side and Trenton ran their offense inside the arc. It was interesting to see how both sides would operate without the long ball. This is not to say that the teams could not shoot, but in this particular game, they did not feature the three-point line.