Less than a week after knocking off the No. 8 Union Catholic Vikings, 57-49, the Westfield High School boys basketball team went back to work and this time, handled the No. 11 Elizabeth Minutemen, 56-46, in Westfield on January 28. The 10-6 Blue Devils had little time to rest, however, and traveled to Plainfield on January 30 to face the No. 2 Cardinals only to wind up on the short side, 77-54.
Senior Zach Epp had a great afternoon on both ends of the ball against the 11-4 Minuteman and finished with a double-double, sinking 15 points, including a 3-pointer and six free throws, and grabbing 12 rebounds to go with three steals, an assist and a block. Senior Enzo Ferrero, as he was in the previous win over the Livingston
More photos at goleader.com Ballyhoo Sports Lancers, was deadly from the outside, banging in four 3-pointers and finishing with 14 points but he was also quite “handy” with five steals, while dishing out five assists, blocking a shot and pulling eight boards.
The Blue Devils held the Minutemen in check and won the first quarter, 13-9. Ty’shaun Pearson (7 rebounds, five assists, 4 steals, block) scored four of his nine points in the quarter. Ferrero hit his first 3-pointer, while Epp, Connor Whalen (8 rebounds, 2 assists) and Jake Russell (4 points, 8 rebounds, 3 assists, 2 steals, block) each scored two points. Jayden Johnson (7 points, 8 rebounds, 2 assists, 2 steals) nailed a 3-pointer for the Minutemen. Jordan Torres (6 points, 4 rebounds) scored four points and Luis Cuero (5 points, 6 rebounds, block) scored two points.
Max MacEacheron (10 points – trip 3-pointers, 2 rebounds, steal) got into the long distance act and sank a pair of 3-pointers as the Blue Devils outscored the Minutemen, 16-9, to take a 29-18 lead at the half. Ferrero had five more points, including a 3pointer. Epp put in a free throw and a lay-up, and Pearson popped in a twopointer. Cam McRae (2 rebounds, 3 assists, 3 steals, block), who led the Minutemen with 19 points, scored four points. Siraj Abdellah (6 points, 2 rebounds, 3 assists, 4 steals, block) scored two points and Cuero added the other two points.
The third quarter had Westfield on top 10-7 to stretch the lead to 39-25 then with the game relatively under control, the Blue Devils virtually traded off points in the fourth quarter. Blue Devil Will Kirby finished with two points, an assist and a rebound. Farid Habayeb grabbed a rebound. Jeremiah Adams sank three of four free throws for the Minutemen and added four rebounds, two assists and a block.
Although the 10-7 Blue Devils held a slight 17-15 lead after the first quarter against 18-1 Plainfield, the red hot Cardinals, who would sink 14 of 16 free throws, soared with a 24-7, second- quarter run and continued their rapid flight the remainder of the way. The Cardinals more than doubled the Blue Devils in rebounds.
Handling their big man, Najai Hines was quite a chore for the Blue Devils. Hines finished with a double-double (22 points – 2-for-3 free throws) and 12 rebounds to go with five blocks, an assist and two steals. Devin Thomas proved to be difficult also as he finished with 21 points (trip 3-pointers, 4-for-5 free throws), five assists, four rebounds and three steals. Micah Gordon finished with 17 points (3pointer, 4-for-4 free throws), six assists, seven rebounds and three steals.
Ferrero finished with 17 points, including five 3-pointers, two steals, two assists and a rebound. Pearson bucketed 16 points, including 2 3pointers, and added six assists, four rebounds and a block. Epp was limited to six points, four assists, two rebounds and a block. Russell netted five points, including a 3-pointer, and added three steals, two assists and a rebound. Whelan finished with four points, five rebounds, three blocks and an assist. MacEacheron sank a 3pointer, and pulled a rebound, and Kirby hit a 3-pointer and added three steals, two assists and a rebound.
Kiiran Kirkwood also contributed to the Cardinals’ cause with six assists, four points, two steals and three rebounds. Rashawn Williams had six points (4-for-4 free throws), seven rebounds and two assists. Marcus Richards nailed a 3-pointer and added three assists, three steals and a block. Kamai Lowery and Randy Williams (rebound, steal) each had two points.
Elizabeth 9 9 7 21 46 Westfield 13 16 10 17 56
